Old town road csp

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?

People argue if the song is country or not. It mixes country and rap. Billboard removed it from the country chart.

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

Lil Nas X is from Atlanta. He made the song using a beat he found online. He called it “country trap.” It got big on TikTok.

3) What is the Yeehaw agenda?

It is a trend where Black people dress in cowboy style. It mixes Black culture with country looks.

4) How did the story become a debate about race in America?
Billboard removed the song from the country chart. Some think it was because Lil Nas X is Black. Country music is mostly white.

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

He says the song breaks music rules. It shows how people mix styles today. It also shows how music and race are still connected.

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

He posted tweets. He told fans to listen to his song “c7osure.” He used a rainbow emoji. He also shared rainbow artwork from his EP.

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

It mixes rap and country. It has fans from both styles. It caused debate about what counts as “country.” 

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

More country artists support LGBTQ rights. Some changed song lyrics. Some came out as gay. Fans and artists are now more accepting.

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

The video follows Todorov’s narrative structure. It starts with Lil Nas X as a cowboy, representing equilibrium, but when he encounters different worlds, it disrupts the narrative. The transformation from cowboy to a futuristic figure ties into Strauss's idea of binary oppositions, like tradition vs. modernity..

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

The video blends country and hip hop. There’s intertextuality with Western films , mixing classic cowboy tropes with contemporary and LGBTQ+ themes.

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.

Camerawork: Wide shots for landscape, close-ups for action to emphasise the transformation.

Editing: Quick cuts when shifting between different genres create energy.

Mise-en-scène: The setting changes from desert to futuristic, highlighting the blend of cultures and eras.

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

Lil Nas X, an African American artist in cowboy culture, challenges racial norms in country music.

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

The video recreates the American cowboy, blending old and new, reflecting a more inclusive, diverse America

1) Who are the celebrities that appear in cameos in the video? 

The music video features 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 shaped through cultural coding and connotations over time.

• Hypermasculine: An exaggerated representation of masculinity, emphasizing physical strength.

3) How did Lil Nas X use social media to boost his own popularity and the success of the video?

 Before releasing his own music, he had built a large following on Twitter by running an anonymous account where he interacted with memes, viral threads, and Nicki Minaj's fanbase. His Twitter account helped launch the release of Old Town Road through marketing strategies, such as using platforms like Reddit and TikTok to maintain visibility.

4) Look at the video analysis on page 3. What conventions of the western can be found in the video? 

The video uses themes of cowboys, desert settings, and a lone rider (Lil Nas X).

There’s a standoff scene, a horse race, and a wild west feel which are classic western themes.

5) How does the video begin? 

The video starts with Lil Nas X riding through the countryside, being chased by a sheriff, like a typical cowboy movie.

6) What does the factsheet suggest regarding the modern-day part of the video? 

The video mixes old cowboy culture with modern settings, creating a funny contrast.

7) How can the video be read as a reinforcement of capitalism and the American dream? 

The video shows lots of money, luxury items (like Maseratis), and success, which connects to the idea of the American Dream. It suggests anyone can achieve success if they work hard.

8) How does the factsheet suggest the video creates a hyperreality? 

The video presents an idealized version of Los Angeles where everything is perfect and there’s no violence or danger. This is a version of reality that is better than real life.

9) How is masculinity represented in the video? 

The video shows a different type of masculinity where Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus aren’t the typical tough, macho cowboys.

10) Look at the final page. What theories are suggested for this CSP and which do you think are the most useful

Judith Butler (gender performativity): Gender roles are not fixed, and Lil Nas X plays with these roles by wearing feminine clothing and challenging stereotypes.

David Gauntlett (identity theory): The video offers a more flexible and diverse view of masculinity.

Stuart Hall (transcoding stereotypes): Lil Nas X breaks the stereotype of the aggressive black male in rap music.?