The androgynous hermeneutic enacted: The Unforgiven, a gender trilogy.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46661/ambigua.12173Keywords:
queer, masculinities, sexuality, thrash metal, popular musicAbstract
The Unforgiven is one of the trilogies that provides most philosophical and psychological articulations not only in terms of death, forgiveness, aging, freedom, but also gender. The aim of this paper is to bring the reader a glimpse of how an androgynous hermeneutic gaze opens up more interesting connections to the band and fans relationships. To do so, it will be analyzed how androgyny is displayed through this trilogy. Specially focusing on the recognition of the gender knot of The Unforgiven and how its psychological and philosophical tensions are achieved by Metallica. This kind of perspectives are essential into metal music studies since they bring light to an inclusive metal industry and also to potentially liberate gender identities. This androgynous and gender gaze of The Unforgiven will show how Metallica's work enables the emergence of multiple selves throughout their musical trajectory. It also invites to open up metal music to as many experiences as feelings arise into the band knots, what helps to give rise to a more inclusive metal thanks to emblematic bands such as Metallica is.
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