Lil Nas X - Old Town Road: Blog tasks
Background and cultural contexts
Read this Vox feature and podcast transcript on Lil Nas X and Old Town Road. Make sure you read the whole thing - including the podcast transcript - then answer the following questions:
1) What is the big debate regarding Old Town Road and genre? The debate of old town road is that old town road is not country enough and was removed form the country billboard 100 charts which lead to a debate in which people where calling the billboard chart 100 racist.
2) What do you learn about the background of Lil Nas X and Old Town Road from the podcast transcript?
The song's unique blend of country and hip-hop, which he termed "country-trap," disrupted the music charts and sparked a conversation about genre boundaries and inclusion in country music but the song Lil Nas X found the beat for "Old Town Road" in October 2018 and began writing it after his sister told him he had to move out soon. He felt "out of options" and his sister's and parents' frustrations with him inspired the chorus, "can't nobody tell me nothing,"
3) What is the Yeehaw agenda?
The "Yeehaw Agenda" is a movement, particularly prominent within Black culture, that highlights and celebrates Black cowboys and cowgirls in popular culture.
4) How did the story become a debate about race in America?
The story became a debate about race in America due to the fact that the song Old town road was removed form the billboard 100 charts due to it not being country enough which lead to people on X ( formerly twitter) and Instagram claiming that Lis Nas X song was only removed form the billboard charts due to the fact that he was black and which lead to people calling the billboard 100 country charts racist.
5) How does Charlie Harding sum up the whole thing in the final part of the podcast transcript?
there is a history of country artists actually inviting black artists to perform with them. Louis Armstrong has performed with Jimmie Rodgers and they had a hit, “Blue Yodel No. 9.” Glen Campbell invited Stevie Wonder to sing “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Willie Nelson worked with Snoop Dogg on a track called “My Medicine.” There’s all these examples of white artists bringing black artists into the country charts, which is accepted, and I think there’s also examples of black artists making country music. Ray Charles’ Modern Sounds in Country Music is one of the most essential country albums of all time, in which he really is demonstrating the historical crossover of these musics.
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?
came out as gay. In a series of tweets, he encouraged fans to listen to his song “c7osure,” which talks about coming clean about secrets and accepting oneself.
2) Why does the article describe Old Town Road as 'genre-blurring'?
because it combines elements of country and hip-hop music. The song features a country-inspired instrumental, including twangy banjos, while also incorporating the boom-bap beat and rap-style vocals characteristic of hip-hop.
3) How has country music demonstrated the social change taking place in American culture and society?
Country music has a long tradition of valorizing American political ideals like patriotism, liberty and opportunity. Yet music like Carlile's questions who — especially under an administration that openly opposes LGBTQ rights — has true access to those rights and who much of country music is made for. But with artists as critically and commercially dominant as Carlile and Lil Nas X starting and continuing conversations about queer representation and acceptance, the canon of country classics preaching other cherished American ideals — like inclusion and freedom through the lens of LGBTQ visibility and power — will hopefully continue to grow.
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 are narrative features used in the music video? Apply narrative theory here.
Levi Strauss Binary opposition is used multiple times for example:
- Cowboy vs lawmen ( Chris Rock sheriff and his officer)
- Car vs Horse
- Old school dance vs Tiktok dance
Todorov's Equilibrium theory this music video actually doesn't follow this and starts in disequilibrium
props character theory
Lil nas x - hero
variety of villain's e.g Chris Rock
Billy ray circus is a helper
2) What examples of genre conventions and intertextuality can you find in the video?
Celebreality cameo - Vince staples
screen in screens
link to Maserati and Fendi
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.
Close up of yee yee juice intertextual reference
editing of Lil nas x jumping in whole and falling through time
4) How are representations of race and ethnicity constructed in the video?
Their is a good historical representations we see a black cowboy which is not usally represneted in the media even though a quarter of cowboys were black.
5) What other representations can you find in the video? You may wish to comment on gender, sexuality or America/American culture.
representation of sexuality as Billy ray Cirrus is wearing pink and is in a pink car which is usally not seen as very masculine.
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?
The music video featured cameos from comedians Chris Rock and Haha Davis, rappers Vince Staples and Rico Nasty, songwriter Jozzy, producer Youngkio, and DJ Diplo.
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.
Hypermasculinity: An exaggerated representation of masculinity which emphasises physical
strength.
Intertextuality: The referencing of other media products within any given media text either explicitly or by allusion.
Mytheme: Small units of narrative in cultural products; such as theme, character and action, the study of which can reveal the dominant ideas and values of culture.
3) How did Lil Nas X use social media to boost his own popularity and the success of the video?
Firstly, he was a fan of Nicki Minaj and ran an anonymous Twitter account named @nasmaraj. Minaj is known for having a huge fan-base with Stans (stalker/fans) nicknamed “Barbz”. Lil Nas X, despite saying he did not run the account later admitted he did. Lil Nas X had a clear understanding of social media’s role in marketing and promotion of stars even before he released his own music. By trafficking in memes, viral threads, engagement bait, and Nicki Minaj stanning, he was able to create a six-digit follower base on Twitter, a process that is known a tweet decking. This account served as a springboard to release Old Town Road.
4) Look at the video analysis on page 3. What conventions of the western can be found in the video?
the video starts in media res (in the middle of action) and shows Lil Nas X riding through rugged countryside of the outback being chased by the sheriff and his deputies. Traditional westerns used deserted rocky, uninhabited settings to depict a particular form of American intrepidness that was dangerous and hostile for individuals, but if embraced could be a “land of opportunities”. Bank robberies and hostage situations were also conventional
5) How does the video begin?
the video starts in media res (in the middle of action) and shows Lil Nas X riding through rugged countryside of the outback being chased by the sheriff and his deputies.
6) What does the factsheet suggest regarding the modern-day part of the video?
Lil Nas X and the street people are represented in a friendly manner. The video ends with Lil Nas hugging a little white Bingo playing, line-dancing old lady, subverting the negative stereotype of the threatening black man as well as suggesting that outsiders should not be feared. This culminates in a message which constructs a hyperreality of inclusivity and community above fear and violence.
7) How can the video be read as a reinforcement of capitalism and the American dream?
This video can be used for the amercian dre
8) How does the factsheet suggest the video creates a hyperreality?
Los Angeles is represented as a land of opportunity and fairness, this is exemplified in the car race, where Lil Nas X beats the car on his horse, and where the loser “flocks (the money) on up”. This is an impossible situation but suggests that money can be won fair and square. Money is easy to come by and leads to wealth and riches.
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 hypermasculinity 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. Furthermore, the dress codes encode Billy Ray Cyrus, a Nashville stalwart, a white, straight male artist in a totally different way offering a more varied representation of masculinity.
10) Look at the final page. What theories are suggested for this CSP and which do you think are the most useful?
Thomas Schatz: Genres of Order and Integration
Judith Butler’s
David Gauntlett’s
Paul Gilroy’s idea of double-consciousness
Stuart Hall’s
I think David Gauntlets is good representations of masculinity offer audiences more identity models to follow. Plus, marginalized representations of gay, black country, and rap artists getting mainstream exposure and being accepted could pave the way for more artists from these groups.
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