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 main debate centres on whether Old Town Road should be classified as a country song or a rap song. The track blends elements of both genres, sparking discussion about how we define musical genres in the first place.
2) What do you learn about the background of Lil Nas X and Old Town Road from the podcast transcript?
Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Hill, is a 20-year-old rapper from Atlanta. He started uploading music to SoundCloud and released Old Town Road in December after buying a beat with a country-style instrumental. At the time, he was living at home and feeling isolated, which inspired him to write the song using the metaphor of a lonely cowboy.
3) What is the Yeehaw agenda?
The Yeehaw Agenda is a cultural movement started by Bri Malandro to celebrate Black representation in country aesthetics. It challenges the idea that cowboy culture is exclusively white and aims to reclaim space in a genre that has often excluded Black voices.
4) How did the story become a debate about race in America?
The controversy began when Old Town Road was removed from the Billboard country charts, with many people arguing this was due to racial bias rather than musical style. Country music has historically been guarded as a white-dominated genre, and Lil Nas X’s success challenged that gatekeeping.
5) How does Charlie Harding sum up the whole thing in the final part of the podcast transcript?
Charlie Harding suggests that today’s listeners often choose music based on mood rather than strict genre labels. This shift is changing how music is categorised and how songs perform on the charts, revealing tensions around who gets to define and claim certain genres.
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 came out in a series of tweets, encouraging fans to listen closely to his song “C7osure,” which is about self-acceptance. He hinted at his sexuality with a rainbow emoji and later confirmed it by saying, “Deadass thought I made it obvious.”
2) Why does the article describe Old Town Road as 'genre-blurring'?
Because it fuses elements of hip hop and country; two genres not typically mixed appealing to fans from both sides and pushing the boundaries of traditional music categorisation.
3) How has country music demonstrated the social change taking place in American culture and society?
Country music, especially through songs like Old Town Road, is beginning to reflect broader shifts in society embracing diversity in terms of race, sexuality, and cultural identity. The success of Lil Nas X highlights how younger audiences are more open to cross-genre experimentation and inclusive narratives.
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.
Using Propp’s theory, Lil Nas X plays the hero, with Billy Ray Cyrus as the helper or donor. A stereotypical redneck character acts as a sort of villain. Todorov’s narrative theory can be applied too: the disequilibrium is when they fall through the hole in time, and the new equilibrium is them finding a new place in the modern world. Levi-Strauss’ theory of binary opposites is clear in the contrast between the 1800s and the present day, and the old vs. new cultural settings.
2) What examples of genre conventions and intertextuality can you find in the video?
The video includes lots of Western genre elements; cowboy costumes, horses, whip sound effects and merges them with modern settings and hip-hop culture. This intertextual blend is both a parody and a tribute to classic Westerns.
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.
There’s fast-paced editing, especially during the race scenes, and a mix of slow pans and montage sequences. The mise-en-scène contrasts traditional Western elements with modern urban life, like going from a bingo hall to a line-dancing scene. The sound also bridges transitions, blending hip-hop and country vibes to reflect the fusion of identities.
4) How are representations of race and ethnicity constructed in the video?
The video celebrates Black identity in a genre typically seen as white-dominated. It embraces cultural diversity and challenges expectations; Black cowboys, bright clothing, and references to the Yeehaw Agenda all highlight inclusivity and representation.
5) What other representations can you find in the video? You may wish to comment on gender, sexuality or America/American culture.
Gender norms are challenged; Lil Nas X wears pink and floral prints, which go against traditional masculine codes. There are also subtle nods to sexuality and a playful take on American culture, blending nostalgia with modernity.
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 video features cameos from Chris Rock, Haha Davis, Rico Nasty, Vince Staples, Jozzy, Diplo, and producer YoungKio.
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 very typical example or symbol of a certain person, place, or thing.
Cultural Myth: An idea or belief that has become widely accepted due to repeated representation in culture and media.
Mytheme: A fundamental element of a narrative (like characters or themes) that reveals dominant cultural values.
3) How did Lil Nas X use social media to boost his own popularity and the success of the video?
Lil Nas X understood the power of social media long before he became famous. He previously ran a fan account for Nicki Minaj and used Twitter, TikTok, and memes to promote Old Town Road, making it go viral without traditional music industry backing.
4) Look at the video analysis on page 3. What conventions of the western can be found in the video?
The use of horses, cowboy outfits, dusty trails, and a sheriff all reference classic Western films.
5) How does the video begin?
It opens with Lil Nas X being chased through the countryside by a sheriff and his deputies, setting up the Western theme.
6) What does the factsheet suggest regarding the modern-day part of the video?
The transition to modern-day Los Angeles creates a comedic contrast. The Wild West is replaced by suburban streets, where people are shocked to see someone on horseback highlighting the absurdity and blending of past and present.
7) How can the video be read as a reinforcement of capitalism and the American dream?
The video presents a rags-to-riches narrative; Lil Nas X arrives as an outsider, races a car on horseback, wins money, and is welcomed into a new lifestyle. This mirrors the American Dream ideology, where success is achieved through individuality and perseverance.
8) How does the factsheet suggest the video creates a hyperreality?
It blends fantasy and reality in exaggerated ways; horses racing cars, over-the-top fashion, and cartoonish reactions creating a heightened version of reality that reflects how pop culture often distorts real life.
9) How is masculinity represented in the video?
Instead of the traditional lone cowboy hero, we see a friendly duo that challenges macho stereotypes. The pink clothing, sensitivity, and partnership show a more fluid, modern take on masculinity.
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 of gender performativity is especially relevant. The video shows how gender roles—like what a cowboy should wear or act like—are socially constructed and performed. The characters don’t fit traditional moulds, challenging what masculinity and identity look like in modern media.
A/A* extension tasks
The success of Old Town Road shows how digital media is changing music. Lil Nas X’s song went viral online, especially on TikTok, without support from traditional music platforms. When Billboard removed it from the country chart, fans pushed back on social media, leading to a remix with Billy Ray Cyrus. Celebrities and online users helped spread the song, showing that digital media allows fans to shape what becomes popular. It also challenges traditional ideas about music genres and gives artists more creative freedom.
Comments
Post a Comment