Since her late-1990s debut as a member of the R&B trio Destiny's Child, Beyonce Knowles has garnered both praise and criticism. While some consider her an icon of female empowerment, others see her as detrimental to feminism and representing a negative image of women of color. Her music has a decidedly pop aesthetic, yet her power-house vocals and lyrics focused on issues like feminine independence, healthy sexuality and post partum depression give her songs dimension and substance beyond typical pop fare.

This collection of new essays presents a detailed study of the music and persona of Beyonce-arguably the world's biggest pop star. Topics include: the body politics of respectability; feminism, empowerment and gender in Beyonce's lyrics; black female pleasure; and the changing face of celebrity motherhood.

About the Author
Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is Chair of Sociology and Anthropology at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, USA. She is the editor of numerous books on popular culture.


Book Information
ISBN 9780786499748
Author Adrienne Trier-Bieniek
Format Paperback
Page Count 228
Imprint McFarland & Co Inc
Publisher McFarland & Co Inc
Weight(grams) 324g