1. Original Music Video Review
Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars - Safe & Sound
Introduction
The music video that I will be analysing is Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars. This
music video is a mixture of both performance and narrative but is symbolic and is from the indie
genre. One of the aspects that make this a symbolic music video would be the lighting. This is
because the lighting reflects the mood through the music video. For example, when the lighting is
dark in the music video, the mood is darker and more negative, whereas when the lighting is
brighter in the music video, the mood is happier and more positive. This music video creates a
narrative through the scenes as it shows a young woman, the artist, walking through fields and
forests and coming across a destroyed house, in which she finds a brooch. The song used in the
music video is about death or losing a loved one, and the artist in the music video could be
mourning the death of someone. The lyrics of the song are represented in the music video, which
makes it symbolic. An example of this would be when the artist sings “Don’t leave me here
alone,” she can be seen alone in the woods.
Jamey Cunningham

2. In the beginning of the music video, an establishing shot is used to show the audience where this scene will be set. From the first
screenshot below, we can see that the first scene is set in a cabin in the woods. When looking at the image below, we can tell that it
is night time from the natural dark lighting and the light coming from the inside of each window suggests that somebody is in the
cabin.
The second screenshot shows two members of the band sitting in front of a fireplace whilst the male is playing a guitar. Both of the
band members are wearing dark clothing and have messy hair. The female band member is sat in front of the fire cross legged.
Neither of the band members are looking at the camera or acknowledging the fact that it is there. This could make the scene seem
more intimate as the audience would feel like they are a part of the scene and are there with the band. The fact that the lighting is
dark both inside and out creates a darker mood and shows that there is something wrong or that the characters are upset, giving the
audience a negative feeling and making them empathise with the characters in the music video.
In the fourth image, the lighting is dark which may suggest that the mood of the music video is darker and more negative. The scene
then switches to the artist laid on the ground and the lighting is also very dark, which again creates a negative mood in the music
video and shows that something sad or art is happening. Because the song is about death, this would create a sad emotion as she
might be mourning the death of a loved one. In the fifth image, the lighting is brighter which may suggest that the mood has lifted
slightly and is more positive now. In the sixth image, the artist can be seen walking towards the sun and the lighting is significantly
brighter. This could represent death sand how she is moving into the light.
Lighting
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3. Settings
The main locations throughout the music video are:
1. Cabin
2. Inside cabin
3. Field
4. Forest
5. Cottage
6. Pond
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4. Setting 1 - Cabin
This image shows the first location used in the music video. This is the outside of a cabin, which
may have been used to relate to the audience as this might be a location that they live in or
have been to before. The fact that it is dark outside shows us that it is night time and the lights
shining from the windows make it look more welcoming and inviting.

5. Setting 2 - Inside the Cabin
This image shows the inside of the cabin. This location may have been used to show that the characters
live there and relate to the audience as it looks like a home, which most people have. The cosiness of the
room and the fireplace make the location look warm and inviting for the audience. This location is
relatable to the audience as it is a living room of a home, which most of the audience will have in their
house. The fact that an open fire is used may relate to the audience as it makes you think of what time of
day it might be, which is night time. An open fire could also be seen as romantic, which could suggest that
the two people are a couple.

6. Setting 3 - Field
The location shown in the image is a field. This image shows that the location is very isolated
and secluded and the artist will be very lonely whilst walking around there. This is symbolic as it
links to the song as it is about loneliness and losing people. The atmosphere is very foggy and
misty which creates an eerie surrounding and could make the audience think of death. The fact
that the tree is dead could represent the how death is near for the artist as the song is about
dying. This location may have been used to relate to the audience as there are many fields and
they might live near one.

7. Setting 4 -Forest
This image shows that the scene is set in a forest. The scene may have been set in a
forest to make the audience feel like the artist is lost and confused as people often get
lost in forests. This location may have been used to relate to the audience as they may
live near a forest or have been to one. This lyrics of the song include the line “Don’t
leave me here alone”, which could link to this location as the artist wouldn’t want to be
left alone in the forest. The forest may have been used to show the artist’s loneliness as
forest can represent isolation.

8. Setting 5 - Pond
This image shows that the scene is set at a pond. The scenes prior to this show the
character walking through the forest and fields to get to the pond. A pond may have been
used as it is free to use and very simple. The audience could relate to this location if they
have ever been to a pond or live near one. In the song, there is a line which says "come
morning light," which could link to the location used in this scene as the sky in the distance
looks looks quite misty as if the sun is about to rise.

9. Setting 6 - Cottage
This image shows the inside of a cottage which the artist walks through the forests and
fields to get to. This song is part of a soundtrack for The Hunger Games film series this
location may have been used to represent the setting of the film and the parts of the
‘districts’ that the characters live in as the home is destroyed. The house has no
windows and the walls have been ruined, which could have been done to make the
audience empathise with the character.

10. Costumes- Female
The artist is wearing a long white dress with bare feet; this may suggest that she has been walking for a
long time as she looks dishevelled. The dress that she is wearing looks like a night dress; this, along with
the messy hair and bare feet could suggest that she has just gotten out of bed. We can see that she has
messy hair and is quite pale, because the song is about death, this could suggest that she is a ghost. The
fact that the character’s clothes are white could suggest that she is innocent and pure, and therefore
creates a positive feeling in the music video.
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11. Costumes- Male
The male character in the music video is wearing a black blazer, white shirt and black trousers,
the fact that the colours are dark and the opposite of the female character could represent death,
as that is what the song is about or may suggest that he is a bad character and therefore would
create a negative feeling for the audience. The male costume in the music video looks to be quite
modern and trendy, which is likely in an indie music video as the artist usually set trends for the
audience. This also means that the audience will be able to relate to the costume if they follow
the same fashion trends. The costumes in this music video challenge the codes and conventions
of indie music videos as they are simple and not extravagant like most costumes found in indie
music videos.

12. Camera Angles
In the first screenshot, a mid shot is used to show the artist and the flowers she is holding in
her hand. She is walking through a field alone whilst singing; this may have been done to
make the audience feel empathy towards her as she is upset and alone. In the second
screenshot, a close-up is used to show the emotion and facial expressions of the artist whilst
she is singing. The audience would relate to the artist’s emotions as they can see how she is
feeling. In the third shot, an over-the-shoulder shot is used whilst the artist is walking through
the field so that the audience can follow her and feel like part of the music video.
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13. The fourth shot is a wide shot of the artist is walking through a field. A wide shot may have been used
purposefully to show the audience where she is to make it look as if she feels lost or alone. The fifth
shot in the music video is a mid shot, which has been used to show the artist and her emotions whilst
also showing a small section of the background to show the audience where she is. The sixth shot is an
extreme close up of the artist’s mouth whilst she is singing. This could have been done to make the
audience see the artist’s emotion in every word she sings in order to relate to the emotions she is
feeling. In my music video, I could use different camera angles to give the audience an idea of what is
going on from every different angle to make them feel like they are in the music video and can engage
with it.
Camera Angles
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14. Props
In the first image we can see that the artist has picked up something from the table below her,[1] then in the second image
we can see that it is a metal brooch pin. [2] She is holding the prop carefully which could suggest that it is expensive or
sacred and because the song is about death, it could belong to someone that has died. Furthermore, this prop is used in
The Hunger Games, which the song is a part of the soundtrack of. Another example of props being used in the music video
would be when the artist is walking through a field holding a bunch of flowers. [3] The flowers look wilted and brown, which
could also represent death in the music video from the song. This scene uses the codes and conventions of an indie music
video; it includes props that could represent wealth as the girl in the music video is holding the brooch and the rest of the
house she is in is worn down and destroyed, which could suggest that all she has left is the badge. The badge makes the
music video relate to the film that the song was written for as it is a prop in the film. Furthermore, the flowers that she is
holding are dead and look as if she has picked them herself from the ground, which could suggest that she can’t afford to
buy a fresh bunch of flowers. The male artist in the music video is using a guitar to perform the song. This may suggest that
he is in a band and may make the audience relate to him. [4]
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15. CGI
CGI is used in the music video to make the deer look as if it is disappearing to show that
everything around her is dying and she is alone. The CGI would have been used as the crew that
made the music video would not have been able to make a real deer dissolve and disappear like
that. Although CGI is not important in indie music videos, it can make impossible thing possible
and make some things look more realistic. The way that the animal is stood shows that it is not
scared and is strong and calm whilst it is disappearing.
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16. Body Language
In the first image, the artist is holding a bunch of flowers which are brown and wilted. The artist
is holding the flowers with both hands very close to her body which could show that the flowers
are special to her as she is keeping them close as if she is guarding them. This may suggest that
she is keeping them safe because she is going to give the flowers as a gift to someone.
The second image shows the artist walking through a forest; she has her arms very close to her
sides and her head turned as if she is becoming aware of her surroundings; this could suggest
that she is scared whilst walking through the forest as she is alone and isolated.
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17. How does this music video follow the
genre codes and conventions?
This music video follows the codes and conventions of indie music videos as it includes simple
and isolated locations which would have been very inexpensive to use, which is important in indie
music videos as they have a very low budget. The music video also follows the codes and
conventions of indie music videos through the use of props. In many indie music videos props are
used to represent the artist; in this music video the artist can be seen holding dead flowers which
could have been used to represent the death she is going through. Although the music video
follows some codes and conventions of indie music videos, there are some however, that it does
not follow. These include elaborate costumes that might have bright colours and patterns, but the
costumes in this music video are very simple yet trendy. Furthermore, this music video does not
include makeup to show time as the main character is wearing very natural makeup to make her
look innocent and pure.

18. Was it successful?
This music video was quite successful as it followed the codes and conventions of music videos
from the indie genre by using simple locations such as the field and props that represent the
artist such as the flowers.
One of the elements that have made this music successful would be the lighting in the music
video which creates an atmosphere for the mood of the song of which the artist can relate to. For
example, when the mood is negative, the lighting is darker whereas when the lighting is brighter
the negative mood has been lifted. I think that this music video may also be successful as the
audience could relate to the narrative, if they too have lost someone close to them.