Textual Analysis 2 - Taylor Swift's 'You Need to Calm Down'

This music video by Taylor Swift displays a variation of techniques used to convey her ideas on equality and the social problems linked to this as well as online bullying which is not often a prominent topic in protest music videos which Swift has decided to bring up.

Firstly, the long-shot used in the first minute of the video displays two very contrasting objects. The fact that Swift is seen relaxing in a pool while a few metres away from her, a caravan is on fire, is a way of perhaps conveying her ideas of the bullying that is directed towards her so often and the caravan on fire is a destructive metaphor to represent this. Swift is trying to signify that it does not bother her as she is seen so calmly in the pool. The lyrics also link to this particular shot as she is singing the title of her song 'You need to calm down'. These lyrics are a direct mode of address to her audience who are a segment of people trolling online and the singer is directly telling them they need to 'calm down' as Swift takes no notice.

In this particular shot shortly after, the mise-en-scene displays a wide-shot presenting a caravan home painted with rainbow colours as a way of referencing the LGBTQ community. Swift is conveying her appreciation for this and also expressing how this is a subject that needs to be addressed in the media. There is also a man seen in the background dancing very flamboyantly as if he does not care and this is again another way of conveying the singers ideas on how she is not bothered by bullies or online trolls and this is a subject linked to equality and how it is perfectly fine to be who you truly are without caring about what online trolls have to say about it. Lastly, at the front and centre of the shot is a woman seen lifting the radio as a way of working her muscles. This is to subvert the stereotypes of women as men are displayed in the media most predominantly as the dominant gender who have the muscle. The woman is also portrayed as non-stereotypical woman as she is seen with short hair and a shirt on. Again, this is subverting the ideologies of women in the media as these are the tropes of men so often used.

Additionally, these two shots are another reference to the LGBTQ community in a more explicit manner. The audience can view actual protesters with homophobic messages on their posters as the metaphoric expression for online trolls as well as bullies that do protest against the LGBTQ community. Homophobia is a matter that hasn't been abolished completely and protesters like these people do exist so the singer is shedding light on this to promote collectivism as an ideology to bring society together to finally overcome this homophobic community that is still around. This next shot comes right after as a homosexual couple are seen getting married and clearly take no notice of those protestors who seem to be trying to make an end to the service. The singer again is displaying her new mindset that bullying and homophobia is not something she allows herself to be put down by and these people need to 'calm down'.