New Music Video Analysis: I Knew You Were Trouble

Taylor Swift's I Knew You Were Trouble video was one that I found myself watching repeatedly when it was released because it was so interesting and appealed to me. I understand that the video, would particularly not attract boys as it portrays the typical 'bad boy' to be negative, and the relationship she is in to be unhealthy. However the video also explores the many positives of her relationship with the boy, and how it ended too quickly.

The setting of the music video is a desolate desert, which is where the video begins, this could show where she has ended up in their relationship - feeling lost and alone. As the music video has decided to start with this venue, it goes to show how drained and in need of nurturing she is after this damaging relationship, however much alike surviving in a desert, it is impossible, which could show how she feels after the relationship has ended.  As well as this her and her, then, boyfriend are seen in the video running across train tracks, which definitely conveys the danger that they faced being together. With her being so naïve and sweet, whilst he being a stereotypical "bad" boy, it definitely foreshadows that there is danger to come in their romance.

Lighting is also used throughout the video to show the intense highs and lows of their relationship. For example in the early days of the relationship - and the first few minutes of the video - bright natural lighting is used to show the new passions of their relationship. For example the natural light as they drive happily in the beginning could suggest there was no signs of disruption to the relationship at this point, and they were open and honest with one another - no one was kept in the dark. However later on in the video, they are at a concert/ gig and flashing lights are used heavily to illuminate his face, which could arguably show the danger signs of the relationship. As flashing lights are often used to represent danger which occurs shortly after they appear when he is unfaithful to his love interest.