Camouflage as Communicator of Survivor Mentality in Contemporary Popular Music: Destiny's Child on the Cusp of Gender, Urban-Combat Attitude, Fashion and Politics
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research
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Camouflage as Communicator of Survivor Mentality in Contemporary Popular Music : Destiny's Child on the Cusp of Gender, Urban-Combat Attitude, Fashion and Politics. / Langkjær, Michael Alexander.
Proceedings of the International Symposium 'Camouflage takes centre stage,' Brussels, October 13-15, 2010. ed. / Ilse Bogaerts; Werner Palinckx. Brussels/Bruxelles/Brussel : Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History, Brussels/Musée royal de l'Armée et d'Histoire militaire à Bruxelles/Koninklijk Museum van het Leger en de Krijgsgeschiedenis te Brussel, 2014. p. 109-117.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research
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TY - GEN
T1 - Camouflage as Communicator of Survivor Mentality in Contemporary Popular Music
AU - Langkjær, Michael Alexander
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Michael A. Langkjær wants to know why military style in general and camouflage in particular have become true pillars of pop and rock culture. How is this prolonged influence to be explained? He places rock and camouflage in the larger framework of "military rock" since the sixties. Contrary to what is generally accepted, the uniform-look as a sign of protest was an exception rather than the rule. Uniforms were popular because they provided a visual rallying point, projected an image of masculinity and eroticism and referred to fighters of times past (image promoted by movies). They were also used as identification marks in the transatlantic battle opposing various music groups. The military look transmitted a political message and the camouflage style referred to the Mods' parkas. The permanent influence of the camouflage look is indissolubly linked to revolution, to resistance fighters and to the mystique of urban guerilla, particularly with the Afro-Americans. According to Michael Langkjær women use the look as a symbol of newly-found female empowerment. The aesthetic aspect is not to be forgotten either, as the prints are quite seductive. Ecology also plays a part, with the recycling of camouflaged garments sold in army surplusses. Emo-tv links camouflage to survival, as in the clip "Survivor" by Destiny's Child, in which the concept of the American frontier is glorified.
AB - Michael A. Langkjær wants to know why military style in general and camouflage in particular have become true pillars of pop and rock culture. How is this prolonged influence to be explained? He places rock and camouflage in the larger framework of "military rock" since the sixties. Contrary to what is generally accepted, the uniform-look as a sign of protest was an exception rather than the rule. Uniforms were popular because they provided a visual rallying point, projected an image of masculinity and eroticism and referred to fighters of times past (image promoted by movies). They were also used as identification marks in the transatlantic battle opposing various music groups. The military look transmitted a political message and the camouflage style referred to the Mods' parkas. The permanent influence of the camouflage look is indissolubly linked to revolution, to resistance fighters and to the mystique of urban guerilla, particularly with the Afro-Americans. According to Michael Langkjær women use the look as a symbol of newly-found female empowerment. The aesthetic aspect is not to be forgotten either, as the prints are quite seductive. Ecology also plays a part, with the recycling of camouflaged garments sold in army surplusses. Emo-tv links camouflage to survival, as in the clip "Survivor" by Destiny's Child, in which the concept of the American frontier is glorified.
KW - Faculty of Humanities
KW - Camouflage
KW - Destiny's Child
KW - Gendered fashion
KW - Rock military style
KW - American frontier mentality
KW - Popular music studies
KW - Mods
KW - Popular music and reality television
KW - Fashion and politics
KW - African-American fashion
M3 - Article in proceedings
SN - 2-87051-056-X
SP - 109
EP - 117
BT - Proceedings of the International Symposium 'Camouflage takes centre stage,' Brussels, October 13-15, 2010
A2 - Bogaerts, Ilse
A2 - Palinckx, Werner
PB - Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History, Brussels/Musée royal de l'Armée et d'Histoire militaire à Bruxelles/Koninklijk Museum van het Leger en de Krijgsgeschiedenis te Brussel
CY - Brussels/Bruxelles/Brussel
Y2 - 13 October 2010 through 15 October 2010
ER -
ID: 123392330