music videos in the youtube age

 

Taylor Swift's first music video was 'Tim McGraw'. I think that the label was trying to portray Taylor Swift as a hopeless romantic girl-next-door type. In Taylor's first few music videos, it starts off with her getting hurt by a boy however in Tim McGraw, the music starts right away and it shows her laying on the grass. I think the label was making it blatantly obvious that Taylor is a sweet country girl. With her look, she has very natural hair and makeup and is wearing sweet outfits (dresses and blue jeans). The video is simple, with shots of Taylor singing and playing the guitar in country settings and her and the boy sharing romantic moments together. I think that they portrayed her like this so that her audience can relate to her, she isn't wearing extravagant outfits and she is doing things that many other girls have experienced. I think the label was setting Taylor up to be every girl's go-to breakup-song artist. 

 

Comparing her Tim McGraw video to her other videos on the "Taylor Swift" album, the video is far more simple and relatable. 

For example, in Taylor's 'Teardrops On My Guitar" and "Our Song" Taylor is not seen in everyday settings in the same light, although there is always a shot of Taylor with her guitar but after "Tim McGraw" the shots get more glamorous with changes in setting and outfit. 

Throughout Taylor's early career, the label consistently markets Taylor as a relatable teenage girl with boy problems.