Popular music theory analyzes the genre from several perspectives including audience, composition, and how it relates to music videos and postmodernism. Approaches include sociological analysis of audiences and their representation, as well as queer theory influenced by artists like Madonna. In postmodernism, distinctions between reality and simulation have blurred, identity is fluid, and consumerism involves self-construction through copies without originals, as seen in popular music recordings and videos that lack authentic performances.

1. Popular music Theory Genre Audience Text

2. Theory Music video Theory – understanding music and the images that go with it. Analysis of composition – takes music as text.

3. Simon Firth – Argues that the defying features of popular music is its television Aesthetic. Approaches emanating from social sciences of ‘Sociology of Rock’ Theorists have tended to focus on issues to do with audiences of popular music – Star Power & representation of women. Cultural theory ‘ Madonna studies’ influenced the ‘Queer Theory’ and the work of Madonna is seen as exemplifying feminist Critiques – Judith Butler Robertson “is Madonna a Glamorized f*ck doll...”

4. Popular music and postmodernism Faith & Grand narrative has collapsed (science, Religion, History, progress) Identity is filled – sense of self not fixed. Consumerism is a creative endeavour in which the self is constructed. No distinction between the real and simulated (simulacra – copy of a copy – cant tell between fake or real) Can not refer to the real thing any more – getting further away from the original. Convergence of information technology & society.

5. Some argue.. Some argue that musical recordings are epitome of the post modern text because they are copies with out originals (simulacrums) ( Representation in media – not authentic ) The music video re-enforces this is its deception of inauthentic performances and abstract visuals.