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?
Wether the song should be classified as rap or country or a hybrid county rap genre.
2) What do you learn about the background of Lil Nas X and Old Town Road from the podcast transcript?
He came to fame through the song going viral on tiktok and before that he was an independent artist.
3) What is the Yeehaw agenda?
It's about challenging the stereotypes people often believe about the American cowboy and country-western music in general.
4) How did the story become a debate about race in America?
Because it wasn't getting recognised as a country song people thought it was to do with race and the fact that lil was x was challenging stereotypes in his song.
5) How does Charlie Harding sum up the whole thing in the final part of the podcast transcript?
Charlie Harding sums up that Old Town Road is an example of modern culture since it combines internet virality, uses a hybrid genre and became a part of meme culture. He suggests that it is much more than just a succesful song but it also reflects the cultural changes in America.
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 tweeted about re-listening to one of his songs where he hinted about his identity and then fully came out with a tweet later.
2) Why does the article describe Old Town Road as 'genre-blurring'?
His breakthrough hit 'Old town road' harnessed both hip hop and country in its sound and fans gathered.
3) How has country music demonstrated the social change taking place in American culture and society?
It has been more accepting to the queer community with other country artists coming out in recent times which illustrates American culture slowing changing to also be more accepting.
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.
Todorov's equilibrium can be applied- the beginning part with lil nas x and billy ray cyrus sitting together is the equilibrium, the gun shot and the time travel is the disequilibrium, the end with the lime dancers is the new equilibrium.
Action codes- gun, racing, going through tunnel ect
Enigma codes- new time and place
2) What examples of genre conventions and intertextuality can you find in the video?
western cowboy conventions - costumes(cowboy hat, boots ect), horses, dessert setting, guns.
rap/hiphop conventions- urban setting, the women's style of dancing
Country conventions- lime dancers
Intertextuality - paused frames with their names showing up, lyrics reference to Kanye
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.
shot reverse shot of girl dancing across from lil nas x shows the juxtaposition between the conventional western style and a more modern, urban style.
Fast paced editing to match tempo of the song.
Costumes and props are stereotypical of their respective genres to highlight the difference between the genres.
4) How are representations of race and ethnicity constructed in the video?
The music video can be seen as part of the yeehaw agenda because it's representation of cowboys is subversive to the traditional white cowboy.
5) What other representations can you find in the video? You may wish to comment on gender, sexuality or America/American culture.
The video doesn't subvert representations about the 'American dream' because the lyrics can be viewed as materialistic and tied into the stereotypical capitalist American culture.
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.
Cultural Myth:
Deeper ideologies that have been shaped through cultural coding through connotations over time.
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.
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?
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 tweetdecking. 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?
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 and this opening scene intertextualises these elements to create a meaning of promise and adventure but also to represent the character as someone who is willing to take risks.
5) How does the video begin?
The exposition of the video starts in media res (during the action).
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. 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?
A montage of images is used to reinforce the conspicuous consumption of material goods. The Maserati car, the dollar sign, diamonds, rhinestones, the Super Mall, flashy suits and high-end sunglasses connote the capitalist nature of America.
8) How does the factsheet suggest the video creates a hyperreality?
Signifiers of wealth such as clutching a money bag with a dollar sign on it, construct the hyperreality of 'The American Dream', a cultural myth that states everyone should have equal access and opportunities, especially when it comes to success.
9) How is masculinity represented in the video?
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?
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.
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.
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