1) What is the big debate regarding Old Town Road and genre? If it actually counts as a country song or not. 2) What do you learn about the background of Lil Nas X and Old Town Road from the podcast transcript? , Lil Nas X had found fans through his popular meme-filled Twitter presence and a fast-growing TikTok meme dubbed the “Yee Haw Challenge” that centered on the song. 3) What is the Yeehaw agenda? Challenging stereortypes of the old american genre of country music. 4) How did the story become a debate about race in America? Many Americans didnt agree with his interpretation of the wild west theme. 5) How does Charlie Harding sum up the whole thing in the final part of the podcast transcript? How amazing it is that this thing which was a meme that was commentary on cowboy culture and black identity that became an immediate overnight thinkpiece which an aging country star then remixed. Now read this Salon feature on Lil Nas X and LGBTQ+ identity. Answer the following questions:
1) How did Lil Nas X announce his sexuality on social media? He punctuated the tweet with a rainbow emoji, then posted the artwork from his new EP “7,” which features an illustration of him wearing a cowboy hat and riding a horse towards a building glowing with rainbow lights. His deadpan caption reads, “deadass thought i made it obvious.” Fans on social media went wild. 2) Why does the article describe Old Town Road as 'genre-blurring'?
As it combines to completely different genres of music, Country and Rap.
3) How has country music demonstrated the social change taking place in American culture and society?
While Herndon’s peak popularity was definitely restricted to the '90s, he made headlines in 2014 when he became the first mainstream male country star to come out. 2014 was a big year for LGBTQ news in country music (Salon’s overview dubbed it “the year country music came out”).
That year, Kacey Musgraves won Song of the Year for “Follow Your Arrow” at the Country Music Association Awards, which included the lyrics “Kiss lots of boys/or kiss lots of girls/ if that’s something you’re into.” Herndon came out about a month later; Billy Gilman, who in 2000 was the youngest artist to ever have a top 40 single on the country chart, came out days after that.
Old Town Road textual analysis
Watch the video again and answer the following questions. Use your notes from our in-class analysis to help you:
1) How is the narrative features used in the music video? Apply narrative theory here.
There is an ongoing story within the music video which has moments without music to help expand on he story aspect further.
2) What examples of genre conventions and intertextuality can you find in the video?
The typical clothing of a wild west aesthetic, numerous links to old movies of the same genre and more newer pieces of media such as Fast and Furious.
3) How are technical codes used to create meanings in the video? Analyse camerawork, editing and mise-en-scene and make specific reference to moments in the video.
Certain pan outs and a phase in at the start of the video which are very stereotypical towards western movies.
4) How are representations of race and ethnicity constructed in the video?
At the start were shown the stereotypical idea of old America and the white agenda over other races. Then wer given a completely contrasted look where all races are living in peace.
5) What other representations can you find in the video? You may wish to comment on gender, sexuality or America/American culture.
The youth culture of TikTok and social media which we can see through the girls dance moves compared to Lil Nas X.
Old Town Road Media Factsheet
Finally, read Media Factsheet #262 - Old Town Road. You'll need to log in to Google using your Greenford Google account to access this. Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:
1) Who are the celebrities that appear in cameos in the video?
Chris Rock
2) Choose three of the key terms defined on the first page of the factsheet and write the definitions here. Focus on terms you are unfamiliar with.
Archetypal
A representation that is very typical of a
person, place or thing.
Cultural Myth
Deeper ideologies that have been
shaped through cultural coding through
connotations over time.
Double
consciousness
The idea that conflicting racial identities can
exist within an individual.
3) How did Lil Nas X use social media to boost his own popularity and the success of the video?
Through his use of memes and the Yee Haw challenge.
4) Look at the video analysis on page 3. What conventions of the western can be found in the video?
The fact theyre using horses, their attire, weapons, landscape.
5) How does the video begin?
Lil Nas X being chased by the sherrif and his officers (Chris Rock)
6) What does the factsheet suggest regarding the modern-day part of the video?
The Wild West of the 1800s is transposed to Los Angeles to
create a comic juxtaposition for the audience; from the desolate,
unwelcoming outback to the suburban streets of Los Angeles
where the inhabitants are filmed in slow motion astonished at the
sight of this newcomer. The “dance-off” and “car-race” between
Lil Nas X and the street people are represented in a friendly
manner.
7) How can the video be read as a reinforcement of capitalism and the American dream?
Through the idea of the stereotypical white picket fence being seen throughout the video.
8) How does the factsheet suggest the video creates a hyperreality?
Creating a juxtaposition of moddern days and the 1800s
9) How is masculinity represented in the video?
In Old Town Road Both Lil Nas X
and Billy Ray Cyrus are encoded in
stereotypical feminine dress codes.
The typical hypermasculine garb
of cowboys is feminised with pink,
roses and jewels, transcoding
gender signifiers markets Lil Nas
X as an unconventional and this
set him apart from other rap and
country stars.
10) Look at the final page. What theories are suggested for this CSP and which do you think are the most useful?
Judith Butler’s theory effectively to the video as it draws
attention to the performative nature of gender. Stereotypical
feminine gender codes, such as the pink suits and flowers,
highlight that “the inner truth is a fabrication.” Lil Nas X and Billy
Ray Cyrus do not “perform” like conventional cowboys.
David Gauntlett’s identity theory would argue that more
varied and nuanced representations of masculinity offer
audiences more identity models to follow. Plus, marginalised
representations of gay, black country, and rap artists getting
mainstream exposure and being accepted could pave the way
for more artists from these groups.
Paul Gilroy’s idea of double-consciousness could be applied
through the idea that Lil Nas X has openly stated he’s struggled
with his own sexuality and Christian background, as well as
being a black artist trying to break out in the white-centric genre
of country and western music. Furthermore, sub-genre concept
of hybridity in music create through African American influence
is clear in how Lil Nas X is forging a type of country music.
Stuart Hall’s concept of transcoding stereotypes could
be useful ad Lil Nas X subverts the aggressive black male
stereotype, especially in regard to the violent, misogynistic,
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