Women and Popular Music: Sexuality, Identity, and SubjectivityWomen and Popular Music explores the changing role of women musicians and the ways in which their songs resonate in popular culture. Sheila Whiteley begins by examining the counter-culture's reactionary attitudes to women through the lyrics of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. She explores the ways in which artists like Joplin and Joni Mitchell confronted issues of sexuality and freedom, redefining women's participation in the industry, and assesses the personal cost of their achievements. She considers how stars such as Annie Lennox, Madonna and k.d. lang have confronted issues of gender stereotyping and sexuality, through pop videos for 'Justify My Love' and 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)', and looks at the enduring importance of the singer-songwriter through artists such as Tracey Chapman. Lastly, she assesses the contribution of contemporary artists including Tori Amos, P.J. Harvey and Courtney Love, and asks whether the Spice Girls are just a 'cartoon feminist pop group' or if they provide positive role models for teenage girls. |
Contents
Wonderful world beautiful people The 1960s counter culture and its ideological relationship to women | 22 |
Repressive representations Patriarchy femininities and 1960s rock | 32 |
The personal is political Womens liberation sexuality gender freedom and repression | 44 |
Try just a little bit harder Janis Joplin and the search for personal identity | 51 |
The times they are achangin Folk and the singer songwriter | 72 |
The lonely road Joni Mitchell Blue and female subjectivity | 78 |
Daughters of chaos Patti Smith Siouxsie Sioux and the feminisation of rock | 95 |
Challenging the feminine Annie Lennox androgyneity and illusions of identity | 119 |
Madonna eroticism autoeroticism and desire | 136 |
kd lang a certain kind of woman | 152 |
Talkin bout a revolution Tracy Chapman political uprisings domestic violence and love | 171 |
Authenticity truthfulness and community Tori Amos Courtney Love PJ Harvey and Bjork | 196 |
Artifice and the imperatives of commercial success From Brit Pop to the Spice Girls | 214 |
Discography | 230 |
236 | |
Other editions - View all
Women and Popular Music: Sexuality, Identity, and Subjectivity Sheila Whiteley No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
album Annie Lennox artists associated audience band bass Beatles Björk blues boys challenge characterised chord chorus confrontation connotations constructed counter culture dance debut discourse discussion dream effect emphasis equally example experience expression fantasy feel female feminine feminism feminist focus gender guitar Ibid identification identity imagery implies initially insight Irigaray Janis Joplin Joni Mitchell Justify My Love k.d. lang lang's language lesbian Little Earthquakes London Madonna male masculine melody Mitchell's move movement musicians O'Brien opening P.J. Harvey particular Patti Smith phrase play poetic political popular music problems provides punk record reflected relationship representations resonates rhythm rhythmic Rolling Stones Routledge semiotic sense sexual significant singer songwriter singing Siouxsie social song specifically Spice Girls structure suggests symbolic tension tion Tori Amos Tracy Chapman traditional underlying underpins verse vocal delivery vocal line woman Women in Rock women performers words