Aspirational identity in British 'gay masculinity', 1991-2011

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" Aspirational identity in British 'gay masculinity', 1991-2011 "
Searle, Kenneth Andrew

Document Type	:	Latin Dissertation
Record Number	:	1100587
Doc. No	:	TLets636875
Main Entry	:	Searle, Kenneth Andrew
Title & Author	:	Aspirational identity in British 'gay masculinity', 1991-2011\ Searle, Kenneth Andrew
College	:	University of Birmingham
Date	:	2015
student score	:	2015
Degree	:	Ph.D.
Abstract	:	This thesis provides a new direction to studies of “gay masculinity”, examining the impact a consumerist approach has had on the two bestselling “gay” lifestyle(s) magazines between 1991 and 2011: 'Attitude' and 'GT' (previously known as 'Gay Times'). In both magazines over the period covered, the desire for a “successful” identity as understood through neo-liberal discourse is demonstrated through textual analysis of the aspirational discourse and images (re)presented in both publications, specifically assessing the importance placed on signifiers of consumerism and celebrity role models. In selecting the most-read lifestyle(s) magazines in Britain over the period under study, I was able to understand how mainstream forms of “gay masculine” identity had increasingly been underpinned by discourse pertaining to consumerism as opposed to campaigns against perceived homophobia and inequality. In arguing that a neo-liberal binary of “success” and “failure” has become increasingly prevalent since 1991, with signifiers (re)constructing the former as aspirational, this thesis also notes that 'Attitude' and 'Gay Times' have remained uniquely directed at an explicitly “gay” audience, with emphasis being placed on homonormative forms of “success” being an easily attainable norm.
Subject	:	HM Sociology
	:	HT Communities. Classes. Races
	:	PN0441 Literary History
Added Entry	:	University of Birmingham