The above video is the music video for the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” It was released in 1978 and is set in New York City. Video was obtained from YouTube.
Introductory Paragraph
- Who are the Village People? Who created the group? Why was the group created? Where was it created? Who is in it?
- THESIS: In 1978, the Village People, a prominent disco group, released their music video for their hit “Y.M.C.A.,” which was centered around musical and visual representations of masculinity stereotypes and male socialization to celebrate gay culture in a heteronormative, homophobic America. They accomplished this by sticking to their disco roots by creating a dancing groove with an uplifting timbre, constant pulse, and brass riff that pays homage to the New York City gay community, by playing off of masculinity stereotypes via adopting ‘macho’ personas, and by creating a simple, catchy dance that unites crowds nationwide at various events.
