Sexing the Groove: Popular Music and Gender

Description

Why is record collecting associated with men and not women? Why are female singers well-known but female guitarists and drummers overlooked? Are record companies misogynistic? What different ideas about masculinity are represented by Bruce Springsteen and the Pet Shop Boys? Can there be such a thing as a Female Elvis? How do Take That videos represent the erotic male body? Sexing the Groove provides the answers to these questions and many more, bringing together leading international music and cultural theorists to explore the relationship between popular music, gender and sexuality. Using a variety of methodologies and a wide range of case studies, from Mick Jagger to Riot Grrrls, the contributors describe and debate how pop music performers, subcultures, fans and texts construct and deconstruct 'masculine' and 'feminine' identites. Sexing the Groove is structured into sections focusing on rock music culture, masculinities and popular music, women and popular music, and music, image and identity. Each section begins with an introductory essay which contextualises the individual essays and situates them within the overall argument of the collection: that there is nothing 'natural', permanent or immovable about the regime of sexual difference which governs society and culture. Sexing the Groove also includes a comprehensive annotated bibliography for further reading and research into gender and popular music. Mavis Bayton, Ruskin College, Oxford, Stella Bruzzi, Royal Holloway, University of London, Norma Coates, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, Sara Cohen, University of Liverpo

"[Contains] kernals of insight.."-"Entertainment Weekly "Lively writing on pop music and gender.."-"Inquirer, Philadelphia ..."an excellent, much-needed book and would make an excellent gift for any rock musician/women's studies students in your life."-"Feminist Bookstore News "A good reference tool for the aspiring music scholar and as such, a sound basis for ever-continuing exploration into the nature of gender in popular music."-"Austin Chronicle ..."a well-written theory text."-"Xtra