The transgender themed narrative music video in Spain and the evolution of its audiovisual representation policies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2025-1081

Keywords:

Music video, queer, representation, LGTBIQ+, diversity, audiovisual analysis, transexuality, transgender

Abstract

Introduction: The Spanish music video clip has more than forty years of history, adapting to different media and visual and thematic treatments. In addition to its promotional function, it has been a vehicle for the transmission of social and political issues, such as the representation of LGTBIQ+ people. Methodology: The research uses an analysis of audiovisual content with a queer perspective, similar to the approach of the Observatorio de la Diversidad Audiovisual en España (ODA) and the GLAAD association in the United States. Six Spanish music video clips published between 1980 and 2023 that depict transgender stories and characters are analysed. Results: The study shows a positive evolution in the visual and thematic treatment of transgender people in Spanish music videos, identifying progress in the representation of this group in the audiovisual sphere. Discussion: The analysis reveals how music videos have been used to make trans identities visible and normalise them, reflecting changes in social perception and in the music industry. Conclusions: It is concluded that Spanish music video clips have experienced significant advances in the representation of the trans community, contributing to greater inclusion and visibility.

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Author Biographies

Fernando Fernández Torres, Miguel Hernández University of Elche

Degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Alicante, PhD student in the Economics, Business and Society Programme at the University of Alicante and member of the Massiva Research Group at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche. He has been working as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer for more than 15 years and has published several LGTBIQ+ graphic novels such as Anselmo. En ocasiones veo divas (Edicions de Ponent, 2013) and the transmedia music comic Anselmo. Traigo un cantar (Fernández Torres Ed., 2023).

Vicente García Escrivá, University of Alicante

Graduate in Information Sciences (Visual and Auditory Image Sciences section) and PhD from the Complutense University of Madrid in the Theory and History of Audiovisual and Advertising Communication programme. He teaches subjects in the audiovisual field both in the degree in Advertising and Public Relations and in the official master's degree in Communication and Creative Industries. She is a member of the research group ICOMAV (Research in Audiovisual Communication). For several years he worked in the practical teaching of audiovisual media within the professional training family of Communication, Image and Sound. He has been Deputy Director of the Department of Communication and Social Psychology (2017-2022) and since 2022 he has been Vice-Dean of Advertising and Public Relations in the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies at the University of Alicante.

Mar Iglesias García, University of Alicante

Graduate in Journalism from the Complutense University of Madrid, University Specialist in Educational Applications of Information Technologies and PhD from the University of Alicante. She worked for 10 years at Radio Autonómica Valenciana (Ràdio Nou), was director of the first cyber newspaper in Alicante (AlacantExpress, 1998), Deputy Vice-Rector for Cultural and Linguistic Promotion at the University of Alicante (2016-2020), Director of RàdioUA (2017-2019) and, between January 2021 and April 2023, she was president of the Corporació Valenciana de Mitjans de Comunicació CVMC (À Punt Mèdia) and president of FORTA (Federación de Organismos de RAdiotelevisión Autonómicos). She directs the ComunicandoUA cyber-diary of the Degree in Advertising at the Universitat d'Alacant (from 2010 to the present).

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Published

2025-01-17

How to Cite

Fernández Torres, F., García Escrivá, V., & Iglesias García, M. (2025). The transgender themed narrative music video in Spain and the evolution of its audiovisual representation policies. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 10, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2025-1081

Issue

Vol. 10 (2025)

Section

Humanism and Social Sciences

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Copyright (c) 2025 Fernando Fernández Torres, Vicente García Escrivá, Mar Iglesias García

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