Music videos are an important part of popular culture that have been used to explore various aspects of identity, including gender and sexual orientation. Queerness is a fluid concept that encompasses many different identities, experiences, and expressions, making it difficult for musicians to represent authentically in their work. Visual and narrative strategies in music videos can help artists navigate this challenge by providing new ways to express themselves and connect with audiences. By using these techniques, they can subvert mainstream norms and expectations while still appealing to a broader audience. In this essay, I will examine how visual and narrative strategies in music videos negotiate queer subversion, mainstream appeal, and audience interpretation, influencing public understanding of queer identities.
Let's look at how visual strategies can be used to subvert mainstream norms and expectations around queerness. One way that artists can do this is through the use of nontraditional or unexpected imagery.
Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" music video features a diverse cast of characters that defy traditional gender roles, including drag performers and people of color. The video also includes scenes of same-sex intimacy and nudity, which were controversial at the time but helped to normalize such representations. Similarly, Troye Sivan's "My My My!" video features him dancing with other men and wearing revealing clothing, challenging conventional notions of masculinity and heteronormativity. These types of visuals can help to subvert existing norms and encourage viewers to rethink their assumptions about sexuality and identity.
Narrative strategies can be used to explore themes of queerness in new and creative ways.
Taylor Swift's "You Need To Calm Down" video features a variety of LGBTQ+ characters who come together to celebrate diversity and reject hate. The storyline follows a group of friends as they confront homophobic individuals who try to stop their party, eventually triumphing over adversity. By telling a story that centers on queer experiences and struggles, the video helps to humanize these identities and make them more relatable to audiences. Other videos may take a more abstract approach, using metaphorical or surreal elements to convey complex ideas about gender and sexuality. Bjork's "All Is Full Of Love" is an example of this, featuring an androgynous figure who sheds its skin to become both male and female.
Audience interpretation plays a crucial role in how music videos shape public understanding of queer identities. Viewers bring their own biases and preconceptions to the table when watching these works, meaning that some will interpret them differently than others. This can lead to misunderstandings and misrepresentations, particularly if artists are trying to push boundaries. It's important for musicians to consider how their work might be received by different groups and adjust their messaging accordingly. At the same time, it's also important for viewers to be open-minded and willing to engage with new perspectives.
Visual and narrative strategies in music videos can help artists navigate the challenges of representing queerness authentically while still appealing to a broad audience. By subverting mainstream norms and expectations, exploring diverse identities and experiences, and considering the impact of audience interpretation, artists can create powerful works that challenge our assumptions about sexuality and identity. As we continue to grapple with issues of representation and inclusion, these types of media will play a critical role in helping us understand and celebrate diversity.
How do visual and narrative strategies in music videos negotiate queer subversion, mainstream appeal, and audience interpretation, influencing public understanding of queer identities?
The relationship between music videos, sexuality, gender identity, and public perception is complicated and multifaceted. Music videos that employ visual and narrative strategies can both reinforce and challenge dominant cultural norms, while also shaping the way people understand and interpret queer identities.