Troye Sivan

“One of Your Girls”

General Conventions Analysis
GC1: Lyrics and Visual Narrative
• The video is a mixture of performance and narrative
• There is narrative enigma (Barthes) when close-ups of
female accessories are shown, exposition shows it to be
the singer in drag
• The message of the song is of the singer feeling hidden in
a homosexual relationship, therefore wishing to be “one
of the girls”
• The narrative is elliptical (Vernallis) but as the video
progresses the singer gets more upset
• There are several male representations also featured in
the video, and there is a relationship denoted between
one of them and the singer, but it is not anchored
GC2: Genre Characteristics
• The genre of the song is pop, and the set
and costumes are very curated
• The singer is glamorous and conventionally
attractive, and so are the other models in the
video
• There is a controlled studio setting and
dance moves, which can be replicated to the
song
• There is a wide representation in the video,
which appeals to a mainstream audience
GC3: • The model the singer dances with is another
Australian singer and actor named Ross Lynch,
Intertextuality which Sivan’s fanbase would recognize
and • The singer wears merchandise for his “Rush”
Postmodernism album
GC4: Representations
• At the start, men of different ethnicities, ages, and
physical appearance are represented
• As the singer and target audience are
homosexuals, these men appeal to the male
(homosexual) gaze, and the female gaze
• The singer initially appears performing (Butler)
to male gender norms, and therefore appeals to the
male (homosexual) gaze, and the female gaze
• Once the singer wears drag, he appeals to the the
male/homosexual gaze, and the
female/homosexual gaze due to the target
audience
• The female dancers are wearing little clothing and
could also be interpreted as appealing to the male
gaze (Mulvey)
 • There is use of black and white and colour shots to
GC5: distinguish from fantasy and reality
• The editing matches the tempo
Cinematography • The shots are far (ELS, LS), or with close-ups of
and Editing faces or items
• The lighting is high-key, and in a studio, showing the
higher budget and professional effect
Notable Marketing
• There is product placement for the high
fashion brand Yves St Laurent’s makeup
line
• The feature of actor/singer Ross Lynch is a
useful promotion tactic
• The music video was teased at a Spotify
listening party in a queer New York City
club called Outer Heaven
Possible Influences
• The use of a single set
• Large representation
• Elliptical storyline hinted from the song
• Choreography that can be replicated
• Product placement