By Katie Mercogliano ’14

New pop sensation Lana Del Rey released her short film, “Tropico,” on December 5 online. Packed with biblical symbolism, vibrant colors, soft filters and an awful Elvis impersonator, “Tropico” doesn’t quite match Del Rey’s previous work in terms of living up to the hype.

Director Anthony Mandler, who has a respectable reputation under his belt, collaborated with Del Rey for the video. The structure is more of an extended music video rather than a short film. It features “Body Electric,” “Gods and Monsters” and “Bel Air” from her re-release “Paradise” and each song had its own section of the video dedicated to it. Though she makes it too literal at times, other parts really expose a deeper meaning in her songs.

Even though “Body Electric” is one of her best songs, the beginning of the video is oddly done. Featuring American icons Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne alongside with Jesus is slightly confusing. Though it most likely means she worships them, it just misses having that cerebral element she usually brings to the table. A mix of vivacious colors and soft lenses did create a magical tone in the beginning (along with the misplaced unicorn) despite the rather cheesy acting and cliché Adam and Eve storyline.

In the middle, or the “Gods and Monsters” section, the video progresses into something more meaningful. Focusing on the beat poetry generation, she wistfully recites Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” with strip club scenery along with it. The infamous poem surprisingly meshes well with the ‘rebel without a cause’ theme of the middle section. The highlight of the middle is Del Rey as a graceful and “refined” stripper (viewer discretion is advised, of course).

Del Rey’s big finale is a complete opposite direction of the previous two parts and the most profound aspect of the video. The introduction by John Wayne into the ballad, “Bel Air,” shockingly creates an earthly and nostalgic tone. The performance of the song in the simplistic yet visually stunning scenery of Del Rey in white in a wheat field with the sun shining bright on her reflects the purity and beauty of the song itself.

“Tropico” is Del Rey’s big farewell from show business for at least six months so she can just write more music, she claims. After the leaked almost album “Black Beauty” got out, Del Rey was apparently distraught and discontinued working on it for now. A new project, which she revealed is an album that is going to be called “Ultraviolence.” It sounds pretty intense, but what else could anyone expect from the bold songstress?