What is "mainstream" music?
Mainstream music refers to popular songs that are played on commercial radio stations, television shows, and movies. It includes genres such as pop, rock, hip hop, country, and R&B. Mainstream music often has a wide appeal and is designed to be accessible to a broad audience.
What is "underground" music?
Underground music refers to styles of music that are not widely known or commercially successful. It may include genres such as punk, metal, electronic dance music, and experimental music. Underground music often appeals to smaller groups of people who have specific interests and tastes.
How do mainstream and underground music differ from each other?
Mainstream music tends to be more polished and commercially viable than underground music. It also tends to focus on mass appeal, while underground music can be more edgy and challenging. Both types of music have their own unique subcultures and communities, but they often operate within different economic structures and social contexts.
How does mainstream music influence cultural perceptions of queerness?
Mainstream music frequently portrays queerness in stereotypical ways, such as through gender-bending performances or sexualized lyrics. This can reinforce negative stereotypes about queer people and normalize certain behaviors that are considered taboo or transgressive.
It can also help to bring attention to issues of LGBTQ+ identity and visibility.
Can underground music challenge these norms?
Underground music can challenge the dominant narratives that are presented by mainstream media.
Some underground rap artists use queer themes in their lyrics to express resistance against heteronormative culture. Others use experimental sounds to explore new forms of expression and representation.
How do queer individuals interact with both types of music?
Queer individuals may consume both mainstream and underground music for a variety of reasons. Some may see themselves reflected in mainstream music, while others may seek out underground music to find validation for their identities. Either way, music can provide an important source of connection and community for queer individuals who feel marginalized in other areas of society.
What role does mainstream music play in normalizing queer identities, and how does it interact with underground or subcultural queer expression?
Mainstream music has played an important role in normalizing queer identities by providing representation and visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals who may not have seen themselves reflected in popular culture before. This can be seen in recent years as more mainstream artists such as Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, and Miley Cyrus have come out as gay, nonbinary, and pansexual respectively, and their songs about these experiences have gained widespread popularity.