Functions of musical genre in Alex Anwandter's queer narrative

Abstract

In this article, I argue that musical genres are an important resource in the various narratives that a musical experience articulates. Specifically, I propose that in the songs of Chilean musician Alex Anwandter, these genres are fundamental to the queer narrative that the artist develops. To this end, I examine the notion of musical genre and the reflections that have allowed its understanding as a flexible concept, nourished by both musical and contextual factors. Then, I distinguish and characterize some musical genres present in Alex Anwandter's songs, indicating how they contribute to the development of his queer imprint. Based on these, I highlight a recurring characteristic in the press that addresses his work: the combination of dance music and political critique. From this perspective, I consider the political nature of the dance floor, pointing out how some of the musical genres present in his compositions are politically articulated within the queer proposition that the artist elaborates.