Misogyny in Heavy Metal Music

Paper Summary:

The paper takes a close look at heavy metal music and examines the misogynistic themes that are alleged to be part of the music and their influence on society as a whole and lovers of this genre of music in particular. The author states that the main audience for this type of music has traditionally been teenage boys and young men from a working class, low socio-economic background. The writer examines a number of heavy metal bands and their music and contends that, running through much of the music are definite anti-female themes. Further evidence of this can be found in the artwork associated with some of the albums released by heavy metal bands. The paper includes a photograph of the album cover for 'Tomb of the Mutilated'.

From the Paper:

"The imagery of this band in terms of the album covers is as misogynistic as their music, with pictures showing what the music already conjures up images of. Image one (below) shows Cannibal Corpse's album cover for 'Tomb of the Mutilated', featuring a picture of two mutilated corpses, with the supposedly male one performing a sexual act on the restrained female, possibly depicting a scene from the song 'Entrails Ripped from a Virgin's Cunt' discussed above. There isn't any way to describe this image as not being misogynistic, when it's simply a picture of a woman being sexually assaulted and murdered. However, imagery is often used to shock, as this leads to sales, the picture is not necessarily chosen because it is sexually pleasing to the men listening to the music."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bennett, T., Frith, S., Grossberg, L. & Turner, G. (1993) Rock and Popular Music: Politics, Policies, Institutions. Routledge.
• Bettez Halnon, Karen (2004) 'Inside Shock Music Carnival: Spectacle as Contested Terrain'. Critical Sociology, Vol. 30, No. 3, p743-779.
• Cannibal Corpse (Audio CD, 1992) 'Tomb of The Mutilated'. Metal Blade.
• Cloonan, Martin & Garofalo, Reebee (2002) Policing Pop. Temple University Press.
• Dickinson, Kate (2001) Movie Music: The Film Reader. Routledge.

More papers on Misogyny in Heavy Metal Music:

• Analytical Essay # 126054 : "Gender and Sexuality in Heavy Metal Music"
• Research Paper # 120037 : "Finnish Heavy Metal Music as Cultural Identity"
• Dissertation or Thesis # 109059 : "Anglo-Rock and Heavy Metal Music"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: