3. The title of the song is ‘The Story of Us’ and there is an evident comparison to the
setting within a library - surrounded by books (stories).
Taylor Swift (the artist) wears a school uniform throughout the video, reinforcing the
teenage audience her music is aimed at. The mise-en-scene also syncs with the lyrics.
Taylor Swift sings ‘I’ve never heard silence quite this loud’ as she stands in a library –
which is very ironic.
There is a flashback to when her relationship was good (contextual knowledge about
lyrical meaning – a bad relationship break-up). Within this scene, her hair is down,
whereas the rest of the music she is conserved. Some skin is exposed on her arms and
chest; this can show that she felt more comfortable back when the relationship was
good. Whereas for the rest of the video (the “reality” aspects) she wears glasses
(meaning of hiding within herself) and her hair is tied back, no skin exposed shows
her vulnerability and self-preservation. Both Taylor and the boy she is singing about,
wear glasses in the library scenes – this shows that they are hiding from one
another/the truth and reality of the situation.
4. There is also a contrast between performance and narrative within this music video. The rest
of Taylor’s band members, perform in a music room. This can supposedly reinforce that she is
screaming out for answers of why they are not speaking but keeps it enclosed within a safe
place (music is normally played in a music room, just as your thoughts are confined within
yourself.)
The end of the music video brings about both Taylor and the boy into the centre of the library.
There is a crescendo within the music as they exchange stares. All of a sudden, the extras
within the library begin to dance and suddenly throw all their work in the air. This can show
that they have finally given up with the relationship, and there is no hope. They both shrug
and part their separate ways. The paper, being white, can have connotations of being free (a
dove symbolises peace and freedom, and are usually white, signifying purity.) For example, the
paper being thrown in the air can suggest it flying away, like a dove – breaking free from the
drudgery of the relationship (or the denotation being drudgery of work being done by
students within the library.) Almost like a burden being lifted.
There is a contrast between grey and warm tones within this music video. When there is a
flashback, there is more orange/red hues, this gives a positive vibe, showing that the
relationship was happy. However, the dark, grey tones suggest sadness and a melancholic
mood.
6. To open the scene there is an establishing shot of an old university building. There is a
high-angle of the building to show that it is a place of importance – in this case, it is a
place of education. After the establishing shot, there is an evident close-up of Taylor
with her head in her arms. The close-up shows her melancholy facial expression,
reflected by the mise-en-scene of a room with dark and grey tones.
There is continuous close-ups within the first scene to establish lip-sync. It then
moves onto a two-shot of both Taylor and the boy in a flashback (23 seconds) This
shows the interaction they used to have, the rebelliousness they shared as a library is
supposed to be a silent, independent place. It showed her reliance on the relationship.
7. There is a tracking shot of Taylor walking through the library that cuts to Taylor on her
own in a centre shot with a bookcase either side. This shot suggests she feels trapped, and
the audience can connote this to her mind being imprisoned from what she really wants
to say to him. Also, taking into account the rule of thirds, she is shown within a central
shot. This can suggest that the song is about the singer and idolises her as the performer
and main protagonist within the narrative.
The comical effect of this video is portrayed via the shot of the lecturer (58 secs) reading
a book in the corner and the camera pans to the band members playing their instruments
vigorously. Again, this is ironic and contrasts to the uptight, quiet atmosphere of reading
or sitting in a library.
9. Instantly, the pace of jump cuts in the opening
scene is fast and sharp. Jumping from one scene to
another in sync with the beat of the song. The
jump cut editing continues throughout the music
video and also acts as a way of establishing the
scene. For example, the setting is established via a
jump-cut from a book to the high-angle of the
university building. This is done to reinforce the
up-beat music. The jump-cuts are also used to
effectively show a flashback and therefore shows
the difference between Taylor in the relationship
and Taylor after it is finished.
At 27 seconds, there is a fade from the flashback
to a close-up view of Taylor’s face. It shows her
facial expression as sad. This reinforces the fact
that she is thinking of the good times and it seems
to be ‘a lot like a tragedy now’.
11. For this music video, the only sound is the
non-digetic music. However, for some of
Taylor Swift’s other music videos such as ‘I
Knew You Were Trouble’ there is a two
minute dialogue intro that is only featured
in her music video and not on her actual
soundtrack. The purpose of this as to
reinforce the fact that her music video is
narrative based – almost like a short film.
This decision may have been made to
involve the reader with her as a person as
conventionally, she writes from her own
experiences.
13. The lyrics represent the narrative throughout the whole
music video.
The lyrics have a direct correlation to what goes on visually
in the video. For example, ‘I’ve never heard silence quiet this
loud’ as the mise-en-scene is set within a library. (which is
supposed to be a silent place to study.) Therefore, the lyrics
have been taken into account and incorporated into the
mise-en-scene.
The artist has chosen to contrast the lyrics of the song with
the images on the screen.
• The song is about a relationship that has ended without
an explanation. Normally when people want an answer,
they research and try and find out the information.
Therefore, there was a conscious decision to incorporate
a library into the music video as this is a place where
people can try and find answers – in books. Therefore, it
could suggest that the artist is looking for an answer as
to why the relationship broke down.
• 'Cause lately I don't even know what page you're on.’ has
direct correlation to books and the title of the song ‘The
Story of Us’
15. The artist’s ideology seems to be reflected by her target
audience. As she aims her music at teens or young people,
there is no evidence of sexualisation which is commonly
found in music videos to present day.
• The mise-en-scene of a school-girls outfit reinforces the
target audience and includes them within the visual
image of the music video. It enables the audience relate
to her music as this is what she claims her music is for.
• Also, another ideology of this music video would have
been to entertain and make people laugh. Apart from
the fact that the song is about a relationship break-down
there are many factors to suggest that there is
humour aspects. Such as the band members dressed as
stereotypical ‘nerd’s with un-coordinated dress.
• Also, towards the end of the video as it becomes more
up-beat, everyone in the music video begins to dance.
This has a comical effect as the professor that we see at
the beginning of the video with a closed body posture,
reading a book, gets up and joins in.
17. Taylor Swift is a singer/songwriter
from Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.
She moved to Nashville, Tennessee
when she was 14 and signed to the
independent label Big Machine
Records.
She began as a country star and
has recently changed her career
direction towards pop music with
her new release of her fifth
album ‘1989’.
Although she is signed to an
independent label, she is
regarded as a mainstream artist.
19. Taylor Swift’s target audience appears to be for young
females, specifically those who are in high-school/college.
However, her newest album release has expanded her
target audience. As she is more well-known to the general
populous, more people are exposed to her music.
The most common response to this video would be that the
majority of people could relate to it, because how many of
us have been caught in an awkward moment with an ex-partner?
Most of us. It relates most to teenage girls because
that’s the character role she plays throughout the
narrative, along with the setting and the way Taylor acts as
this character.
She often sings about boys, what most teenage girls are into
and doesn’t do it in a sexualized way.
Most of her music videos go against Laura Mulvey’s Gaze
theory as there is no emphasis on a woman’s figure within
‘The Story of Us’ music video or any other of hers.
Her music appeals to both an Indie audience and a
Mainstream audience. This being because country music is
typically seen as an indie genre and she has produced this
type of music up until her newest album. Therefore, her
‘1989’ album has expanded both her audience and genre,
By expanding and trying out new things, it means that the
artist is able to branch their success.
21. One scene within the , there is evidence of women
being provocative as there is a flashback to an affair
where another girl seduces the boy Taylor is singing
about. Therefore, in this scene, women are
represented as tempting. However, when Taylor
wears a cardigan and glasses, she is presented as
vulnerable and conserved.
There is a mixture of ways women are represented.
For example, the flashbacks show Taylor as more
carefree, the mise-en-scene of having her hair
down, arms exposed, smiling. When she is covered
up, hair tied back and glasses covering her face, the
mise-en-scene contrasts well with the lyrics of the
song. Also, here, she is represented as a frustrated/fe
up girl. I know this various close-ups of her tugging
at her hair and clothes.
There is no solid representation of men within this
music video. However, the boy who plays as the
antagonist is portrayed as disloyal due to the scene
where he kisses another girl. This makes the
audience dislike him when Taylor smiles at him
across the library table.
