Wider reading on race and Old Town Road
Read this W Magazine deep dive on the Yeehaw agenda and answer the following questions:
1) What are the visual cues the article lists as linked to the western genre?
the visual cues associated with what could be classified as western—cowboy hats, cow prints, rhinestones, and fringed suede jackets
2) How did the Yeehaw agenda come about?
In September 2018, the trend of black pop-culture figures wearing cowboy garb was dubbed the “Yeehaw Agenda” by Bri Malandro, a Texas-based pop-culture archivist.
3) Why has it been suggested that the black cowboy has been 'erased from American culture'?
The history of the black cowboy has largely been erased from American culture, and the “moment” black cowboys are having in pop culture right now has actually persisted for quite some time.
4) How has the black cowboy aesthetic been reflected by the fashion industry?
their popularity has surged to the point that Pyer Moss—a label that prominently presented western-inspired looks in its fall/winter 2018 runway show—featured the Compton Cowboys in the look book for their fall 2018 collaboration with Reebok.
5) Read the section on Lil Nas X and Old Town Road. What does it suggest about race and the country music community?
When Billboard decided to remove the song, insisting that it “does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music” for it to be considered part of the genre, the Internet revolted, with many contending that the erasure of the song from the country charts reveals a problem with race in the country music community.
6) What elements of the song and music video are suggested to be authentically country and western?
Its singer’s Southern twang is, after all, reminiscent of the twang in the voices of popular country musicians, the track incorporates a banjo, and the video backdrop appropriately matched the aesthetics associated with country music
7) What genres of music does the article suggest have been shaped by black influences? Just as black artists have had a hand in the invention and popularization of genres including, but not limited to, rock and roll, punk, riot grrrl, and electronic music
8) In your opinion, what do you think has been the driving force behind the Yeehaw movement?
The act of dressing like a cowboy, highlighting the impact black artists have had on country music, and flooding the Internet with decidedly black western imagery is a form of paying homage to this nearly forgotten community
Applying postcolonial theory to Old Town Road
Revise the postcolonial theories we have studied and apply them to the Old Town Road music video:
1) How does the Old Town Road music video both reinforce and challenge black stereotypes in the media?
Old Town Road" blends elements of country and hip-hop, challenging the notion that black artists must adhere to specific genres. By fusing different musical styles, Lil Nas X challenges the stereotypes that restrict black musicians to specific genres,
2) How could you argue that the Old Town Road video challenges Gilroy's theory of double consciousness?
Lil Nas X confidently embraces his own identity and self-expression. By being himself, Lil Nas X challenges the idea that black individuals must conform to a narrow set of societal expectations.
3) How does Lil Nas X and Old Town Road provide an example of Hall's theory of race representations? Alternatively, you could argue against this if you prefer.
"Old Town Road" sparked debates about racial representation in the music industry and highlighted the discriminatory behaviour present in the media.
4) Are there any examples of Alvarado's theory of black stereotypes in the Old Town Road video?
- Exotic: Billy Ray Cyrus' pink cowboy suit
- Humorous: Chris Rock comedy cameo
- Dangerous: The old man with the gun
5) How does Lil Nas X provide a compelling case study for bell hooks's theory of intersectionality?
His intersectional identity brings together two aspects of his identity, providing a unique perspective on the intersections of race and sexuality.
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