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Symbolism and references in Ariana Grande's God is a Woman music video: a thread
Georgia O'Keeffe
O'Keeffe is best known for her suggestive close-up paintings of flowers. In her lifetime, she faced heavy criticism from men for her portrayal of female sexuality in her art. Ariana pays tribute to her iconic art style with the milk bath resembling a vulva:
O'Keeffe is best known for her suggestive close-up paintings of flowers. In her lifetime, she faced heavy criticism from men for her portrayal of female sexuality in her art. Ariana pays tribute to her iconic art style with the milk bath resembling a vulva:
The Thinker
In this scene, Ariana assumes a position of power and recreates Auguste Rodin's Thinker statue. Threatened by a woman in power, angry men attempt to vandalize her statue with insults. The words repel off of Ariana as she remains unbothered.
In this scene, Ariana assumes a position of power and recreates Auguste Rodin's Thinker statue. Threatened by a woman in power, angry men attempt to vandalize her statue with insults. The words repel off of Ariana as she remains unbothered.
L'Agriculture aprés l'armistice
The men are standing on a book that reads "L'Agriculture aprés l'armistice." This is French for "agriculture after the armistice," a reference to the period after World War I when women began to work outside of the house.
The men are standing on a book that reads "L'Agriculture aprés l'armistice." This is French for "agriculture after the armistice," a reference to the period after World War I when women began to work outside of the house.
If you pay attention to the background in this scene, you'll see a city rising from the ground. This is a testament to the positive impact women in the workforce had during the post-industrial era.
Persephone and Cerberus
Persephone is the Greek goddess of springtime who was kidnapped by Hades and became the queen of the Underworld. Cerberus was the 3-headed hound that prevented souls from leaving Hell. He bonded with Persephone and let her enter and exit freely.
Persephone is the Greek goddess of springtime who was kidnapped by Hades and became the queen of the Underworld. Cerberus was the 3-headed hound that prevented souls from leaving Hell. He bonded with Persephone and let her enter and exit freely.
Madonna
Ariana is also wearing a replica of Madonna's iconic cone bra. Madonna is no stranger to intertwining religion with female sexuality. Her music video for Like a Prayer opened the door for God is a Woman. Madonna also makes a cameo later in the video.
Ariana is also wearing a replica of Madonna's iconic cone bra. Madonna is no stranger to intertwining religion with female sexuality. Her music video for Like a Prayer opened the door for God is a Woman. Madonna also makes a cameo later in the video.
Thor
Ariana gender-bends the Norse God, Thor. In Norse mythology, Thor is the hammer-wielding God of thunder, lightning, storms, and strength (hence 'power' written on her gloves).
Ariana gender-bends the Norse God, Thor. In Norse mythology, Thor is the hammer-wielding God of thunder, lightning, storms, and strength (hence 'power' written on her gloves).
Ezekial 25:17
Madonna reads a female version of Ezekial 25:17, the fake bible verse from Pulp Fiction, over this scene. The verse reflects how Thor would use his hammer, Mjölnir, on his enemies. He would "strike down upon them with great vengeance and furious anger."
Madonna reads a female version of Ezekial 25:17, the fake bible verse from Pulp Fiction, over this scene. The verse reflects how Thor would use his hammer, Mjölnir, on his enemies. He would "strike down upon them with great vengeance and furious anger."
The Glass Ceiling
Then, Ariana swings her own Mjölnir into the air and quite literally 'breaks the glass ceiling.' The glass ceiling in question is an invisible barrier that prevents women from rising to positions of power.
Then, Ariana swings her own Mjölnir into the air and quite literally 'breaks the glass ceiling.' The glass ceiling in question is an invisible barrier that prevents women from rising to positions of power.
Gaea
In Greek mythology, Gaea is one of the five primordial deities and the ancestral mother of all life in the universe. She's also the personification of Mother Earth. Ariana channels Gaea with these scenes:
In Greek mythology, Gaea is one of the five primordial deities and the ancestral mother of all life in the universe. She's also the personification of Mother Earth. Ariana channels Gaea with these scenes:
The Birth of Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, sex, and beauty. Aphrodite was birthed in the sea and carried to shore by sea foam. The Greek word 'Aphros' literally means foam. Ariana references this as she reclines on a pillar over a bed of foam.
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, sex, and beauty. Aphrodite was birthed in the sea and carried to shore by sea foam. The Greek word 'Aphros' literally means foam. Ariana references this as she reclines on a pillar over a bed of foam.
Bastet
In Egyptian mythology, Bastet is the feline goddess of fertility and childbirth. It's believed she kept a watchful eye over women and children and protected them from danger.
In Egyptian mythology, Bastet is the feline goddess of fertility and childbirth. It's believed she kept a watchful eye over women and children and protected them from danger.
Sacred Geometry
In this scene, Ariana sits in the center of what appears to be the Metatron. In sacred geometry, the Metatron is symbol composed of all shapes known to man that represents the flow of life and energy in the universe.
In this scene, Ariana sits in the center of what appears to be the Metatron. In sacred geometry, the Metatron is symbol composed of all shapes known to man that represents the flow of life and energy in the universe.
The Yoni Sign
Ariana's hands are positioned over her crotch in a gesture known as the Yoni sign. In Sanskirt, Yoni means vagina, womb, and origin. This sign is a Mudra of divine feminine creation used during meditation to invoke the Hindu goddess of motherly love, Kali.
Ariana's hands are positioned over her crotch in a gesture known as the Yoni sign. In Sanskirt, Yoni means vagina, womb, and origin. This sign is a Mudra of divine feminine creation used during meditation to invoke the Hindu goddess of motherly love, Kali.
Romulus and Remus
Ariana recreates the iconic Roman She-Wolf statue. The statue depicts a She-Wolf nursing Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of the city of Rome. This is a testament to the fact that behind every successful man, there's a strong woman that raised him.
Ariana recreates the iconic Roman She-Wolf statue. The statue depicts a She-Wolf nursing Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of the city of Rome. This is a testament to the fact that behind every successful man, there's a strong woman that raised him.
Prarie Dogs
The screaming prarie dogs are accurate to what male prarie dogs do during mating season. They emerge from their burrows and scream for a female mate. Ariana stated in an interview that this represents objectification and how women are viewed as mating objects.
The screaming prarie dogs are accurate to what male prarie dogs do during mating season. They emerge from their burrows and scream for a female mate. Ariana stated in an interview that this represents objectification and how women are viewed as mating objects.
The Creation of Adam
Ariana reimagines a female version of Michelangelo’s iconic painting in the Sistine Chapel.
Ariana reimagines a female version of Michelangelo’s iconic painting in the Sistine Chapel.
Mitochondrial Eve
In Ariana's take on the Creation of Adam, a black woman replaces Adam. This is actually a historically and scientifically accurate take on who the first human was. The human race can be traced back to a black woman in East Africa through Mitochondrial DNA.
In Ariana's take on the Creation of Adam, a black woman replaces Adam. This is actually a historically and scientifically accurate take on who the first human was. The human race can be traced back to a black woman in East Africa through Mitochondrial DNA.
