https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b An analysis of Mercury's star image from the beginning of his career to his death, and how his legacy has lived on en-us 2022-10-17 13:01:54 UTC 2025-06-23 06:22:37 UTC hello@padlet.com 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2343212674 Mercury, who was born 'Farrokh Bulsara' to Parsi-Indian parents, first embarked on his path to stardom by teaming up with guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and bassist John Deacon to form their first band 'Smile' in 1970. It was around this time that he legally changed his surname to 'Mercury', and began designing the band's new identity, which would now be called 'Queen' (which at the time was a derogatory term for gay men). This would mark the beginning of Mercury's ascension to fame and popularity as the lead singer and frontman of the band. ]]> 2022-10-17 13:30:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2343212674 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2344889359 One of Mercury's most recognisable and distinct qualities was his flamboyant stage persona, in which he used the campiness of glamour and fashion as a form of self-expression and personal branding, whilst simultaneously masking his ethnicity and background by choosing to fit in with white British culture. In this way, Mercury's construction of an overtly camp and glamorous public persona acted as a mask, disguising her true identity within the private sphere as a particularly shy and introverted person. ]]> 2022-10-18 10:55:50 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2344889359 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2344906113 Freddie, when asked how he would describe himself as an artist. He then goes on to speak about how he feels reflecting on his image from the 1970s, saying: "I actually laugh at myself, but I know it was something that you have to do". To me, through this Mercury implies how he conformed to a certain image in an attempt to be successful when breaking into the music scene of the 70s, but then shed this persona by the 80s, perhaps mirroring his 'coming out' as bisexual and a discovery of his 'true' identity. ]]> 2022-10-18 11:11:46 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2344906113 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2345185691 'The young Bulsara was still there, but for the public he was going to be this different character, this god' (Freddie Mercury, 2000)]]> 2022-10-18 14:02:44 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2345185691 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2345196735 In "Killer Queen", from the Sheer Heart Attack album (1974), Mercury's overtly glamourous and dandified image becomes more blatant, building on the outrageous and quintessentially British themes of his persona and the band itself. ]]> 2022-10-18 14:08:06 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2345196735 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2345232377 'Bohemian Rhapsody' marks the height of Mercury's persona at both its most camp and outrageous, and its most raw and vulnerable. For me, the first line 'Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, No escape from reality' symbolised the mask Mercury puts on through his flamboyant public persona, but very private and sheltered personal life, in which he was struggling with his sexuality at the time.


]]> 2022-10-18 14:26:21 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2345232377 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346789043 The "I Want to Break Free" music video, in which Freddie and his bandmates dressed up in drag and depict female characters from the soap Coronation Street, was not received well by MTV, and was seen as extremely controversial and scandalous at the time. ]]> 2022-10-19 10:52:49 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346789043 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346793398 Bohemian Rhapsody went on to top the UK Singles Chart for nine consecutive weeks, and still remains the UK's best selling single of all time]]> 2022-10-19 10:56:53 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346793398 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346803586 Freddie's private vs public self is touched on here, reflecting the British tabloid's extensive interest in 'uncovering' the star's private life and, as a whole, the growing nature of hyper-surveilled celebrity culture towards the end of the 20th century. ]]> 2022-10-19 11:07:07 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346803586 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346807416 Around the time of Bohemian Rhapsody's release, Mercury confessed his sexuality to Austin, whom he was engaged to at the time and had been together for six years. They continued to remain good friends until the end of his life. ]]> 2022-10-19 11:10:54 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346807416 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346823557 "He was a different person again... he was more at one with himself, more relaxed, more happy"]]> 2022-10-19 11:26:33 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346823557 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346830736 Mercury was known to be very private and secluded in regards to speaking about his sexuality publicly. Even privately, he did not discuss his sexuality with his family, likely due his parent's practice of the Zoroastrianism, in which gayness was seen as a form of demon worship, but also his awareness of himself in the public eye, in which being openly gay would not have been received well by the media and may have put a negative spin on his successful career. However, Mercury openly dated both men and women, despite not technically labelling his sexuality or publicly aligning with the LGBTQ community. ]]> 2022-10-19 11:32:28 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346830736 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346832713 "I hate talking to people I don't really know.. It's the media basically, built me up to be a real ogre and a tyrant.. because of the way I come across on stage"]]> 2022-10-19 11:34:28 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346832713 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346847569 'Being a star allowed Mercury to push some boundaries, but he still lived at a time when honesty about his attraction to men could have limited his career' ]]> 2022-10-19 11:47:18 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346847569 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346861896 '“Mama, I just killed a man” meaning: He’s killed the old Freddie he was. “Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he’s dead” meaning: the old straight Freddie is dead. He’s destroyed the man he was trying to be, and now this is him, trying to live with the new Freddie'. ]]> 2022-10-19 11:58:31 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346861896 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346865948 Mercury never stated the meaning of Bohemian Rhapsody or if it had any relation to his 'coming out' as a bisexual man, however many lyricists, such as Freddie's good friend Tim Rice, interpreted the hit song as his confession. ]]> 2022-10-19 12:01:57 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2346865948 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2349772769 May speaking about the controversy I Want to Break Free created at the time due to its homosexual implications (at a time when social attitudes towards homosexuality were still hostile), and how it damaged both the song's success on the American charts, and the band's overall reputation in the US. ]]> 2022-10-20 22:03:24 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2349772769 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353419530 As Queen began making a name for itself and gaining popularity amongst wider audiences, Mercury's androgynous experimentation began to take shape. Signifers of Mercury's experimentation with camp were seen through physical elements such as:

- Extravagant and revealing costumes 
- Makeup
- Platform shoes 
- Painted nails]]> 2022-10-24 11:38:26 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353419530 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353435024 By the 1980s, Mercury moved away from the flamboyant, dandified image we saw throughout the 70s and more towards a casual yet direct approach that embodied the 'clone look' of homosexual, working class men at the time, and conformed to idealised notions of masculinity. This involved:

- A moustache
- Short hair
- A muscular upper body
- Tight-fitting denim jeans]]> 2022-10-24 11:50:53 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353435024 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353458665 2022-10-24 12:07:46 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353458665 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353513085 Arguably the most iconic and significant component of Mercury's star image, and Queen's establishment as one of the greatest rock bands of all time, was his performance at Live Aid, which was a charity concert held to raise funds for the African famine relief. For me, Mercury's stage persona and embodiment of camp certainly played a part in making this performance especially significant, with his use of call and response establishing an intimacy and connection with the audience through participation, which also added an element of humour and light-heartedness to the performance.]]> 2022-10-24 12:44:58 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353513085 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353527589 Mercury's charisma and star quality is apparent here, as he is able to engage an audience of 72,000 people and incorporate them into his performance through vocalisations that should only be achievable by a musician like himself, highlighting the interpersonal relationship he shares with his audience and his energetic and vibrant stage presence, that distinguished him from other stars at this time. ]]> 2022-10-24 12:53:49 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2353527589 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355592189 2022-10-25 14:48:05 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355592189 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355626347 In 1985, while Queen were taking a break from recording, Freddie launched his solo career with his first solo studio album titled Mr. Bad Guy. The album featured eleven songs all written by Mercury himself, and was a change from the typical rock and roll Queen sound, with more synth-pop and disco influences, leaning into the growing dance scene of the 80s. His hit single 'I Was Born To Love You' was a huge commercial success, rising the album to Number 6 in the UK Charts and crowning it a gold record. This established Freddie not only as a successful frontman and lead singer of Queen, but also as a successful solo artist too in a totally different genre of music, expanding his multifaceted image and influence as a cultural commodity. ]]> 2022-10-25 15:06:02 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355626347 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355639602 2022-10-25 15:12:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355639602 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355765187 2022-10-25 16:22:03 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355765187 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355773675 In this music video, released in 1987, Freddie parodies some of Queen's most iconic music videos, such as 'I Want To Break Free', 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody', and the characters he plays in them. The concept behind this music video highlights the very essence of Freddie Mercury as an ever-changing and versatile performer who actively engages and constructs meanings for his audience. Looking more closely at the underlying message behind the song, to me Freddie's position as the 'Great Pretender' implies his reclusive nature and privacy regarding his AIDS diagnosis, in which he was rumoured to have been diagnosed the year this music video was released.]]> 2022-10-25 16:27:00 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2355773675 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2356205651 Mercury: "The kind of image I put across is not planned or anything, it's something that has progressed over the years. It's something that I live by. It's authentic. It's not forced at all. I just feel that it's a natural part of my life. I don't go out of my way to be controversial, not at all, but what a lot of people find outrageous is quite normal for me!"]]> 2022-10-25 21:46:16 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2356205651 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2356212178 Here, Freddie's image has shifted once again, now sporting a more formal and sophisticated look with a tuxedo and bow tie, as well as a clean-shaven face; conforming to a more traditional heteronormative style, which appears unusual given Mercury's history as an overtly camp and flamboyant style icon. ]]> 2022-10-25 21:55:07 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2356212178 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357533324 On 24th November 1991, Freddie tragically died from bronchial pneumonia relating to AIDS at just 45 years old, after being diagnosed in 1987. On 23rd November, just one day before he passed, he released a statement finally confirming that he has AIDS, after much media speculation about Freddie's ill-health for many years. Despite his diagnosis, Freddie continued to record with Queen up until the very end of his life. Subsequently, Freddie's AIDS related death inevitably complicated his image outside of his control, as external forces such as newspapers and television attached Freddie to the prominence of the AIDS crisis in the 1990s as a result of him being one of the first and most well-known star to die from the disease- catapulting the topic into the public consciousness. ]]> 2022-10-26 15:44:10 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357533324 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357553113 Peter Freestone, Mercury's personal assistant, recalls the moment Freddie decided to release a press statement and why it took him so long to announce his diagnosis, stating: 

"Freddie had thought about releasing a statement at various times during recent years but was always held back by his feelings and concern towards us and his family, the people closest to him. He wanted to protect us as much as himself from the glare and scrutiny that going public would have created"]]> 2022-10-26 15:55:36 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357553113 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357614447 In the early hours of 25th November 1991, the day after Freddie passed, the news became publicly known and took the media by storm. For many weeks following his death, the tabloids published notably cruel and malicious articles surrounding Freddie's love life and sexuality, and his private home was bombarded by press and photographers for many weeks. ]]> 2022-10-26 16:30:48 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357614447 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357866247 2022-10-26 19:09:01 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357866247 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357866963 2022-10-26 19:09:34 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357866963 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357878908 2022-10-26 19:18:58 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357878908 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357879403 2022-10-26 19:19:24 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357879403 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357884223 Due to Freddie's camp and flamboyant image, and the homophobic attitudes of many publications at the time, Freddie was subject to a variety of scrutiny throughout his career, often facing criticism surrounding his extravagant dress sense, but mainly, discussing his sexuality and connoting Freddie as a wild and promiscuous rock star with many 'gay lovers'. In this article, titled 'Freddie's Gay Fury', he is depicted as reckless and secretive, with ex-manager Paul Printer supposedly exposing all of his 'gay secrets'. ]]> 2022-10-26 19:23:07 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357884223 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357887095 2022-10-26 19:25:30 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357887095 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357958820 Mercury's interplay with gender and sexuality played a crucial role in constructing his image as a dynamic and gender-bending cultural commodity. His interchangeability of both feminine and masculine qualities were displayed through characteristics such as his stage costumes, his love for drag, and his mannerisms, in which he was known for calling people 'Darling' as part of his public persona. ]]> 2022-10-26 20:31:59 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2357958820 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2362010114 Here, the significance of Freddie's performance at Live Aid is ascertained to the portrayal of his body as 'conform[ing] to notions of idealised masculinity often exhibited through the bodies of, for example, manual labourers and athletes', connoting 'strength, hardness, control and endurance' (Connell 1995). This in turn juxtaposes the images in the media of his 'thin, fragile body' just days before he died. ]]> 2022-10-30 12:20:42 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2362010114 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363099929 2022-10-31 11:05:28 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363099929 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363107752 2022-10-31 11:11:48 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363107752 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363132858 Freddie's significance as a cultural and sociological sign for his audience and the parasocial relationship fans had with him was highlighted through the global reaction to his sudden death. The diversity of Freddie's fanbase portrayed his role as a transgressive and aspirational figure who not only was a role model for older fans who have been following his career from the start, but also younger teenage fans, who used Freddie's fearlessness and defiance within his star image as a collective identity and symbol of rock and youth culture. Moreover, Freddie's connection with his fans was often rooted in the participatory nature of his live performances, in which the audience was fundamental in making the songs what they were (for example, in 'We Will Rock You', the audience create the sole beat for the song by clapping and stamping their feet). ]]> 2022-10-31 11:35:38 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363132858 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363357317 Freddie's lasting legacy as one of the most legendary British performers of all time is evident through his impact not only at raising awareness and funds for the AIDS crisis, but his continued relevance and prominence in mainstream media, as a cultural intermediary and symbol of authenticity, often being described as one of the greatest rock 'n' roll stars of all time. ]]> 2022-10-31 14:02:55 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363357317 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363948866 1 Logan Place, Freddie's home, became a cultural landmark and a practice of identification for fans in mourning, in which the walls were covered with letters, and fan created memorabilia and flowers were placed for years after he passed, moulding his home into a makeshift shrine. ]]> 2022-10-31 20:54:07 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2363948866 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2364770911 On 20th April 1992, a benefit concert to raise awareness for AIDS in honour of Freddie was held at Wembley stadium by the surviving Queen bandmates Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon and manager Jim Beach. The concert was attended by 72,000 people and globally broadcasted on live television in 76 countries, amassing a total audience of up to one billion. As well as a full length Queen concert, some of the biggest musical stars at that time such as David Bowie, George Michael, Elton John and Guns 'n' Roses also participated, many of whom were close friends of Freddie's. The profits raised from the concert were used to launch the Mercury Phoenix Trust, solidifying Freddie's impact as a vehicle for increased AIDS awareness and action on a wide scale. ]]> 2022-11-01 11:44:04 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2364770911 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2364773580 According to the MPT, the organisation has raised a total of £17 million in the fight of HIV/AIDS worldwide, over 1,500 projects in 57 countries. The website also has an educational function, in which information is available on HIV/AIDS statistics and how to get involved in the cause. ]]> 2022-11-01 11:46:19 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2364773580 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2364777927 2022-11-01 11:50:37 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2364777927 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2365025754 An analysis of how Mercury's collaboration with Montserrat Caballe in 'Barcelona' was a marker of his authenticity as a versatile and mobile performer by bridging the gap between rock and opera, which are often viewed as contrasting musical genres. ]]> 2022-11-01 14:30:56 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2365025754 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2365515656 Freddie's legacy as one of the most iconic rock stars of all time and continued relevance throughout mainstream media and pop culture was further demonstrated through the release of the film Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018, which mainly focuses on telling the story of Freddie's life and subsequent rise to international fame and success as the lead singer of Queen, as well as the internal struggles and challenges he faces within his personal life, most namely his AIDS diagnosis. Freddie is played by actor Rami Malek, who went on to win a multitude of awards for his performance. ]]> 2022-11-01 19:34:17 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2365515656 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2365527997 Rami touches on Freddie's distinct on stage persona here, and the intricate details he had to learn in order to accurately and authentically embody Freddie's image, such as his mannerisms and the way he moves on stage, and how to perform whilst wearing his iconic teeth, which was another distinct quality of Mercury's identity. ]]> 2022-11-01 19:45:04 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2365527997 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2365545314 "We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life unapologetically himself, and the fact that I'm celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we're longing for stories like this"]]> 2022-11-01 20:01:21 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2365545314 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2367439818 Here, it is important to consider the accuracy of the film in terms its portrayal of Freddie's image. As a whole, we can expect the events of the film to be highly dramatised for entertainment purposes. The film is grounded in the pure joy Freddie feels while performing, in which he can be his authentic self without judgement or oppression. In the film, this pure joy and freedom Freddie feels as his on stage persona is portrayed as the very thing that has made him globally successful and a household name; 'display[ing] rock music as the one place where a total outsider such as Mercury could completely belong'. ]]> 2022-11-02 22:32:44 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2367439818 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368396664 Therefore, the notion of Freddie Mercury as not only the lead singer of Queen but also a persona, is constructed throughout, in which his flamboyant and eccentric, yet carefully crafted, public image consistently informs his private self, acting as a mask to the outsiderness he feels within himself as an immigrant struggling with his sexuality and true identity. For me, this scene where Freddie meets Jim Hutton, his future partner, clearly illustrates Freddie's public persona as a mask and the struggles he faces with it. He confides in Jim, explaining how he finds his friends 'intolerable', and how the 'darkness you thought you left behind comes creeping in' when he's alone. ]]> 2022-11-03 12:58:45 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368396664 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368446066 For some critics, the film "played it safe" when it came to depicting Freddie's queerness and queer identity, arguing that the film 'treats Freddie's personal life- his sexual-romantic identity, his loneliness, his reckless adventures in gay leather clubs- with kid-gloves reticence', and instead fixating primarily on his relationship with Mary Austin. Many critics pointed out that when the film does allude to Freddie's queerness, it is reduced to stereotypically negative queer tropes of promiscuous sexual encounters, therefore setting up his AIDS diagnosis as a 'punishment for his queerness'. ]]> 2022-11-03 13:28:43 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368446066 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368447667 2022-11-03 13:29:33 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368447667 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368493488 Despite the controversy the film received surrounding the dismissal of Freddie's queer identity, it nonetheless was a major box office success and led to the mainstream exposure of Freddie and Queen to a brand new generation of fans, and particularly, a younger audience. So much so that shortly after the film's release, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' became the 'most streamed track from the 20th century', hitting 1.6 billion streams globally. This highlights not only the shift in media landscape and its ability to diversify and expand fandom (such as through the access to streaming platforms in the 21st century), but also Freddie's role as a multi-medial transitional figure who posthumously helps younger audiences who may also be struggling with their identity or feel oppressed by society through their teenage years. ]]> 2022-11-03 13:52:23 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368493488 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368503517 Freddie's intertextual star image is portrayed through a variety of agents, highlighting the Freddie Mercury persona as both an individual and collective identity. ]]> 2022-11-03 13:57:56 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368503517 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368508240 2022-11-03 14:00:38 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368508240 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368512280 2022-11-03 14:02:49 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368512280 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368517334 2022-11-03 14:05:33 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368517334 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368531002 2022-11-03 14:12:57 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368531002 201490587 https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368537481 2022-11-03 14:16:28 UTC https://padlet.com/201490587/2oq8nltbxd5gpw1b/wish/2368537481