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Theories

I Want To Break Free - Queen

In Queen's music video for I Want To Break Free, released in the 1984 album 'The Works' of the classic rock genre. We can see how only the music video is filled with iconography, semiotics and representations which can encourage theories. 

Firstly, Barthes theory of Semiotics is about signs and signification which are what is seen in the music video, and the meanings we attach to this. For example, this can be applied into this music video in the obvious way which is Freddie Mercury dressing in drag. The meanings that can be attached to this are that it was slowly become more acceptable to be gay or transexual at the time this song was brought out, which was a large deal to Freddie himself, since he was gay. Another example is what Freddie is doing in the music video while in drag, which is being a housewife, the meanings that can be attached to this are once again to do with the lessening stigma of the time period, since women were in more careers, rather than housewives, although still a high amount compared to today. Both of these points can be a reference to the lyrics in the song, being "I want to break free".

Secondly, Gauntletts theory of Identity, which follows the ideas of 'pick and mix'. The theory refers to identities in the media always being constructed by tools from the media. Peoples identity could be influenced by this music video through the same points made about the semiotic theory. Freddie being dressed as a woman and doing the jobs of a housewife in an ironic way can show the female audience that they don't have to be housewives, and can pursue careers outside of part time jobs. As well as showing the entire audience that they can be who they want to be, and what at an earlier time would have effected Freddies star persona negatively, has made his band more popular and encouraged the LGBT community to be themselves.

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