Description
The Pet Shop Boys came of age at a time of deep socio-political tension. From the rise of sexual politics and awareness to Thatcherite neoliberalism and the Cold War, this book explores the cultural and political impact of the band and offers a fascinating window into the late 20th and early 21st centuries. An archetypal 'gay band', it shows how their overt queerness influenced generations of LGBTQIA+ music lovers and artists alike. Covering the full oeuvre of the Pet Shop Boys; their albums, films, stage productions and collaborations, chapters in this collection show how their work is suffused with political commentary on the past and present covering themes as broad as queer identity, the HIV/AIDs epidemic, globalization and Brexit. It also places them within the context of their times and considers them as activists, authors, social commentators, political actors and personalities to better understand what influenced them. Bringing together a range of perspectives and disciplines, The Pet Shop Boys and the Political provides a unique and untapped insight into a formative pop band of the modern era that has mirrored and shaped society over the past forty years.
A collection exploring the cultural and political impact of the Pet Shop Boys and their work, engaging with them as musicians, activists, authors, social commentators, filmmakers and political actors.
About the Author
Bodie A. Ashton is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Universitat Erfurt, Germany. He is a historian of identity, particularly in queer history, and is the co-editor of Taking Bodies Vol II (2020).
Reviews
This delightful collection brings together an interdisciplinary group of scholars. As the authors dive into themes like Thatcherism and queerness, they showcase both the critical role the Pet Shop Boys played in shaping the social and cultural landscape as well as the meaning(s) its music has brought to listeners. * Jovana Babovic, Associate Professor of History, SUNY Geneseo, USA *
Book Information
ISBN 9781350331563
Author Dr Bodie A. Ashton
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
A collection exploring the cultural and political impact of the Pet Shop Boys and their work, engaging with them as musicians, activists, authors, social commentators, filmmakers and political actors.
About the Author
Bodie A. Ashton is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Universitat Erfurt, Germany. He is a historian of identity, particularly in queer history, and is the co-editor of Taking Bodies Vol II (2020).
Reviews
This delightful collection brings together an interdisciplinary group of scholars. As the authors dive into themes like Thatcherism and queerness, they showcase both the critical role the Pet Shop Boys played in shaping the social and cultural landscape as well as the meaning(s) its music has brought to listeners. * Jovana Babovic, Associate Professor of History, SUNY Geneseo, USA *
Book Information
ISBN 9781350331563
Author Dr Bodie A. Ashton
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
