Lil Nas X - Old Town Road: Blog tasks

 Background and cultural contexts:

1) What is the big debate regarding Old Town Road and genre?

whether "Old Town Road" belongs in the country music genre. A dispute regarding what constitutes country music and who gets to define it was sparked when Billboard delisted the rapper's song "Old Town Road" from the country chart.

2) What do you learn about the background of Lil Nas X and Old Town Road from the podcast transcript?

He is an Atlanta-born rapper who is 20 years old. Although he has been referring to himself as "Lil Nas X" for a while, his real name is Montero Hill. And like many others, he signed up for SoundCloud last year. Additionally, in December of that same year, he published a song titled "Old Town Road."He purchased a beat with an instrumental that had a vaguely country feel to it. And he claimed that he was feeling really lonely at home, much like a lonely cowboy, and he made the decision to combine that sensation with the twangy beat he had purchased.

3) What is the Yeehaw agenda?

It explains why many black artists are developing an interest in a type of rustic look. And Lil Nas X had a role in that as people began to appreciate the classic cowboy/cowgirl style.

4) How did the story become a debate about race in America?

Because a black musician in America is charting in a largely white music industry, and a very strong, important organisation quietly removes his song. When Genius contacted Billboard, it was expected that they would respond, "Oh no, it has nothing to do with his race, it has everything to do with the song and the lack of country elements in it." It immediately sparked discussion, especially among black Twitter users.

5) How does Charlie Harding sum up the whole thing in the final part of the podcast transcript?

The idea that other people are determining whether or not something falls under a particular genre may make organisations like Billboard nervous. According to him, people listen as much by mood as they do by genre these days, upending a whole school of thought regarding the significance of these general categories. As important as hip-hop or country music is, "Pump-Up" and "Chill" are equally significant in terms of how people could approach attending to a concert. The way things chart and where they land are altering as a result. Additionally, it is necessary to engage in some awkward cultural negotiation in order to determine who has the right to assert their artistic identity.

1) How did Lil Nas X announce his sexuality on social media?

He urged followers to listen to his song "c7osure," which is about telling the truth about secrets and loving oneself, in a series of tweets. The artwork from his new EP "7," which depicts him wearing a cowboy hat and riding a horse towards a building shimmering with rainbow lights, was then posted after he punctuated the tweet with a rainbow emoji. He captioned it with the ironic phrase "deadass thought i made it obvious." Social media users were ecstatic. 

2) Why does the article describe Old Town Road as 'genre-blurring'?

Lil Nas X is a genre-defying artist whose breakthrough hit incorporated both country and hip hop sounds and fans, therefore his open admission of being gay affects both genres.

3) How has country music demonstrated the social change taking place in American culture and society?

In country music, 2014 was a significant year for LGBTQ news. A national social and political transition was followed by a trend of increasing acceptance and support. A total of 70% of Americans lived in the states that had legalised same-sex unions as of 2014. After that, in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated all state bans, establishing marriage equality as the rule of law. 

Old Town Road textual analysis:

1) How is the narrative features used in the music video? Apply narrative theory here.

Western against modern, country music versus rap music are in binary conflict.

enigma Action involving time travel and a tunnel is coded as a gun, shooting, and whip crack.

Hero and antagonist (protagonist).

2) What examples of genre conventions and intertextuality can you find in the video?

Chris Rock makes a cameo, and there is humour and a "black man on a horse"

hybridity in music and postmodern literature

Intertextuality: Important to rap name-checking of brands hip-hop style

Hip hop dance, the bingo hall, the country genre, and the rap genre

cultural camaraderie

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.

costume: contemporary attire used to depict current fashion, cowboy outfit intended to convey the meaning of the western.

High-key lighting

Horses and cars were employed as props to convey an old vs. new meaning.

In order to appeal to the digital society and maintain interest, camerawork is quick.

Uses multiple cuts and fades during editing.  

4) How are representations of race and ethnicity constructed in the video?

Young Black dude named Lil Nas X. While Lil Nas X is singing, there are no white extras present, which connects to the reality that rap and hip hop are often associated with Black rappers. Similarly, when Billy Ray Cyrus was singing, there were white people line dancing in a bingo hall, which links to the stereotype that country music is made by white musicians.

5) What other representations can you find in the video? You may wish to comment on gender, sexuality or America/American culture.

By making a connection between Lil Nas X's sexuality and the fact that he is gay, the audience may begin to interpret "Old Town Road" differently.