Troye Sivan’s viral music video for his single ‘One of your Girls’ caused a lot of conversation online for its explict ideologies.
In the video, Troye dresses as a woman while dancing on singer/actor Ross Lynch, best known for the Disney show ‘Austin and Ally.’
In my opinion, there are 2 main spectator points for the video. One of these is the idea of how empowering it is to be a woman and to feel confident in your own body. Troye seems to excell in confidence when in his ‘alter ego’ and exaggeratedly poses in multiple shots, emphasizing this power that he feels.
Another reading, that I align with, is that Troye is showing vocal support for the lgbtq+ community. He, someone who identifies as a man, is referencing that he could be ‘one of your girls’ clearly showing that he is interested in the other men presented in the video. He does not conform to the main, heterosexual ideologies that are prominent in most Hollywood media. He is proud of who he is and wants to show the world.
The shots in the video maintain a key focus on Troye. A medium shot type is often used, with him mostly centered in the middle making sure we focus on his actions. The background is plain white, no distractions. We are meant to watch Troye dance and as the video progresses almost forget that he is dressed up but rather see him as a character in the video.
In the shot with the two other girls, there is a sense of inclusiveness, the other girls are from different ethnicities etc. Everybody is welcome to feel confident in themselves and to be who they want to be with no discrimination or judgements allowed.
The close up shots of Troye lipsincing the lyrics to the song are especially powerful, as we maintain strong eye contact with him, making the audience connect with his ideologies and beliefs. We feel a sense of respect and appreciation for him.
The video is clearly made with a young, female spectatorship in mind. Formely mentioned Ross Lynch is a key star for late teens/ early twenties girls, as they grew up with him on their tv screens. He is presented to them clearly, establishing a preconceived interest for them to want to watch the video. The message of inclusion, power and emboldment only further establishes the bond that the girls will make with the video. They are strong and are allowed to be hyper feminine, as well as boys (in the same age range) who may feel uncomfortable of scared to show the side of themselves that Troye so confidently does. The aim is to inspire and show people that they can be whoever they want to be.
The video rejects negative stereotypes of drag and lgbtq+ minorities, presenting instead a positive viewpoint for everyone watching.
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