Analysis of Katy Perry's One of the Boys poster

1. Lara Dobson
Katy Perry – One ofthe Boys
Genre – Pop
Characters
The onlycharacter presentisthe artistKaty Perry.The outfitthat
she iswearingsuggestsadifferenterathanshe livesin.It
representsthe 1950’s era and makesherseemlike atypical house
wife.Thisisa stereotypical viewof womeninthe 1950’s as they
are all seenasuselesswomenwhocanonlylookafterchildren.
The use of the term,‘One of the Boys’,suggeststhathercharacter
wantsto breakout of the stereotypicalview of womenand
become anequal memberof society.Thisrelatestoatheory by
Strinati whichsayspostmodernismcreatesconfusionovertime
and space.Thisisevidenthere asshe isa contemporarystar inan alternate era.The facial
expressionof KatyPerrysuggestsdisgustwhichcouldreference tothe horrible waywomenare
beingtreatedinthe 1950’s. Thisis an accurate representationof womeninthiseraasit wasthe
beginningof the women’smovement. The bricolage of the combinationof suggeststhe use of
postmodernisminthe poster.Thisisanexample of Strinati’s‘confusionovertime andspace’theory
as eras a contemporaryartistisinthe eraof the 50’s.
Narrative
I believethe narrative behindthisisawomanwhowantsto be seenas an equal insociety,hence
the reference ‘One of the Boys’.Thisisshownthrough the disgustedfacial expression thatthe
character has and the veryclosedoff anddisgruntledstance she has.However,the factwe have no
backgroundinformationonwhyshe isinthe settingshe ishas createda narrative enigma. Another
feature of the posterthat createsa narrative enigmaisthe propof the lollipop. Ibelieve thatit
representsherheartandshe isholdingitto show herreignoverit andhow she won’tleta male
control her.
Iconography
The love heartthat she is holdingcouldsymbolise the holdshe hasonherheart whichcouldrelate
the narrative enigmainthe story.However,itcouldbe thatshe isholdingthe heartof someone she
lovestokeeptheminhergrasp or that she wantsto throw itaway.Anothericonicpropis the shirt
she iswearingas itremindsme of anothersong of herscalledCaliforniaGirlsasthe colourpinkand
the red strawberriesare seeninthe musicvideotothatsong.
Setting
She seemstobe in the back gardenof a householdinthe eras of the 50’s. The paddlingpool
suggeststhatshe may have children,makingherseemlike asuburbanhousewifeormother.Thisisa
stereotypical representationof the waywomenwere picturedinthe 50’s as theywere seenas
objectstoacquire rather thana partner. The costume that KatyPerryis wearingalsocontributesto
the feel of the 1950’s as it iswhat a common womanwouldwearas a way to attract attentionfrom
men.
Technical Codes

2. Lara Dobson
The posteris a longshot of Katy Perryina background,showingherfull body.The way she is
standingisclosedoff yetseenassensual inthe 50’s whichmaybe whythe image has beendone asa
longshotrather than a close up.The longshithelpsaddcontexttothe posterand how the songs
relate tothat era.