The gay voice in popular music: a social value model analysis of "Don't Leave Me This Way"

Journal/Book: J Homosex. 1991; 21: 185-202.

Abstract: The gay voice in popular music and its potential to create positive social change regarding societal values about homosexuality is the focus of the present study. The historical development of the gay voice in popular music is reviewed as an introduction to a critical analysis of the Communards' music video "Don't Leave Me This Way." Using a modified version of the Social Value Model proposed by Rushing and Frentz, the video is analyzed on three levels: (a) narrative content, (b) use of symbols in the narrative, and (c) lyrical content. It is suggested that this video effected a dialectical synthesis of mainstream and homosexual values because it achieved mainstream commercial success while realistically expressing a gay perspective.

Keyword(s): Conflict Psychology; Social Conformity; Symbolism Psychology Homosexuality psychology; Music ; Social Values Human; Male

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