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a DEEP DIVE into the METAPHYSICS of LOLITA and LANA DEL REY 🔮 [hidden references + analysis]

Claire Craig

65,260 views

Lana del Rey has been no stranger to controversy when it comes to criticism of her adopted aesthetics and romanticization of the controversial novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. Lolita and Lana del Rey share some major themes in common, however, with both Lolita and Lana's deeper philosophical meanings being overlooked due to the veneer of shock value. In this video, I perform literary analysis on Lolita by Nabokov and explore the deeper metaphysical themes of fate and free will, time and consciousness, mortality and the loss of innocence through the backdrop of Paradise Lost and Lana's music video Tropico. Before she was Lana del Rey, Elizabeth (Lizzy) Grant got her degree in metaphysics from Fordham University and has been obsessed with mortality since childhood, which greatly influences her art. By analysing her references to Lolita, Oscar Wilde, Paradise Lost, and more, we can get into a deeper philosophical discussion on aesthetic philosophy, aesthetic bliss, where the soul goes after death, and the psychology of Lolita and Lana's interpretations of Lolita. We talk about the nymphet aesthetic on Tumblr and the deification of Lolita. We also explore the literary references in Lolita to Plato, TS Eliot, John Milton, and more. This deep dive video essay took tons of research and I read Lolita four times before writing it so I hope it is appreciated!!

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
3:44 Part One: Paradise Lost
19:37 Part Two: Burnt Notion Interlude
34:14 Part Three: Off to the Races
59:04 Part Four: Put Me in a Movie
1:14:39 Part Five: Peace by Vengeance
1:27:14 Part Six: Aesthetic Bliss vs Moral Controversy
2:02:00 Part Seven: the psychology of gr00ming
2:41:38 Patreon Announcement!

REFERENCES:
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe
Invictus by William Henley
I Sing the Body Electric by Walt Whitman
Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot
Paradise Lost by John Milton
Lolita 1997
Stanley Kubrick Lolita
Lana Del Rey (full discography) and unreleased tracks (youtube)
Oscar Wilde The Decay of Lying
Oscar Wilde Picture of Dorian Gray
Plato Phaedrus
Plato Symposium
Metamorphosis by Ovid
Nymphet Blogs, when Lolita gets a Tumblr by Mishka Hoosen
Bruce Wagner Lana del Rey Interview, Billboard https://www.billboard.com/music/music...
Shifting cultural narrative around lana del rey https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/10/3...
Plato and the body https://robinmarkphillips.com/plato-p....

MUSIC
Background music from maye or ‘mayejailer’ on youtube and nina sonhe
Unreleased track lyrics mentioned: smarty put me in a movie pawn shop blues hollywoods dead you can be my daddy lust for life demo queen of the gas station

JOIN MY PATREON HERE! https://www.patreon.com/c/ClaireCraig...

20 Comments

@ClaireCraig Creator 1 year ago Pinned

-Hello everyone and thank you for being here! I know this is a long one, haha. To give a little direction: the first 90 minutes are a metaphysical (and some psychological) analysis of Lolita and its references in Lana Del Rey songs. The "Aesthetic Bliss" section then builds on the philosophical argument/resolution of Lolita into a deeper analysis of aesthetics through the beliefs of Oscar Wilde, Lana, and Nabokov himself. It can potentially be viewed without the prior context, though if you are unfamiliar with Plato's theory of forms and the Neoplatonic tradition discussed in the analysis it may be a bit difficult. The last 40 minutes can definitely be viewed as a stand-alone if you are familiar with the general plot of Lolita, and serves as a psychological discussion of grooming and trauma repetition cycles.

-I have published a Patreon for those interested, as mentioned in my channel announcement at the end of the video. The link is here, but please do not feel any pressure to sign up as I recognize that everyone's financial situation is different: https://www.patreon.com/ClaireCraig
I will be uploading at least once a month (but hoping for 2x/month) on there, and if I miss an upload you will not be charged. Make sure to sign up on a browser and NOT THE APP as Apple will charge both you and I more and cheat us out of our money!!

-If you are not interested in full Patreon access, I have also set the "Feminine Madness" video on the "shop" feature meaning you can purchase it as a one-off here: https://www.patreon.com/clairecraig/shop but please note that if you view/purchase it through the patreon app, it will charge you an inflated amount due to their scum deal with Apple, so please purchase on your browser!!

-That aside, thank you so much to everyone for sharing your precious time watching (any amount) of this video. It genuinely means the world to me!!
Let me know your thoughts down below and I will catch you in the next one!

@wolfhawk1999 1 year ago

With all of the references to Lolita and her fascination with the book, I would assume her relationship with the teacher was more than platonic

@beardpandaa 1 year ago (edited)

I see lana attempting to take the power back as an admitted CSA victim by buying into Humbert's (and prob her own groomer's) grooming saying it was her in control. She constructed a character like Humbert's Lolita that is just a pretty bad girl who likes older men and gets all the boys. Lolita makes her feel like she was not abused but empowered.

Bc if she lets herself face the fact that she was abused, it would hurt very very bad. The mind tends to try to protect itself wrt trauma. It is often a coping mechanism for trauma to become hypersexual in order to try to take power back as well.
That is a fact that not a lot of people are comfortable with seeing our acknowledging. Not every abuse victim has the same response to their abuse. I am grateful for Ultraviolence because it really resonated with me as an abuse survivor bc it was honest.

@kimberlyporter9555 1 month ago (edited)

This is my favorite analysis of both Lolita and Lana's inspiration for her songs. Thank you. I was riveted from start to finish. 😊😭

@tesselate8nowait262 1 month ago

I believe that people that have experienced trauma understand Lana on a deeper level than most. I believe most women have experienced trauma at a young age; notably the very first time a grown man sexualizes you, and you’ve never thought about yourself that way. I don’t know how to resolve that feeling of shame in a healthy way, especially since it continues to happen whether you like it or not, and you are criticized whether you lean in or away from it. Fantastic essay. I’ve subscribed, and I can’t wait to dive into your other pieces✨♥️

@audrinadoll 1 year ago

u fr deserve a nobel peace prize for this

@brynniefresh9746 1 year ago

She has Nabokov tattooed on her, I think it’s pretty important to her

@palux188 11 months ago

This is THE BEST video essay that I've seen on youtube. With popculture (which I consider that Lana del Rey is a part of), people often tell you that it's not that deep when you try to analyse it. I love that you just WENT FOR IT. And in the case of Lana del Rey, it is indeed THAT DEEP, because of all the intertextuality/literary or philosophical references. You are brilliant, and you reignited my passion for research/pondering.

@klarabergstrom2172 1 year ago

What an amazing analysis, so damn thorough, your intelligence and knowledge on Lolita, philosophy as well as Lana really shines through. Never have I seen someone give her the full intellectual credit she deserves, which is so typical of art produced by women (mitski having interviewers compare her lyrics to diary entries immediately comes to mind, totally diminishing the poetry and artwork). As a long time fan of Lana this touched me on such a personal level. Thank you for spending nine months on this masterpiece.

@heavenbratt 1 year ago

this felt like an entire class on lana, lolita, and literature. i genuinely, thouroughly enjoyed this video. you made amazing connections to all of lana and nabokovs references!

@starrylapin 11 months ago

honestly this has definitely given me a whole new perspective into how I view Lana’s work critically, especially given the attachment to “Lolita” and the relationship with the 22 year old professor (which I DOUBT was platonic and innocent). She’s definitely lived a very interesting life.

@malhalsey4994 11 months ago

“I still love you, and it hurts to love you” hit me like a ton of bricks, as someone with a narcissistic parent.

@shananigans0117 1 year ago

Excellent analysis. I was never a Lana fan so I hadn’t looked into her lyrics before, but hearing her references to literature and philosophy was very interesting.
I had read Lolita and agree with your sentiments about the book. It’s probably one of the best examples of an unreliable narrator in fiction. Conversations about the story can really reveal a persons understanding of psychology and reading comprehension. I have found myself truly disturbed when speaking to some men who expressed feeling vindicated in some way when reading Humbert’s testimony of Delores’ seductions. What you spoke about girls learning that their bodies are inevitably sexualized before and during puberty and their own burgeoning sexuality and how it is still the responsibility of the adult to protect the girls, even from the girl’s own possible desires, was extremely poignant. The moralists who want to completely ban this book rob us of the chance to have these difficult discussions, without which we can often leave people more vulnerable or unaware of a predators actions.
It is a painful read at best.
Personally, I have great respect for and a deep hatred of the novel Lolita.

@amiewithcamera 1 year ago

Right before I arrived here, I said a silent prayer for something delicious to listen to while I paint wicker furniture 💙

@herelieslolita 1 year ago (edited)

oh mama i have been WAITING for someone to do a video essay on the Lolita Del Rey iceberg thank you so much for making this!!!

@2011woodlands 11 months ago

I met the Grant family by pure chance except for Elizabeth in 2010, talked to her a few times on the phone, she was Lizzy at the time but Charlie told me she was thinking of changing her name to Lana Del Ray, January I think. When I asked her about her mother, there was pure silence for a minute on a long distance phone call to the UK, I knew I had hit a nerve. Chuck asked me what type of music I enjoyed listening to, I replied classic rock, The Doors, she gasped and said, " not you too"! I have had conversations with Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Robbie Krieger on Facebook, before the covid-19 shutdown, I asked Patricia Kennealy what she thought about Lana Del Rey making so many references of Jim Morrison in her songs, her response was that: " I don't listen to contemporary music ". I wished that I had asked Manzarek what his take was on the references to Jim in Lana's songs. It seems like life & art might be inseparable because humans do not exist as gods, we have to leave everything behind in the end.

@AmandaKaye1111 1 year ago

I cannot find any other Lana literary analysis videos that are as engaging and interesting as yours are. I’d love to see more of this.

@Rdaddy1776 3 months ago

So crazy how the best videos don’t get views compared to complete brain rot. This was amazing, Claire. Thanks for your hard work.

@franmcwhorter9654 1 year ago

"Great art lasts much longer than moral life"

@ipadwijngaarden7755 4 months ago (edited)

1:06:40 I have the theory that even Lolita being described as having long toes is a reference to Botticelli’s Venus; by chance I saw a massive poster of it today and it strook me how crazy long her toes are! Truly amazing video btw, I just finished Lolita and started to get into Lana del Rey’s music and I wandered: ‘Why are there so many Lolita references in these lyrics?’ This is by far the best analysis I have seen on the topic, thank you so much!