A2 MEDIA STUDIES
G324
Advanced Portfolio
Candidate Number: 9217
Taylor Swift's image has transformed over time, which is shown through the progression of her albums. Taylor's first album 'Taylor Swift' was released in 2006. On this albulm cover taylor is seen to be shown in high key lighting, the use of high key lighting is used to emphaisis taylors youthful value. Also with a natural and environmental background, the blue and green patterned background which shows butterflies connotes that Taylor is down to earth and lovable. Appealing to her target audience of teenage girls. At the beginning of her career, Taylor Swift was constructed as a youthful, creative and talented singer as she started her career as a country singer. However as Taylor got older she was gradually constructed to become a more sexualised and glamourous 'pop star'.
In 2010, Taylor released her third album 'Speak now'. Although there is no drastic change from her previous album covers 'fearless' and 'taylor swift'. Her image has started to make small changes. For example, on both the 'Speak now' and 'red' album covers Taylor is wearing red lipstick. The use of the red lipstick has been used to try and make Taylor more sexualised, this will therfore extend taylors target audience from just teenage girls to a more mass audience. Also, within the 'red' album cover, Taylors hair is slightly straighter, by Taylor stepping away from her statement blond curls seen in her past 3 videos. This allows Taylor to keep the iconography of her blonde hair however it also allows her target audience to accept that she is changing her image gradually. This creates longevity for Taylor as she will be able to maintain her audience as they will still see her as the same person they admire.
In 2014, Taylor Swift released her first Pop album called '1989'. Once again Taylor is seen to be wearing red lipstick in order to sexualise her, also the use of using a polaroid for the album cover creates a more edgy image, compared to Taylor's first album in which she was represented as innocent and pure. Also, Taylors image has changed regarding her outfits, hairstyle and make up. Gradually Taylor has been wearing more make up as she has grown up, also she has began wearing more sexualised clothing, such as shorter dresses and shorts and occasionally more darker colours such as black. This shows Taylor in a more sexual way, however due to her changing gradually as she has gotten older she has achieved longevity by her target audeince accepting that she is maturing. Taylor Swift's image currently shows the common values of youthfullness, creativity/talent and most recently sexual magnetism.
