tswift study

1. How are media representations of Taylor Swift challengedinthe video‘Blank Space’?
How do the media represent Taylor Swift?
Taylor Swift is a pop singer who has been unfortunately tagged with a damning representation, given, and
shared, by the media. Swift has been tagged as a ‘serial dater’, the idea is that her relationship status if
forever changing, and that she is the cause of it with her so-called crazy ways. The media often present her
as a needy, difficult to read lady who can’t control her emotions. There have been many articles that show
a complete and utter lack of respect for her and her privacy.
Does it any of Goodwin’s theory?
The music video for ‘Blank Space’ follows many of the principles held by Goodwin’s theory of common
occurrences in music videos. Most noticeably in the principle that the lyrics have some sort of relationship
with the visuals. The lyrics clearly narrate one of these imaginative relationships Swift has with a lover. The
idea being that at the beginning of it there is nothing but utopia and as she starts to show her true colours,
it falls apart. Overall, it being that the media portrays her as happy about hopping from man-to-man.
Screenshot analysis:
In this screenshot, Swift shows her understanding of this
image that the media has painted and exhibited
throughout the media industry about her. Several
components to this screenshot show this. The first would
be blocking and the fact Swift is placed in the centre of
the shot. The ethos behind having her placed there
promotes the idea that she is constantly the centre of
attention, in her relationships and that all the attention
must be on her, which could be why none of her
relationships last. Another way her understanding of the representation is shown is through the videos
following of shot composition. The symmetry designs this idea that Swift’s life is perfect. The horses in the
room complete the symmetry and persist with the idea that everything that surrounds Swift is perfect.
Again, this shows Swift acknowledging the media’s representation of her.
However, the music video does not only acknowledge the representation of her, but also challenges it. One
of the ways would be the contrast of colour the shot portrays. The whiteness that dominates the screen
could suggest a utopian, fairy tale fantasy that the media has created. Whereas Swift’s black costume could
connote her challenge to the media, that being a dystopian, dark world. This already shows that she is
challenging the media as she presents this idea of a dystopian world. A common theme throughout the
music video being that she wants to project and teach that not everything is perfect for her. The symmetry
does not only show her understanding of the media’s representation but it also challenges it. The mid-shot
shows a symmetrical shot blessed with a lot of whiteness, and the two horses placed inside show how
Swift believes she is unfairly placed in this utopian world where everything is perfect and she feels no pain.
Again, the black costume supporting this.
This screenshot shows further ways that Taylor Swift shows
her understanding of the media’s representation of her as well
as challenging it. Again, the mise-en-scene plays a pinnacle role
in doing so. One of the props is a champagne bottle, the
champagne bottle connotes the idea of some sort of
celebration, by most people. Thus, the idea of a new couple
celebrating their love is born. However, the bottle is unopened

2. which could represent the idea that she is always preserving herself for a new, better relationship of which
she can finally open the bottle and settle down. However, the bottle is unopen which shows how the
media present her as nomadic in terms of having a and obtaining a lover. In terms of the effect on the
audience, this could create a feeling of sympathy as she doesn’t feel she can ever trust anyone enough to
effectively open the bottle with. Another blatant prop would be the black heart. Again, the black heart
could create a feeling of sympathy towards Swift from the audience as she feels she has a dark, unwanted
heart due to this image the media continue to craft. The black hearts themselves are placed in line with her
heart, which again supports this idea that they are a visual metaphor for her.
In terms of blocking, Swift again finds herself in the middle of the shot. Which, as previously mentioned,
connotes the idea that she always finds herself in the centre of attention. However, the blocking of the
male character is even more crucial. In terms of the man, you can only see his legs, this would suggest to
the audience that despite all the romance throughout the video, he is just another ‘victim’ and that he is
just part of a regime that Swift beholds. Another key factor would be that he is clearly endorsed into the
details of his phone, rather than paying attention to Swift. This is a clear challenge to the media’s ideology
that she is the problem. The challenge being that it is the man at fault, by not showing enough interest in
her, whilst she lays there with a closed bottle and a black heart.
In terms of blocking for this shot, it is pretty apparent that
the music video creates a motif, as Swift, yet again, finds
herself in the middle of the shot, disobeying the rule of
thirds in terms of shot composition.
There is a somewhat voyeuristic treatment of Swift in this
shot, conforming the video to the theory of common
occurrences within music videos. The idea being that the
red in the image matches with the stereotype that women
are dangerous and manipulative. This shares similarity with the media’s representation of Taylor Swift and
that she has been labelled as a woman who is a danger for men and should be avoided. Another principle
of Goodwin’s theory, that the music video follows would be that of intertextual references. The
intertextual reference being the red apple from the classic fairy-tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
The poisoned apple in the fairy-tale was given to snow-white by the evil Queen to kill her. This fits into the
media’s representation of Swift as she could be the character who gives men the ‘poisoned apple’ also
known as a relationship with her, which leads them to one certainty. Swift challenges this as within this
screenshot the lighting gives her a white look, as well as the setting; a white background. The idea that she
has been placed into this utopian fantasy unfairly, to only create a dystopian one.
A brief note to touch on would be the fact she is staring directly into the camera, this makes the music
video more personal as she is in the face of the audience, again giving it a personal feel as she tries to
restore the minds of the audience who have been indoctrinated by this false propaganda against her. This
idea could be considered as a subtle/ not to subtle way of mocking the way the media present Swift. This
idea of making the music video personal is again supported by the camerawork and the fact that a close is
used. Again, supporting the idea that Swift is trying to restore the victim minds of this propaganda, as well
as promoting the idea that she takes this media portrayal very personally. The fact she shows herself as
taking it very personally creates a distasteful feeling of sympathy within the mouths of the audience, one
that creates a sense of guilt.

3. This screenshot is the part of the video where the
relationship begins to go wrong. This is pinnacle in terms
of Swift’s response to how the media represent her as
she deals with the end of one of her meaningless
relationships.
In terms of the editing, at around this part of the music
video it becomes more frantic. Which is a clear visual
representation of the speed of which a relationship
spirals. The idea is that the media have represented Swift as, able in terms of jumping from man to man.
Whereas in the video Swift shows the pain that she endures in such a short time which counters this
utopian fantasy the media portray of her, with a more dystopian and dysfunctional ‘fantasy’. Audience
impact is huge for this as it spreads a heavy odour of pity, as well as sympathy and understanding, in terms
of the pain and suffering she suffers, which provides the perfect challenge to the media’s representation of
her.
As I have previously mentioned, the music video for ‘Blank Space’ shows Taylor Swift acknowledging the
media’s portrayal of her. This occurs again in this screenshot. The mid-shot drags the focus onto Swift
which connotes two things. The first being that like the drag of the focus, the blame is being shifted onto
her. There is this whole idea that the blame for the end of the relationship is on Swift and she shows her
emotions. The second point being that the man is nothing but another faceless victim. It might sound
harsh, but what I mean by this is that the lack of focus on the man suggests to the audience that to Swift,
he has no importance, again showing an understanding that she hops from man to man. However, this
idea of a drag of focus could be a challenge from Swift to the media and their representation of her. The
challenge would be that the man does not show enough commitment to her to achieve her trust, thus like
Swift, the audience cannot get a clear picture/ understanding of him. The impact on the audience, like in all
the other screenshots is one of sympathy and the idea that she is the victim, in comparison the media
representing her as some sort of man-eater.
In conclusion, Taylor Swift creates a personal message to the audience, trying to restore their minds by
showing a clear understanding of the media’s representation and challenging it by creating clear and
consistent feelings of sympathy for the audience. By giving the audience a look into her side of the story,
using camerawork, editing, mise-en-scene and composition.