Cheer up emo kid: rethinking the 'crisis of masculinity' in emo. Issue 2 (8th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Boise, Sam
• Is Part Of: Popular music. Volume 33:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 225
• Page End: 242
• Publication Date: 2014-04-08
• Subjects: Popular music -- Periodicals; 780.4205
• DOI: 10.1017/S0261143014000300
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-1430

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>'Emo', an abbreviation of the word 'emotional', is a term both used to describe music which places public emphasis on introspective displays of emotion and a pejorative phrase applied to fans of a diverse range of music. It is overwhelmingly male-dominated in terms of production and it has been suggested that the development of emo can be explained with reference to a 'crisis in masculinity'. This implies that explicit, male emotional expression is historically incompatible with the performance of Western 'masculinity'. This article first briefly explores how emo emerged and how it has been linked to the idea of a crisis. It then moves on to conduct a lyrical, discursive analysis around three themes: emotional expression and relationships; overt chauvinism; and 'beta male misogyny'. Through these concepts I suggest that, rather than indicating a crisis or 'softening' of masculinity, there are actually a number of historical continuities with masculinities as a means of sustaining gendered inequalities.</p> </abstract>