Lady GaGa's "Til It Happens to You", is a song depicting several sexual assaults that occur in a college setting. This song was produced and sung by Lady Gaga and co-written by Diane Warren for the documentary film, The Hunting Ground. The documentary, which was featured at Sundance 2015, focuses on campus rape in the United States. Throughout this influential video, viewers are given the message to help end sexual assault on campuses. 

The music video for "Til It Happens to You", begins with a simple but attention grabbing warning for the viewer cautioning that there is explicit content ahead. The disclaimer is completely warranted as the next few scenes contain deeply unsettling and graphic footage of sexual assault. The emotionally charged and violent scenes are used to accurately illustrate the reality of what occurs to many individuals on college campuses. The music video does not shy away from the rapes as they occur but, brings the horror of the situation to light. The video is presented entirely in black and white to let the viewer focus on the film as a whole and to not risk any chances of taking away from the powerful message against sexual assault. The choice of filming in black and white also encourages a clear and truthful portrayal of the stories in this music video. The video shows four young people of varying orientation and race to represent how anyone can be a victim of sexual assault or rape. 

The middle of the video shows the devastating aftermath of the sexual assaults. The individuals are shown to be isolating themselves, upset and vulnerable. Each of the victim's assaults occurred under different circumstances; one is taken advantage of by a drunk friend, one is raped against her will and two were drugged at a party, all are shown to be connected in how they are affected by their assaults. The four represent the ways people are affected by these attacks. The scenes of how the victims are struggling in the aftermath are punctuated with visuals of words that convey their feelings written in black marker on their skin and flash backs to the assaults. The phrases written include, "I am worthless", "Sometimes I Hate myself", and "Believe me". These are all feelings that they had and words they could not express when they were still reeling in the wake of the attacks. The settings for each individual are all dark with one focal point of light behind them and in the middle of a room to highlight and call attention to the person that is suffering. Each person the video follows is living in a dorm room to reiterate the videos messages of sow often sexual assault occurs on campuses. While displaying the effect of assault on each of the victims are often sitting, making their bodies small because they feel vulnerable. They have depressed expressions and exhibit distressed behavior from cleaning compulsively, to crying and isolating themselves.

The videos ending reflects the women who have spoken out about being assaulted and benefitted because of it. Each individual effected by sexual assault is visited by people that care about them that want to help them. They talk to them and are slowly pulled back on their feet by their visitors which can represent them rising above their attacks, as survivors not just victims.  Now, shown during these positive moments are images of the phases; "Listen, you will hear me", "I am worthy", and "I love myself" written in black on skin reflective of earlier in the video. The phrases used are far more positive and let the viewer see how the survivors have overcome their violent assaults. The phrase "I love myself" was not written on the arms like most of the other quotes, but on a woman's back calling more attention to and implying that it is the most important and central message to be understood. The visitors help them stand walk with them, a solid front against violence of this nature. Each victim has two friends on each side to support them as they all walk down a hallway that could symbolize their journey of recovery and moving on from their attacks. The dark outline of what appears to be a lone girl can be seen in front of a bright window after all the trios are out of sight in the hallway, symbolizing the individuals that are survivors of rape and sexual assault. The light behind her call attention to her figure and reinforce the message of the video. 

The music video "Til It Happens to You", gives a haunting and powerful portrayal of the rape and sexual assault that occurs too often on campuses. The video was raw and in being so sent the clear message that the brave survivors of these attacks need more support, to know they are not alone and that people want to help. The video ends positively but, it is, in its entirety a call to end the epidemic of sexual assault plaguing campuses. 

