Representations of Celebrity

Representations of Taylor Swift

Text 1: Taylor Swift 1989 album cover

Taylor Swift has represented herself by wearing a white pullover jumper that has a print of seagulls flying through the sky and by choosing to wear natural make-up with her iconic red lipstick. The choice to make her appearance minimalistic can connote innocence and freedom. The print on her jumper is brought out by the lack of colour of bright colours in the rest of the image, birds are often used to represent freedom so the use of them on her jumper fading into the rest of the picture can make the image look calming. The red lipstick connotes a classic/vintage feel which Taylor is well known for. The clothes and make-up that Taylor is wearing is brought out by the background which is an off-white colour which helps enhance the white/pale colours on the rest of image.

The encoders have chosen to show Taylor in a MS with her face cut off by the boarder to make the image seem less like a photo-shoot and more like a classic polaroid picture. It takes Taylor out of the lime light and her pop star persona and makes the image seem natural and represent the idea of her music being innocent. The boarder of the image is made out to be like a polaroid picture which connote a vintage feel which links to the name of the album ‘1989’ which to a known Swift fan is the year she was born. The encoders have chosen to use a lot of white on this album because it helps represents Swift’s innocence and reminiscent. The chosen font/copy gives a very personal feeling to the album as if each album is personally handwritten by the pop star.

The preferred reading is that Taylor’s music is very personal and about events and feeling that she’s been through in her past which is now captured in time through this album. The album is very simple and the preferred reading is that her music is also simple

Text 2: Rolling Stone magazine (Taylor Swift 'Heart Break kids')

Taylor is represented very differently to her usual representations of her being ‘Innocent’. This cover represents Swift with an ‘rock star edge’ and a sex icon. Taylor's outfit is a white t-shirt with mustard coloured high-shorts and a blue/gold varsity jacket. This outfit juxtaposes the representation of her being sex Icon as she bares a lot of skin instead of the innocent country girl she is usually portrayed as. Swift’s hair is loose and in her face giving her a rockier look as she is seen moving her hair to reveal her face, her make-up is also very natural however she has a lot eye make-up on which helps enhance her eyes as she looks directly into the camera.

The encoders of the magazine are representing Swift as a sex icon with an edge instead of her usual persona. Swift is shown in MS as she’s sitting down. The encoders have shown her sitting because it is able so show Swift’s notorious long shapely legs. The encoders have shown Taylor with a white background also helps to emphasize Swift’s long features to help represent her as a ‘Sex icon’. The encoders have also labelled Swift as ‘The heartbreak kid’. This also links the representation of Swift with ‘edge’ this not only linking to the songstress’s music but on a personal level as well.

The target audience for this magazine would be people between the ages for 15-30, however the typical audience member for this specific issue would probably be girls due to Taylor's following mainly being female. The audience would be interested in music and popular culture within the music world since this is what rolling stone mainly focuses on. The target audience would probably an out-going person who could use this magazine for social needs.

Text 3: Taylor Swift advertising 'Keds'

Yet again Swift is represented through her clothing, however in this text she is also represented through her body language. Swift is seen cuddling with other models in the advert showing that she is a welcoming, out-going, and in a way a trend-setter. Taylor is sitting top of a wall with her arms over the fellow models shoulders pulling them into her. This shows Taylor as a confident friendly person. Swift also is wearing a blue skirt showing her long legs, which then emphasizes the brightly coloured shoes (The product) that she is wearing. To the left there are three images, two don’t show swift being the model however the middle shows her walking along the wall with the other models. She is seen with her arms out and looking happy, this then links to the representation of her being out-going.

The encoders have shown Swift and the other models in a LS which helps separate the models from the product which are all shown in front of the white wall. The encoders have shown Taylor with other models instead of alone like in the previous two texts, this then helping to connote that Swift is a friendly, out-going person. The encoders have also chosen the copy to say ‘Brave inspires brave.’ This then suggesting that Swift is the ‘Trend-setter’ who has dared to wear the product and has then inspired the other models to wear the same. The encoders have used the rule of thirds to separate the product, models and copy. However, they have used this to show Swift off centre and in between the other models this then suggesting that she is the centre of attention and that people should be aware of the products she is wearing. The advert shows Swift as an average girl with her friends having fun during the summer and wants to make sure that she is wearing the best looking products, this then creating a bond with the audience who are mainly young girls who can see identify with her.

Text 4: Billboard magazine article (Extract)

The image shown is a photo from a photoshoot taken of Swift, it helps represent her as dramatic yet classy. The image yet again shows Swift in a different light because it is dark coloured, mysterious background compared to what she is wearing. She is also shown lying on a floor but leaning on a chair whilst looking into a camera. Yet again Swift is represented through her appearance and this time showing a classy side to her by wearing a stylist dress.

The encoders have chosen the headline of the article to say ‘Billboard Woman of the Year Taylor Swift on Writing Her Own Rules, Not Becoming a Cliché and the Hurdle of Going Pop.’ This represents Swift as a hardworking, determined artist who is highly accomplished within her career. In the actual article the encoders have spoken about some of Taylor’s achievements in the extract Taylor says ‘Everyone, in and out of the music business, kept telling me that my opinion and my viewpoint was naïve and overly optimistic-even my own label’’ This chosen extract from what Taylor spoke about represents her as a very optimistic, confident person who is very confident that her work is of a very good standard. The article then goes on to talk about how successful Taylor has been with her album ‘1989’ and the records she has broken. This then representing Swift as a skilful singer.  The songstress has also been represented as a role-model and that she is followed by a lot of people, she is seen as inspiration as she transitions from making country music to pop.

The audience of Billboard magazine would possibly be the same as the audience for the Rolling stone magazine, however I think that this magazine is open to bigger audience who are not only interested in popular music but also pop culture and the successes of a different range of artists. The audience would consider Taylor to be a very accomplished singer and a possible inspiration for aspiring musicians.

In society celebrities and pop culture is seen very important and so the audience would be inspired by the work of the songstress. Fashion also plays a big role within society and is very popular so many celebrities are seen as trend setters and role models which most people will look up to for inspiration.