Textual Analysis of a music video

1. Shot type and movement:
There is a medium long shot of
the artist.
Analysis:
The medium long shot
shows the clothing of the
artist which suggests that
the artist and the song are
of the pop culture. The
shot only focuses on the
artist with a plain
background so that all the
attention is on her
connoting importance.
The lighting used is high
key which is commonly
used in pop music videos
to focus more attention
on the artist.
Edit: There is then a
cut to the next shot
where the music then
starts.
Music/Lyrics: A guitar
starts playing at the
start of the song

2. Shot type and movement:
A medium close up of the
artist.
Analysis: The lyrics link with the shot
as it focuses on Taylor and her
friends. The mise-en-scene of the clip
such as clothing and the location
connote the pop genre being
stereotypical. The clothing in the clip
appears to be fashionable and
modern which is typical in pop music
videos. The location is also significant
with the high key lighting which
creates a happy and upbeat feeling.
The shot is also a shallow focus with
the background being blurry which
connotes that the artist is the most
important person in the shot. Also
Taylors bright red lipstick connotes
femininity and sexiness which is
stereotypical for female pop singers.
Music/Lyrics
“We’re happy, free,
confused and lonely
at the same time”
Edit: Cuts to the next shot of
Taylor and cheerleaders
quite quickly to go with the
upbeat music.

3. Shot type/Movement
While Taylor and the other girls move
around the shot used is a medium long
shot. The shot is also at a low angle.
Analysis: Due to the shot being from a
low angle this connotes that Taylor is
significant and glamorous. The clothing
in this shot is stereotypical for the
genre of music video which is pop as
the clothes are feminine, fashionable
and appealing to the target audience.
The background is white with small
amounts of blue sky in it therefore
making the people within the shot
stand out. The lighting is high key
which is stereotypical within pop music
videos and the lighting stays like this
throughout the majority of the video.
The props used within this shot such as
the cheerleaders pom poms and the
confetti are both bright and stand out
against the background connoting fun
and happiness. It is common within pop
music videos for them to be bright.
Music/Lyrics
“Everything will
be alright if”
Edit: Cuts to medium
shot of Taylor dancing
quite quickly to again
go with the upbeat
music.

4. Shot type/Movement
There is an aerial shot of
Taylor and the other girls
Analysis: The aerial shot is unusual for
a pop music video so isn’t
representative of the genre as it
connotes that the artist is being
looked down on and is just like any
other person. The clothing within in
this shot is casual which is challenging
the stereotype of pop artists being
glamourous in their videos, however
the clothing does go with the lyrics
“Tonight's the night when we forget
about the heartbreaks” which
suggests that the people in the shot
aren’t worrying about anything and so
there is no need to dress up. There
hair and makeup also appears to be
subtle which goes with the casual
clothing.
Music/Lyrics
“Tonight's the night when
we forget about the
heartbreaks”
Edit: This then slowly cuts to Taylor and
two other girls with their arms around
each other on the beach which goes with
the music building up to the chorus.

5. Shot type / Movement:
Medium close up of Taylor Swift with a
shallow focus.
Analysis: The shallow focus makes Taylor
stand out to the audience making them
focus all attention on her which is
stereotypical for pop artists to have all the
attention on them. The low key lighting
however challenge and medium close up
Taylor challenge the stereotype as when
medium close ups are used in pop videos
they usually are shown with high key
lighting to make the artist look important
and to create excitement. Taylor’s video
however changes between high and low
key lighting therefore challenging pop
video conventions. The clothing is also
casual with challenges the stereotype of
pop artists being glamourous. Most of the
scenes are filmed outside and this is
stereotypical within a lot of pop music
videos.
Music/Lyrics:
“It seems like one of those
nights”
Edit: It then slowly cuts to a group of
people lying on the beach which goes
with the slow verse.

6. Shot Type/Movement:
Medium shot of Taylor with the other people
running along the beach.
Analysis: The location of this
scene which Is a beach is
commonly used in pop music
videos such as ‘What makes you
beautiful’ by One Direction
therefore being stereotypical. The
clothing is again is relaxed
therefore challenging the
stereotype of the glamourous
image in music videos however for
Taylor her casual clothing within
her music videos creates her
brand identity. The lighting is low
key and naturalistic which
therefore goes with the time of
day which is sunset. The lyrics ‘its
miserable and magical oh yeah’
are shown through the shot as
Taylors facial expression is
miserable even though she is on a
beach.
Music/Lyrics:
“Its miserable and magical oh
yeah”
Edit: There is a long take of
Taylor, these are used quite
often throughout her music
video. This then cuts to
Taylor lying on the beach
with friends and this is
again a long take.

7. Shot Type/Movement
Low angle shot of Taylor and also a
Medium long shot.
Analysis: The low angle shot
connotes that Taylor is of
importance and this is also
shown through the fact that
she in the shot she is higher up
than her friends, making the
audiences focus on her. The
lighting is high key which
therefore connotes glamour.
Taylor’s clothing shows
dominant ideology of the pop
genre as it connotes youth and
modern fashion. Her clothing
also connotes summer which
suggests that ‘22’ is a summer
song. The location of this shot
is outside which connotes a
sense of freedom.
Music/Lyrics:
“But I'm feeling 22” This is a
diegetic sound as it is what the
artist is singing.
Edit: This is a short take of Taylor and this is
stereotypical for pop music videos to use a
mixture of both short and long takes. This
then cuts to another short take of Taylor.
The cut is quick to match the upbeat music.

8. Shot type/Movement:
Medium Close up with the artist looking
directly at the camera which makes the
audience feel more involved with the video.
Music/Lyrics:
“We won’t be
sleeping”
Analysis: The location of this shot is
outside and this is common
throughout the whole music video.
The low key lighting is naturalistic
because it goes with time of day
which is night time. There are also
shadows to show the change of time
in the music video. Taylor’s clothing is
stereotypical of pop artists and it
connotes feminism, youth and
glamour. The shot is shallow focus
and this connotes that Taylor is more
important then anyone else in the
shot. This Is used throughout the
whole music video. The lyrics ‘we
wont be sleeping’ goes with Taylors
facial expression which appears to be
mischievous and she is also looking
directly into the camera which
suggests she isn’t bothered that she
wont be sleeping.
Edit: This is a short take which
connotes in this shot mischief as it
doesn’t stay on her for too long and
it then cuts to another short take of
Taylor doing another girls makeup
therefore connoting the pop genre as
people within them stereotypically
look glamourous.

9. Shot type/Movement
A medium close up is used and this appears to
be a common convention of pop music videos. A
tracking shot which follows Taylors movements
which therefore suggests further that the
audiences attention should be on her.
Analysis: The mise-en-scene in this
part of the music video is different
from the start of the video due to a
change in time. The clothing is more
glamourous than in the other scenes
such as the beach. The artists makeup
is also more alluring and exciting then
the subtle look she originally had. Her
makeup is also dark which goes with
her dark clothing and the change in
time. Her whole look in this shot
connotes that she is mysterious. The
artist is looking directly into the
camera which therefore makes the
audience more involved with the
video. The lighting on Taylors face is
high key which therefore shows further
that she is important as the girl in the
background has low key lighting used
on her which makes her seem of less
importance.
Music/Lyrics
“ooh-ooh ooh-ooh” The
music in this part of the
video is slower and so is
Taylors movement to go
with the song and slower
singing.
Edit: This Is a long take
of Taylor which goes
with the slow music in
this part of the song
and this then cuts to a
short take of Taylor
entering the next room.

10. Shot type/Movement:
Long Shot and a deep focus of the people on
bikes as they come towards the camera.
Analysis: The location of this
shot is outdoors which is a
common feature of this music
video. The lyrics which are ‘It
feels like one of those nights’
links in with the setting of this
part of the video because it is
night time and is set outside.
The lighting is naturalistic. The
bikes coming towards the
camera attracts the audiences
focus towards them.
Music/Lyrics
“It feels like one
of those nights”
Edit: This is again a short take which
is another common feature of this
video and it then cuts to another
short take showing the people on
bikes from the side.