Kamila Bell exposes the issues surrounding the commercialisation of Pride month.
LGBTQ
LGBTQ Anthems
Tom Routledge looks at the changing expectations of queer anthems.
Live Review: dodie @ O2, Bristol
On Wednesday 13 March, dodie kicked off the UK leg of the North American and European tour for ‘Human’, her most recent EP. The singer-songwriter started her YouTube channel at the age of 16 and now, at just 23, has achieved global recognition with over 250 million views on her main channel, as well as […]
Should we question political correctness in Christmas songs?
The words “peace and joy” have always been closely linked with Christmas time as a period of love and laughter. Certain questionable remarks made around the dinner table are shrugged off in favour of not ruining Christmas Day and keeping the family peace. There’s a reason the holiday season often comes with a high dose […]
Meme of the Month: Don’t Look Back in Anger
In 2017, the internet was rocked by the Distracted Boyfriend meme. One man, his arm around a supposed girlfriend, staring at the backside of another girl while the first woman looks on, furious at this supposed betrayal. But let’s start from the beginning. The original image was part of a stock photo series, taken on […]
Lady Gaga: LGBTQ+ Icon
The label ‘gay icon’ is thrown around a lot these days, whether it’s describing a woman embracing and flaunting her sexuality or a straight artist subtly hinting at attraction towards a member of the same-sex in their lyrics. However, the title of an LGBTQ+ musical legend is one bestowed on only a few. One of […]
Pride of place: queer representation in film
Being John Malkovich (1999) Released in 1999, the feature debut of both director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman, Being John Malkovich serves not only as a commentary on the nature of celebrity in modern American culture, but also as an analysis of sexuality and self. These themes exist in Kaufman’s other films (Eternal Sunshine […]
Album Review: Janelle Monáe – Dirty Computer
Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer could not have been released at a better time. A complex and genuinely enjoyable synthesis of pop, R&B, funk, and the sci-fi elements that have threaded through Monáe’s earlier releases, the album brings together different genres so that there’s something for everyone. Collaboration is key, with influences from Prince and tracks […]
Profiting from Pride
Rainbow capitalism, most recognisable in the Skittles’ van in the London Pride parade, with all the skittles turned white to give the rainbow to Pride. This statement straddles the gap between visibility for LGBTQ+ peoples and a shallow marketing strategy. However, this idea is not alone. Anyone who attended a Pride parade this past year […]
Food Fight removed from Pride
Members of Exeter Food Fight have described being “infuriated” at Exeter Pride’s decision to remove their stall from Northernhay Gardens during the event on Saturday. However, Exeter Pride has claimed that Food Fight did not provide “health and safety details, complete risk assessments, food allergens or details of what they intended to sell or give […]