Mine: Music video analysis

Performance scenesThe performance shots are of Taylor located in an exotic looking woods surrounded by pictures of her and her boyfriendhanging on string. The lighting is very bright which suggests that she is content and positive about their relationship.When the setting is shown through a low angle shot we can see the sun peering through the trees, giving the video avery natural feel which complements her country roots. Within the performance scenes there is a lot of close up shotsto develop the idea of ‘star image’ as she was a fairly new artist when this video was produced and by using close upsallows the audience torecognise the ‘star’ andbeginning to get familiarwith her character andmusic. There is also avariety of shots such asinsert, in order for theaudience to see who andwhat the photos are of.Her costume is asimple, white, dresswhich represents purityand delicacy which islatercontrasted when she isdressed in black duringthe argument with herboyfriend when tensionsincrease.Taylor’s appearance isvery simple with naturalhair and minimal make-up, connecting with thenatural surroundings sheis in.

Past NarrativeFrom the lighting and editing we can clearly see that these shots are not from the present day. Compared to theperformance scenes, these shots have dark lighting and has also used soft focus to allow the audience to realise thedifference between the past and present. These shots are used very explicitly alongside the lyrics ; ‘Do youremember, we were sitting there by the water?’ and ‘You say we’ll never make my parents’ mistakes , during the shotsof them walking by the sea and her parents arguing.

Most of the past narrative shots are high angle shots to give the audience the impression that they are almost lookingdown into a camera watching their past. From the first shot we can see that they are clearly in a happy relationshipwhich contrasts her parents relationship as shown in the last shot. The parents are out of focus but we can still see thatthey are arguing. A side portrait of Taylor is in focus to tell the audience how she is being affected by her parentsrelationship and inside she hopes when she’s older that hers isn't like that.

Taylor Swift’s costume still remains white, still suggesting purity and peacefulness, which again is contrasted in theargument as the relationship is no longer peaceful.

Future NarrativeApart from the scene of the argument (bottom left) the lighting in these shots arevery bright as they are significant and happy times during the narrative. Thelighting during the argument scene is purposely dark as this is probably theweakest and emotionally darkest part of their relationship and in the video. Tayloris always positioned on the left side of the camera (the weakest) suggesting thather boyfriend has the dominion over the relationship and it’s relying on him tokeep it going which is shown especially within the argument when she walks awayand if he hasn’t have followed the relationship would break. The walking out ofthe argument was also taken explicitly from the lyrics- ‘I ran out crying and youfollowed me out into the street’. The explicit meanings allow the audience tofollow the narrative much easier as there are direct links between the video andthe lyrics. Taylor’s appearance still remains natural suggesting she is still the samegirl as she was when she met him even after everything they have been through.

The image of Taylor and her family at the beach relates back to the beginningwhen Taylor and her boyfriend were in the first stages of theirrelationship, walking across the beach, and now they are still together but withtheir own children. The majority of the camera angles are mid-shots which allowsus to see Taylor and her boyfriend and at what stage they are in their relationshipas the narrative continues.

Compared to ‘Safe & Sound’

There are some similarities between these two videos such as the natural setting of a woods. Although in ‘Mine’ it was summer will the trees in bloom where as here it is autumn and the trees have lost their leaves which gives a different effect and impression to the audience.In this video there is much more performance and not much of a narrative. There are also a lot less close up shot as in this video, Taylor Swift is now a popular and well known artist so no longer needs them to maintain the ‘star image’ .