http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg3vE8Ie_E
All of Taylor Swift's musical lyrics and tunes ooze feelings of a dream-like romance, a feeling which is consistent throughout her videos also. 'Love Story' is certainly no exception, creating a perfect, fairytale romance in our minds like a living dream. This was Taylor's establishing video as a singer and song-writer, which made her music incredibly popular (more so in the US) and even won her female music video of the year.
The video follows many characteristic traits of other pop romance music videos such as close-up shots of characters to focus on emotions, portraying the functionality of the relationship through other visual means and using romantic iconography. I am going to look at all of these characteristics, and more, in detail.
A story is generally portrayed through visuals in this style of music, even if a story is not quite so obvious through the lyrics - Katy Perry's 'Thinking Of You' music video focuses on the idea of a war widow, however this would not have been our first thoughts when just listening to the lyrics.
The visuals are often quite closely matched to the lyrics in Taylor's video and others similar to it. For example, Taylor is actually 'on a balcony in summer air', there is a 'party' and 'ballgowns' she is shown whispering at the lyrics 'I said', and she does 'sneak out to the garden'. The visuals tell the story of what happens between the couple theoretically.
Romantic iconography and conventions are used throughout the video, such as flowers, candle light, dancing, horses, angel statue, the sun shining, fancy clothing and a wedding dress.
There are close up shots used in the video to show Taylor as herself in the current day and also to show her as Juliet. This helps to make her recognisable to the audience but does not refer to her specifically as an artist in the way which a performance based music video might. Taylor does not use any motifs to promote herself in the video as the only recognisable motif she has is her signature/logo which is not appropriate for this video type. However, her slightly wild hair style and vintage clothing choice is current throughout many of her other videos too and is something which she is known for.
The main inter textual reference used throughout the video which is also clearly present in the lyrics is the relation to the Shakespeare play 'Romeo and Juliet'.
The video begins with Taylor in the real day, walking into school when she notices a boy. The notion of looking is then instantly established as they notice one another.
Flashbacks or flash-forwards then begin which instantly illustrate the main narrative of forbidden love and highlight what is to come. The whispering suggests secrecy, the hands coming together suggest that they are intertwined - even from first glance, the fan suggests being restricted and having to keep hidden, but trying to break away from this by looking over the top, and the shot of them looking directly at each other suggests the confrontation which they may face.
We then see Taylor at an open window in a luxurious castle. The setting, costume and props used throughout the video represent an Elizabethan era, when love was much more true and reliable than it is in the modern day. The idea of simple unrequited love is something that is trying to be portrayed throughout the music video by the simple and reliable time period as well as the lyrics 'It's a love story baby just say yes'.
The window frame/bars which Taylor holds onto suggest entrapment in a physical and psychological sense from Romeo, as well as being an inter textual reference to the scene in Romeo and Juliet where Juliet waits, longing for Romeo on the balcony.
(Shot from balcony scene in the Romeo and Juliet movie)
We then see a close-up shot of Taylor. As this is the video which will establish her as an artist, it is important that she can be recognised.
The religious church-like imagery used in the background here helps to reinforce the ideas I previously mentioned of a true, honest love or marriage that will last - even if it is only because society and religion do not look kindly upon divorce.
The idea of being hidden or held back becomes clear again here as our view of Romeo is blocked by a couple walking past and we only notice him once they have moved (shown in the next two images)
This idea of the couple being held back from one another is current throughout the real Romeo and Juliet story. For example, when they see each other for the first time, a fish aquarium keeps them apart from one another.
(shots taken from the Romeo and Juliet movie)
Here Taylor's hands are behind her back, almost as if they were tied. This again suggests entrapment and the difficult position which she is in.
The sunlight shining through the window almost has the effect that is is breaking through. This suggests that Taylor will also find a way to escape from this place.
The sun gives a feeling of happiness, hope, bright things to come and signifies the idea of perfection. It is used as a form of romantic iconography and to symbolise the couple's relationship.
Another form of romantic iconography is used here to a fairly high extent - candles. We associate candles with relaxing romantic situations such as candle-lit dinners. The clothing such as ballgowns worn by the characters also suggests a formal and romantic atmosphere.
The idea of hiding and secrecy is used in these shots again as the low amount of light makes it more difficult for the characters to be seen, and the garden vines partially cover Romeo.
The lyrics match up with the visuals here: 'I sneak out to the garden to see you'
Both characters are partially covered here again to display the secretive nature of their actions.
The use of long grass/corn relates to our generic idea of young lovers in a corn field.
The horse is used here as romantic iconography. Horses are often present in fairy tales as the prince will ride them to rescue the princess. Including the horse suggests that Romeo is the prince that has come to rescue Juliet. Suggesting that Romeo is the 'Knight in shining armour' may have relevance to the story of Romeo and Juliet, as Romeo is dressed as a knight at the party.
It may also be relevant that Juliet is dressed as an angel and a statue of an angel is shown in the music video shortly after the horse, suggesting Juliet as the angel.
(shot from the Romeo and Juliet movie)
In the next two images, the romance convention of flowers is used to create a certain mood.
The angel again is romantic iconography. Angles are seen to be all good, perfect, and it is used to represent how the lovers think of each other. The angel is holding its hands together in a hopeful, praying manor. This signifies the hope which Romeo and Juliet have for their relationship and how they wish to be accepted.
Here we see a close up of two cherries hanging together on a branch. The way that the cherries are joined and their close proximity is used to represent the closeness of Romeo and Juliet.
Taylor appears to be trapped to a further extent here, as she is framed between the walls as well as the pillars. If we related the lyrics to the actual Romeo and Juliet story, this would be the part of the play where Juliet is currently restricted to her bedroom to make sure that she does not get involved with Romeo. This additional restriction is represented here through the entrapment of the framing.
Taylor's long, extravagant white dress is a romance convention as it is implied to be a wedding dress. We can tell this from the lyrics in the song 'Marry me Juliet you'll never have to be alone, I love you and that's all I really know, I talked to your dad gonna pick out a white dress, it's a love story baby just say yes', and also from the marriage that we know happens in the real Romeo and Juliet story.
Here Romeo and Juliet do the cliche 'meadow run' towards each other, which we expect to see in fairy tale romance films.
There are then a combination of wide shots, mid shots and close-up shots (getting closer into the characters as they approach one another). These shots are very open, spacey, and our view of the characters is unrestricted to show that they are now free to be with each other.
We then cut back to Taylor in the current day where she is seeing her 'Romeo' for the first time.
The video changes from the narrative of difficult love and focuses on the concept that unlike Romeo and Juliet, these two people were always free, there are no restrictions for them and so their love should be simple and easy.
This idea of a simple love is reinforced at the end when they walk up to each other and it is implied that they kiss - even though they have only just met. It is a love that starts as quick as that of Romeo and Juliet's.
