Introduction

Abstract

Demonstrating that gender representations in popular culture are intertwined with a broad range of cultural, historical, and social discourses that shape both their production and reception, the introduction outlines some of the key concerns related to the performance and policing of masculinity in pop music. It discusses the theoretical and methodological foundations that may underpin an interdisciplinary, intersectional, and interpretive approach to the study of popular music and gender, and places an emphasis on grappling with the multiple affordances elicited by pop artists’ construction of identity across several platforms. It advocates for an inclusive definition of pop music that encompasses the range of musical and cultural impulses that circulate in mainstream popular music culture. It also discusses the selection of material for a study of pop music and masculinity, and considers the benefits and limitations of an artist-centered interpretive approach.