Analysis of a Music Video

Taylor Swift - Love Story

• The first image shown is of a school environment which looks modern this connotes that it will have  characters who are a younger generation, it is effective in giving a busy atmosphere as it begins at the school.

• The video then straight cuts to a young teenager,the mid shot shows the main character who is stereotypically pretty with a clear complexion and long blonde hair, her clothing connotes modern society youth which is just plain and simple for the school environment which was shown in the previous shot. The use of the propp which is the books are effective in showing the audience that she is obviously a student which links to the setting. As the character walks in the music begins, this highlights the importance of the character to the audience, the music is a slow rhythm which indicates the use of a guitar and a drum.

• Another straight cut is used to flow towards the young guy who is holding books which reinforce the propp again this connotes there age as students, as they are obviously studying. The clothing again is quite plain and simple for the school environment. The use of the long shot connotes the importance of the setting as it is a wide space also there is not much too look at, this draws the audience's attention to the character who is positioned in the centre.

• As the rhythm quickens and a straight cut is used, the lighting dims and turns to a more darker sky which connotes the time passing. The setting also changes to a fairytale old fashioned castle which is just surrounded by large fresh green trees, this changes the atmosphere to a peaceful surrounding this also indicates to the audience that a different kind of narrative is about to begin.

• The next scene of the video not only enforces the different setting of the castle, but enforces the character of the female dressed in a old fashioned ball gown which was seen more in the victorian times; this connotes the fairytale fantasy. The lyrics then begin and the character begins to tell a story through the music which emphasises to the audience that the music is linked to a fairytale world. She is not shown as a stereotypical student as she is in a castle background and dressed in old fasioned clothing. The mood is peaceful and blissful this is created through the use of the slow rhythm and gentle lyrics.

• The jump cut to the long shot connotes the setting of a room inside the castle, the use of lighting is mostly back lights which emphasise the romantic atmosphere. The iconography of the candles connotes the old fashioned period compared to a modern time where the use of bulbs are used. It emphasises to the audience the change of time period not just setting. The males are showing more dominance which reinforces the time period as men were the more dominant figures in society over women.The clothing of the men is smart dark clothing which connotes mystery and there pride of their appearance. The women are in long elegant ball gowns which were very fashionable in the victorian times. The music is quicker and elborate as the romance between the men and women highestens through the dancing.

• There is constant jump cross cuts to the singer alone in the castle this connotes the importance of the singer and her lyrics which explain the narrative of the video. As the chorus is more clear and elborate to the audience, the narrative and romantic atmosphere unfold.  

• The straight cut to the forest connotes the continuity within the video, the setting is shown through a long shot which emphasises the forest and the mysterious atmosphere. The lighting highlights the darkness of the surrounding which connotes the characters vulnerability and innocence however it also connotes how the singer lightens up the dangerous forest. The forest is a stereotypical setting for a fairytale as it is magical.

• The cut to the long shot of the characters connotes the romantic mood, it also links to the lyrics which are enforced with a gentle rhythm. The lyrics 'Love Story' connote the narrative as a stereotypical fairytale of romance and happiness. The iconography of the horse connotes the time period, horses were important animals specially in the victorians times as men rode around on them not like modern transport. The elements shown communicate to the audience that the singer enjoys fairytale narratives and believes in the romantic storys. The colour of the horse is white, this connotes the purity and creates a calm atmosphere. 

• The songs rhythm picks up as an uplifting melody, and the lyrics are more extensive and clear which connotes the fairytales happy ending. This is shown through the two shot of the characters dashing towards each other, connoting there romance at its highest. The use of the top lighting highlights the characters gestures. 

• The final scene of the video, is cut to the modern first school setting, which connotes the fairytale as reality and appears just like an old fashioned love story but is actually real in the modern times. The midshot connotes the connection between the characters and emphasises the songs lyrics of their bond and happiness, the use of the day light enforces the gentle mood.
• The genre throughtout the music video is a romantic soul song which is created through the use of the romantic fairytale scenes. The narrative structure links to propps theory, the main characters shown the young blonde female would represent a princess and the male represents the stereotypical prince who is the hero of the story which propp applys through his theory of fairytale characters.