Is take me to church about homosexuality

tristapruitt

This paper was written for a course entitled Literary Criticism (ENGL ) and is interesting because I applied Queer Theory to a popular song without using any sources; I used knowledge gained through the class and no supporting texts. It was the final paper for the class, and it shows how we were able to apply the content from the course and apply it to almost any medium available to us.

Queer Theory Applied to “Take Me to Church” by Hozier

In the hit song, “Take Me to Church” by Andrew Hozier-Byrne, the writer offers criticism of the current atmosphere found surrounding the LGBTQ community. While his lyrics clue the reader into the meaning of his song, the video component pulls the whole text together in order to offer a full meaning and complete commentary. Hozier (his album name) uses the church as the reference point for his criticism of the social issue, but he does not fully attack it. Rather, he uses the constructed institution to point out the recent concerns with the community he defends; the church is at the forefront of the fight, advocating against ri

Persecution and Dialogue in Hozier&#;s &#;Take Me to Church&#;

He has been compared to Adele and Lorde, and his U.S. tour is now sold out. His most popular song, “Take Me to Church,” has racked up millions of views online, and he was recently interviewed on NPR and performed on David Letterman. Although only 24 and hailing from Ireland, Andrew Hozier-Byrne (known as Hozier) is making ripples in the music scene.

I must admit, I first liked “Take Me to Church” for its vibrancy. It builds appropriately, and has a gospel choral touch with folk and blues influences. The second time through the song, I paused at the lyrics, realizing an important message was contained within. Hozier sings of the relationship between the church, worship, his lover, sins, and human nature.

Slow to Speak

If the Heavens ever did speak
She is the last true mouthpiece

The music video and lyrics build it evident the song is about homosexuality and its relationship to the church. The video, directed by Brendan Canty, follows the relationship between two gay men and the violent homophobic backlash tha

&#;Take Me to Church&#;

Album Review

What is the essence of our humanity? What or who is worthy of our worship? What is the place of sex in our lives? How do we respond to others whose answers to those questions are other from our own?

These are massive questions, existential inklings humankind has been pondering for millennia. So why am I asking them at the top of a music review? Because in his song &#;Take Me to Church&#;—as well as in his many published comments about it—Irish singer-songwriter Hozier hits these spiritual and philosophical questions head on with a worldview that in many ways reflects exactly where mainstream culture is at today.

In the space of just a few lines at the outset of &#;Take Me to Church,&#; Hozier challenges and rejects core understandings of sexuality, sin and worship that orthodox Christianity has historically embraced for 2, years. He starts with a man&#;s irreverent lover laughing during a funeral. He loves this woman—worships her, he says—for her refusal to take the solemn event seriously. &#;My lover&#;s got humor,&#; he begins, &#

Hozier,anIrish singer-songwriter whose debut EP " Take Me To Church" premiered in early July, just released the video for his track of the same label.

The video follows the relationship between two gay men and the violently homophobic backlash that ensues when the community learns of one of the man's sexuality.

Ireland's State noted that the video, directed by Brendan Canty, echoes the wave of violence currently plaguing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Russia. According to State, "Take Me To Church":

references the recent increase of [organized] attacks and torturing of homosexuals in Russia, which is subsequent to a long, hateful, and oppressive political campaign against the LGBT community. The song was always about humanity at its most organic, and how that is undermined ceaselessly by religious [organizations] and those who would have us believe they act in its interests.

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