The Music Diva Spectacle: Camp, Female Performers and Queer Audiences in the Arena Tour Show

The book explores the relationship between camp theory and the figure of the diva, examining how camp is appropriated and owned by the diva and how it impacts the audience. It is a valuable resource for researchers and educators in cultural studies, performance studies, theatre studies, music studies, LGBTQ+ studies, critical race studies, and undergraduate students.

Format: Hardback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Intellect Books

This groundbreaking new book delves into the realm of diva camp as a prominent musical practice, offering a unique perspective on the phenomenon. The author employs comprehensive case studies of diva concert tour shows to present a performance studies interpretation of camp, the cultural exchange process of production, and audience reception. In-depth analyses encompass contemporary icons such as Madonna, Kylie, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and a captivating exploration of audience drag.

The book provides vivid descriptions of artists' performances, accompanied by insightful examinations of exciting and popular contemporary performers. The central focus on camp is particularly intriguing, as discussions surrounding queerness have somewhat overshadowed its significance in recent years. This revival of the camp discourse in contemporary queer performance is both fascinating and groundbreaking.

The book explores and investigates the intricate relationship between camp theory as an academic discipline and the figure of the diva, as one who employs and expresses camp in diverse ways. It endeavors to establish how camp is appropriated or owned by the diva, and how this impacts and is, in turn, appropriated and owned by the audience.

The primary audience for this book will consist of researchers and educators specializing in cultural studies, performance studies, theatre studies, music studies, LGBTQ+ studies, critical race studies, and undergraduate students with an interest in these fields. It serves as a valuable classroom resource and an essential addition to recommended reading lists.

While The Music Diva Spectacle may also hold appeal for readers with a broader interest in the subjects covered in the case studies, its primary focus is on the academic market.

Weight: 676g
Dimension: 176 x 252 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789384369
Edition number: New ed