Taylor Swift the man context

Taylor Swift background

Taylor Swift is one of the world's best-selling artists and is signed to Republic Records.

Taylor Swift star image

Taylor Swift is presented as a determined, independent, and successful artist.

Purpose of the music video

The video is used to promote the song and communicate a strong message about gender inequality.

Genre

The song fits within the pop genre but includes political and social commentary.

Personal experience

The song is written from Taylor Swift's personal experiences in the music industry.

Representation of gender

The video highlights double standards between men and women in society.

Gender inequality

The video shows how men are rewarded for behaviour that women are criticised for.

Feminist message

The video promotes feminist ideas by challenging patriarchal norms.

The Man concept

Taylor Swift imagines how her life would be different if she were male.

Performance of masculinity

Taylor Swift performs as a male character to exaggerate male privilege.

Laura Mulvey - objectification

The video challenges Mulvey's theory by avoiding sexual objectification of women.

Challenging stereotypes

The video challenges traditional gender stereotypes rather than reinforcing them.

Media language - lyrics

The lyrics directly criticise sexism and gender double standards.

Media language - visuals

Visuals such as costumes and behaviour emphasise male privilege.

Audience positioning

The audience is positioned to sympathise with Taylor Swift's perspective.

Audience identification

Female audiences may strongly relate to the experiences shown.

Ideology

The video promotes equality, feminism, and social justice.

Marketing strategy

Taylor Swift's strong star image is used to attract attention and discussion.

Star as a commodity

Taylor Swift is used as a marketing tool to sell music and messages.

Cross-media promotion

The song and video were promoted across social media, TV, and online platforms.

Cultural context

The video reflects modern debates about gender equality.

Reception

The video gained attention for its bold feminist message.

Power and success

The video shows how success is celebrated more when achieved by men.

Ending message

The final scene reinforces the idea that women are judged more harshly than men.