Before Taylor Swift released her music video to Blank Space, I already had a preconceived idea of what the video would be about. I expected the video to be cheeky and flirty, as Taylor Swift poked fun at the media’s obsession with her dating life, throwing just enough shade at her “long list of ex-lovers” while still appearing composed and confident. I expected it to include the free-spirited, upbeat essence of Shake It Off and 22, the cheekiness of We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, and just a bit of a rebellious I’m much stronger without you attitude like in her Picture to Burn video.
My prediction was completely wrong.
I had expected Swift to play into the media’s portrayal of her as the obsessive, clingy, boy-crazy girl who can’t keep a boyfriend for more than a couple months to a degree, but I never predicted just how committed to this role she would be.
“Got a long list of ex-lovers, they’ll tell you I’m insane“
Insane. Deranged. Lunatic. Swift doesn’t hold anything back in her music video. She allows herself to go absolutely, full-blown, (think bats in the belfry…) crazy. Swift completely lets loose, finally releasing years of her frustration, heartbreak and anger that has built up from her many failed relationships.
Swift’s video chronicles the complete deterioration of a perfect fairytale relationship, the absolute antithesis of her “Love Story” video from 6 years ago. It can best be described as a fairytale that has quickly gone horribly, horribly wrong.
(0:11) The video starts off by introducing who appears to be Mr. Prince Charming. The stereotypical fairytale is set up. Huge mansion. A gorgeous prince. Ballroom Dancing. White horses. Of course, the audience knows that the only way this fairytale can go is downhill.
(1:51) At this point, we start to see the beginning of their relationship’s deterioration, as Swift looks over with jealously at her texting boyfriend.
(2:08) Things have definitely started to escalate by now.
(2:30) By this point in the video, Swift has gone into full-blown crazy mode. Her transformation from calm to crazy is about the equivalent to Jack’s slip into insanity in Stephen King’s “The Shining.”
(2:54) During the bridge of the song, Swift plays a dystopian Snow White as she performs some strange apple voodoo on her “prince.”
(3:20) Here she takes at stab her man’s heart. By stabbing a white, heart-shaped cake.
(3:29) Swift takes Miley’s idea of “can’t be tamed” to a whole new level.
(3:32) Swift basically screams “Screw everything and everyone, I don’t care!” as she stands atop a white horse, much like the one in her Love Story video.
(3:40) She completely just does not care what people think of her anymore.
(3:42) Yep. She’s acting crazy.
So why exactly has Swift’s music video spread so quickly and become the topic on hundreds of television shows, news sources and social media? Sure, she goes absolutely ballistic. That has a lot to do with it. But many artists today, such as Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, have released completely, utterly crazy music videos. What makes Swift’s music video so different that it has encouraged hundreds of online gifs and parodies?
The first reason is that we are not used to seeing Swift acting this way. With artists like Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga, we already expect them to push the envelope with each video. Yet besides being categorized as clingy and boy-obsessed by the media, she has maintained a pretty calm, normal “girl-next-door” image. Compared to other celebrities like Miley Cyrus who portray these outlandish, over-the-top lifestyles, Swift’s life could be considered by some as conservative and well, a bit boring. So when we hear she is coming out with a new music video? We don’t expect to see anything completely out of the ordinary. So when she comes out with this absolutely unexpected, outrageous video, we are automatically surprised. We are not used to seeing Swift in this way.
However, the triumph of the Blank Space video goes well beyond its shock value. Very few times in the media do we see celebrities fully able to embrace their perceived flaws and make fun of themselves. Sure, it does happen. For example, rapper Iggy Azalea recently had the last laugh when she dressed up as a character from “White Chicks” in response to the internet joke that she looked like one of the characters.
Swift raised the level even higher, creating an entire music video parodying herself. In an interview with SiriusXM, she even admits that she started writing the song as a joke. She says, “I was just kind of sitting around thinking about how the media has kind of had a field day talking about what they think my personal life is like.” She goes on to describe how the media has”drawn up this fictitious profile of this girl who’s a serial-dater, and she’s over emotional and she’s this unstable, completely clingy, needy nightmare.” Instead of continuing to fight against the this negative portrayal of her, she decided to fully embrace it.
What is so refreshing about the video is that Swift doesn’t hold anything back. She isn’t afraid to appear unattractive. This is something that we don’t often see in the entertainment industry. In an industry so centered around outward appearances, even the craziest music videos usually still portray the artist as attractive. Even if the artist is a mess, at least they’re a hot mess. But by the end of Blank Space, Swift is just a mess. Which is why we love her.
In today’s dating world, being called “clingy” or “obsessive” is one of the worst traits a woman could be labeled. After a breakup, every girl wants to channel her inner Beyonce “Singles Lady” attitude, the I could care less what you think attitude. These “girl power post-breakup” songs are great mood lifters—I’ve even written an article on them. In a perfect world, every girl would automatically become a complete carefree, bada***, confident, flirt-master after heartbreak. Because to act like you still care after being broken up with? You’re automatically clingy, obsessive, crazy…cue every other “psycho ex-girlfriend” stereotype.
Swift doesn’t even try to channel her inner-Beyonce.
But Swift understands that this is real life, and in real life, heartbreak can still hurt long after the initial stab. She doesn’t try to put on an act. She doesn’t even attempt to pull off the ideal cool, calm and collected ex-girlfriend. She illustrates that sometimes, heartbreak hurts. Really hurts. She lets loose the inner psycho ex-girlfriend that’s hiding in all of us. Her video is a visual narration of the often erratic, insane, overwhelming, and even violent thoughts that go through a girls mind after a breakup. She expresses what most girls are expected to keep to themselves.
And this is why I respect her so much.
Taylor’s Swift’s Blank Space music video transcends well beyond it’s shocking, over-the-top storyline. It shows America’s sweetheart’s transformation from calm to completely insane in four minutes. Swift fully embraces the media’s criticisms of her, illustrating the inner psycho ex-girlfriend in all of us, without any restraints. Her music video is far from what we expected, but exactly what we wanted.