Queer Pop Stardom
Chappell Roan and the Radical Potential of Pop Music
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55016/ojs/muj.v3i1.80961Keywords:
Queer pop music, Chappell Roan, Camp aesthetics, Drag Culture, Compulsory heterosexuality, LGBTQ+ representation, Pop stardom, Heteronormativity, Queer world-buildingAbstract
Chappell Roan, an emerging talent in queer pop music, challenges traditional heteronormative ideals through camp aesthetics, drag culture, and storytelling. Her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, offers a genuine portrayal of queer identity, rooted in her experiences growing up in conservative Missouri. This paper examines Roan’s music and performance style through the lenses of queer theory and camp, emphasizing her critique of compulsory heterosexuality, gender norms, and the commercialization of queerness in pop culture. Tracks like “Pink Pony Club” and “Good Luck, Babe!” showcase her defiance against societal expectations, presenting aspirational visions of queer liberation. Roan’s use of exaggerated femininity and theatricality aligns her with queer pop icons while creating a space for LGBTQ+ fans to engage in radical self-expression. Her embrace of drag culture and bold humour further challenges rigid concepts of gender and sexuality, highlighting pop music’s potential as a platform for queer world-building. Ultimately, Roan’s artistry redefines the landscape of queer pop stardom, highlighting the significance of representation that is both celebratory and revolutionary.
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