Applying Andrew Goodwin's Theory
Taylor Swift: Shake It Off
1.Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics:
Shake it off is a Pop song and this is demonstrated throughout the music video.
Pop song music videos often have lots of dance routines and lots is always going on within each shot. Although the dancing within this music video isn't all in perfect timing, it still shows that the music video is linked with a pop song.
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals
There is a link between the lyrics and the visuals, as the lyrics talk a lot about dancing and moving and the whole music video is made up of clips of all the different styles of dance there are and how they are all individual. Two of the lines within the song are: " I'm dancing on my own, i make the moves up as i go" and these lyrics are linked to the visuals as it cuts back and forth between three different people who are dancing alone and are free styling.
3. There is a relationship between music and visuals
There is a relationship between music and visuals as the music to Taylor Swifts song is very upbeat and fun and this is matched by the visuals as they are also very upbeat and fun. Throughout the whole video their is a constant high amount of energy which relates to the music and helps the visuals to match with the music.
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close-ups of the artist, and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work
In this music video,Shake it off, Taylor Swift is very Bubbly and is having fun, while in her other music videos she is always quite serious and their are a lot more close ups of her face. This video is also different from her other videos as although the shot is always on her, most of the shots contain other people so the focus isn't always on her
5. There is frequent reference to the notion of 'looking' and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body
Through out the video their is frequent reference to the notion of 'looking' and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. In most of the shots Taylor is wearing tight fitting clothes that don't cover much of her body. She is also in a lot of shots where she is the only female in the shot and the rest are males. This makes her the main focus and shows off her body more. When she is in shots with other females they are nearly always wearing similar tight fitting clothes to her, or clothes that show them as the same as her.
6. There is often intertextual reference
There are multiple intertextual references throughout Taylor's video, but some are a lot more obvious than others.
There are references to The Black Swan, which is influenced by Jim Carrey's Saturday Night Live spoof as the music video begins with Taylor goofing around in ballet class. There is also reference to Step Up To The Street as Taylor is dancing around in hip hop gear along with break dancers in the background. The video "Mine" by Beyonce featuring Drake is referenced in the video as Taylor incorporates long scarfs in her video, which are seen in Beyonce's video. The Daft Punk Robots are references as their are people wearing sparkling suits which are inspired by the robots. Taylor also incorporates the Myley Cyrus twerk in her video. Another reference is the Sister Act 2 ending credits as there is a long line of actors who are dancing in a line in both Sister Act 2 and her Video. There are also references to Audrey Hepburn and the song Mickey by Toni Basil.
