Men, Masculinity and the BeatlesDrawing on methodologies and approaches from media and cultural studies, sociology, social history and the study of popular music, this book outlines the development of the study of men and masculinities, and explores the role of cultural texts in bringing about social change. It is against this backdrop that The Beatles, as a cultural phenomenon, are set, and their four live action films, spanning the years 1964-1970, are examined as texts through which to read changing representations of men and masculinity in 'the Sixties'. Dr Martin King considers ideas about a male revolt predating second-wave feminism, The Beatles as inheritors of the possibilities of the 1950s and The Beatles' emergence as men of ideas: a global cultural phenomenon that transgressed boundaries and changed expectations about the role of popular artists in society. King further explores the chosen Beatle texts to examine discourses of masculinity at work within them. What emerges is the discovery of discourses around resistance, non-conformity, feminized appearance, pre-metrosexuality, the male star as object of desire, and the emergence of The Beatles themselves as a text that reflected the radical diversity of a period of rapid social change. King draws valuable conclusions about the legacy of these discourses and their impact in subsequent decades. |
Contents
1 Why the Beatles? A Rationale | 1 |
2 Social Change the Sixties and the Beatles | 19 |
3 Men and Masculinities | 45 |
The Role of Representation | 69 |
5 Its Been a Hard Days Night and Ive Been Working Like a Dog | 87 |
6 Help I Need Somebody Help | 107 |
7 Roll Up for the Mystery Tour | 123 |
8 Let It Be | 137 |
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album appearance approach argues arguments Artists audience Beatles become boys British Brittan challenge Chapter concept Connell context continued Copyright cultural debate decade describes discourse discussed draws early emergence establishment event examining example explored fans film four gender George global hair Hard Day’s Night Hearn hegemonic masculinity Help ideas images important influence Inglis interesting John late later Lennon linked live London look Love MacDonald Magical Mystery Tour male Marwick masculinity McCartney Mystery Tour 1967 nature Neaverson Northern Songs Ltd notion particular Paul performance period phenomenon play political popular position presented produced provides reference reflected relation relationship representation represented resistance role Sandbrook scene seems seen sense significant sixties social change society style suits taking texts things traditional values visual women