Music video - old town Road Flashcards
1
Q
For Old Town Road – what binary oppositions can you identify?
A
- Black / White – challenges racial norms in country music.
- Security / Fear – shifts between safe and threatening environments.
- Freedom / Surveillance – cowboy imagery vs. societal control.
- Sane / Insane – questions cultural ‘normality’ through genre fusion.
- Warmth / Cold – lighting and costume contrast emotion and setting.
- Relaxed / Tense – tone and pacing reflect moments of comfort vs. conflict.
2
Q
How does Old Town Road reflect postmodernism in its music video form?
A
Hybridity – blends genres (country and rap), and video forms (narrative, performance, concept).
Intertextuality – references Western films, video games, memes, and internet culture.
Experimental Structure – disrupts traditional storytelling by mixing timelines, styles, and cultural symbols.
This self-aware, genre-blending style is a key feature of postmodern media
3
Q
what are the key musical and stylistic conventions of Country & Western music:
A
- Folk harmonies
- String instruments (banjo, fiddle, guitar)
- Twangy vocals
- Confessional, storytelling lyrics
- Frequent duets
- Combines folk, bluegrass, blues, and rural dance music
- Originates from American Southern/rural traditions
These features create a distinct emotional, narrative-driven sound.
4
Q
How does Old Town Road explore representation of race and identity in music and media?
A
- Challenges racial boundaries in country music, highlighting the exclusion of Black artists from the US country charts.
- Lil Nas X’s identity as a Black artist and openly gay influencer adds complexity to how the video is received.
- Uses Western film and music genre conventions to comment on race and cultural ownership.
- Reflects contemporary issues of race, gender, and media categorisation.
- The song and video’s hybrid form can be seen as a strategy to broaden appeal and increase audience reach and profit.
5
Q
Industry Racism & Old Town Road
A
- References in the video and song reveal an awareness of racial exclusion in Billboard’s country charts.
- The original version was removed from the country chart with Billboard claiming it “lacked elements of today’s country music.”
- Billy Ray Cyrus joined the remix, offering validation and helping reframe the track within country conventions.
- The incident sparked debate on genre policing and racial bias in music categorisation.
6
Q
Representation of the South in Old Town Road:
A
- Country music is strongly tied to the American South, often stereotyped as white, working-class, patriarchal, and parochial (“redneck” culture).
- The video uses Southern-style settings to play into and subvert these associations.
- Reinforces how whiteness is culturally linked with country music and the exclusion of Black identity from the genre.
- Reflects how country music carries pre-existing racial attitudes and cultural assumptions.
7
Q
Representation of setting/location in Old Town Road:
A
- Starts in a traditional cowboy setting (rural plains), evoking white, Western heritage.
- Transitions into a modern urban setting (suburbs, cars, fashion) associated with Black culture.
- The contrast highlights and challenges stereotypes of what spaces Black men are “expected” to occupy.
- Lil Nas X uses the cowboy figure in both settings to subvert genre, race, and identity norms — showing that cultural spaces can be hybrid and redefined.
8
Q
Representation of time & place:
A
- The shift from the ‘old’ Old Town Road (Western past) to the ‘new’ modern version symbolises how music genres and social attitudes have evolved.
- Reflects how race and sexuality are now more openly expressed and challenged in media.
- Suggests that cultural spaces once exclusive (like country music) are being reclaimed and redefined.
- The time-travel element represents progress and the breaking of traditional boundaries.
9
Q
Representation of the replacments from old to new in Old Town Road’s ending
A
- At the end, the horse is replaced by a Maserati GranTurismo, symbolising the shift from the old Western frontier to a modern, urban and luxurious space.
- Lil Nas X rides alongside Billy Ray Cyrus, bringing his “blinged” black cowboy style to a welcoming white, country bingo hall.
- The red sand desert and suburban “othering” are left behind to signify a new space for Black identity within the traditionally white country genre.
- Represents the erosion and redefinition of the country frontier, subverting racial boundaries and reclaiming space.
10
Q
Stereotyping of Masculinity in Old Town Road (Stuart Hall)
A
- Lil Nas X subverts traditional cowboy masculinity by rejecting the typical traits of physical strength, aggression, and brooding silence.
- Instead, he wears glittery outfits, sings, and dances with locals, challenging the norms of what it means to be masculine in country and hip-hop culture.
- This breaks the stereotypical association of cowboys and masculinity, presenting a more fluid and expressive version of gender identity.
- Aligns with Stuart Hall’s theory that media can both reinforce and challenge stereotypes by offering alternative representations of gender and identity.
11
Q
How does Old Town Road subvert stereotypes in terms of gender and wealth through fashion?
What theorist’s could this link to?
A
- Glamour and excess are central to the video, especially with Lil Nas X’s striking pink cowboy outfit adorned with diamanté details.
- This subverts expectations of masculinity and cowboy culture, which typically associates these figures with ruggedness and simplicity.
- References to material wealth and self-assuredness are rooted in hip-hop culture, and the blending of these tropes helps hybridise genres.
- This genre fusion creates a new space in country music, challenging traditional associations and expectations.
Judith Butler- gender performativity, glittery pink cowboy outfit challenges traditional performances of masculinity.
Stuart Hall – representation and stereotyping, undermines the traditional representation of masculinity in cowboy culture - as well as the material wealth stereotype in hip-hop culture. subverts cultural stereotypes.
12
Q
How does Lil Nas X’s performance in Old Town Road relate to Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity?
A
- Lil Nas X’s performance resists traditional gender binaries, especially through his portrayal of queer identity.
- Heteronormativity is rejected by his visuals (e.g., glittery, embellished cowboy costumes), presenting a more fluid, expressive version of masculinity.
- The lyrics (“Cheated on my baby / My life is a movie / Bull riding and boobies”) could be seen as parodying stereotypical ‘maleness’, mocking traits traditionally associated with men, like aggression and sexual conquest.
- Swapping a plain brown cowboy outfit for an extravagant, embellished costume challenges the notion that “macho” males should only wear practical, simple clothing, presenting a new vision of masculinity that embraces exaggeration and performance.
13
Q
How does Old Town Road force the music industry to confront its past and look toward a more equitable future?
A
- The collaboration between Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus highlights how country music, traditionally dominated by white artists, has excluded Black voices.
- Their partnership forces the country music industry to acknowledge its racial biases and work toward a more inclusive future.
- While they haven’t “ended racism,” their success challenges the racial boundaries of the genre, making a strong statement about representation and the possibilities of cross-genre collaboration.
- This moment is a direct critique of the industry’s past and presents an opportunity for reflection and change.
14
Q
What is the production context of Old Town Road and how does it reflect its hybrid identity?
A
- Debut single by Lil Nas X, signed to Columbia Records (a Sony subsidiary, part of the Big Three).
- This is the remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, forming an unusual country-rap hybrid genre.
- Directed by Calmatic, the video launched his directing career and won a Grammy for Best Music Video.
- The first video was low-budget, using footage from Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Features celebrity cameos and intertextual references (e.g., Blazing Saddles, Thelma & Louise).
- Uses comedy conventions and satire to subvert genre expectations.
- Known for high production values and effective genre blending.
15
Q
How does Lil Nas X’s background and use of digital media reflect the social context of Old Town Road?
A
- Born Montero Lamar Hill (1999) in Atlanta, USA; raised in a religious household, his father was a gospel singer.
- Gained attention online through memes, YouTube, and Twitter — known for going viral before his music career.
- Bought the Old Town Road beat for $30 from Dutch producer YoungKio, showing how accessible digital production has become.
- Promoted the song through memes, comedy, and the TikTok Yeehaw Challenge, showing how artists now bypass traditional media channels.
- Came out as gay in 2019, directly challenging stereotypes in rap and hip-hop, which often lean toward heteronormativity and hypermasculinity.
- Represents how the digital age empowers marginalised voices, disrupting the control of major labels and traditional gatekeepers.
16
Q
Social, Political & Economic Context of Old Town Road
A
- Challenges racial boundaries in genre, especially country music, which is often viewed as white-dominated.
- The removal of OTR from Billboard’s country chart highlighted concerns over racial bias in the music industry.
- Billy Ray Cyrus’s involvement (a white country star) brought mainstream acceptance, exposing how race affects credibility in certain genres.
- Reflects growing LGBTQ+ acceptance, as Lil Nas X came out as gay in 2019, defying norms in traditionally heteronormative rap and country cultures.
- Addresses race, sexuality, and genre with humour and irony, using playful visuals to question norms.
- Music video format enhances the song’s message, combining film conventions and music marketing to broaden audience reach and boost profit.
- Demonstrates how digital platforms and cross-genre content can challenge institutional power and reflect changing social values.
17
Q
How are technical codes used in Old Town Road, and how do they relate to genre conventions?
A
- Uses slow cuts between dramatic long shots and close-ups of intense stares, echoing classic Western film techniques.
- High-key lighting in exterior scenes creates a vibrant, idealised version of the Western setting.
- Guitar strings punctuate scenes, anchoring the visuals in country/western sound codes.
- While it repeats genre tropes, Lil Nas X plays with and subverts these conventions to create a unique, hybrid vision.
- The video blurs boundaries between narrative, performance, and conceptual music video forms, prompting debate over genre classification and representation.
18
Q
How are non-verbal codes used in Old Town Road to construct identity and meaning?
A
- Facial expressions, such as intense stares, and the presence of a tractor behind him while he rides a horse, play with traditional cowboy iconography.
- Dress codes (cowboy attire) signal a rugged, masculine identity, while the gold cross earring hints at Lil Nas X’s Christian background.
- These elements act as cultural signifiers, which Lil Nas X intentionally manipulates to construct a unique and subversive identity.
- During the performance scene in the community hall, his outstretched hand, passionate singing, and use of the microphone emphasise his role as a charismatic live performer.
- Overall, these non-verbal codes reinforce hybridity, blending country, hip-hop, and queer identity through visual performance.
19
Q
How does Old Town Road use narrative structure to engage the audience, and how does it reflect Todorov’s narrative theory?
A
- Like many artists, Lil Nas X uses a clear narrative arc to engage the audience and communicate personality, themes, and identity.
- The video begins with equilibrium: the protagonists live as outlaws in 1889, escaping the sheriff.
- Disequilibrium is introduced when they trespass and are shot at—Lil Nas X falls through a mine into the year 2019.
- In the modern world, he must adapt and gain acceptance, reflecting the struggle for identity and belonging.
- A new equilibrium is reached when he wins over the bingo hall crowd, blending tradition and modernity.
- The story also shapes how audiences decode the lyrics, linking visuals to themes of freedom, time travel, and identity transformation.
20
Q
Red Dead Redemption 2, Textual Poaching & Mass Amateurisation
How does the first Old Town Road video reflect Henry Jenkins’ and Clay Shirky’s media theories?
A
- Lil Nas X initially used gameplay footage from Red Dead Redemption 2 to promote Old Town Road, blending western visuals with his lyrics.
- Henry Jenkins’ concept of textual poaching (1992) applies: he reworked existing media (RDR2) to create a new cultural product — a remix that suited the country rap hybrid theme.
- At the time, he wasn’t signed to a label, which demonstrates Clay Shirky’s idea of mass amateurisation: digital tools allow individual creators to compete with professionals.
- This DIY approach went viral, earning over a million views on YouTube, and showcased how fan cultures and game communities can intersect with music promotion.
- The video exemplifies participatory culture and how non-traditional media production can challenge industry norms.
21
Q
How does Old Town Road use the codes and conventions of the Western genre, and how does Will Wright’s theory apply?
Will Wright is not part of the official AQA A-level Media Studies theorists list but is useful to mention for ‘further reading’ points
A
- Old Town Road draws on well-established Western tropes—cowboys, outlaws, horses, wide-open plains—that are instantly recognisable even to audiences unfamiliar with classic Westerns.
- These conventions carry symbolic meaning, like freedom, individualism, and the struggle between good and evil.
- Lil Nas X described himself as the “runaway, loner cowboy”, reinforcing the genre’s narrative of the outsider who escapes conformity.
- The chorus (“Can’t nobody tell me nothin’”) reinforces themes of perseverance and non-conformity.
=-------= - According to Will Wright’s (1975) theory of Western plot structure, Lil Nas X fits the model:
- He enters a social group (modern suburbia),
Is initially unknown, - But gains recognition through his unique abilities,
- And earns acceptance and celebration—the bingo hall dance scene reflects this final transformation.
22
Q
Will Wright’s Theory of Westerns:
A
Wright’s theory of Westerns focuses on the hero’s journey:
* Wright’s theory of Westerns focuses on the hero’s journey:
* Lil Nas X starts as an outsider (the “runaway cowboy”) but gains special status when his exceptional ability (his music and performance) wins over the crowd.
* The villain in Old Town Road could be seen as xenophobia, which Lil Nas X defeats by earning the respect and acceptance of the community (the bingo players).
* The professional narrative in Westerns involves the hero joining forces with others to fight the villain. In Old Town Road, this happens when Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus join together, symbolising unity across cultural divides.
23
Q
Old Town Road’s Social Meaning
A
- By analysing the Western structure, Wright suggested we can uncover deeper social messages.
- Old Town Road challenges and redefines the boundaries of race and gender in country music, reflecting broader societal changes and the erosion of traditional stereotypes.
- The video subverts the notion of a white, masculine hero and promotes a more inclusive, diverse representation of heroism that includes both gender fluidity and racial diversity.
24
Q
Representation of Masculinity in Old Town Road and Westerns (Liesbet van Zoonen)
A
Heroes test their masculinity in classical westerns by crossing the primeval landscape, surviving the relentless heat of the sun, and bringing order to the wild frontier. They remain stoic and resolute throughout the story. We have already seen how Lil Nas X performs aspects of this masculine identity in the music video, but his playful interpretation reminds the audience that gender roles are social constructs.
Liesbet van Zoonen (1996) believed gender roles seemed “natural” because they were always being reinforced in society. She argued feminist discourse defined masculinity by its sense of “competition, individualism, ruthlessness”. Westerns certainly reinforced this identity and there is a combative quality to many of the lines in “Old Town Road”, including “I been in the valley, you ain’t been off that porch”.
25
How did Lil Nas X’s sexuality and gender performance lead to backlash, and what does this signify in terms of gender trouble? (Judith Butler)
According to Butler, when someone performs outside the traditional gender binary, they create "gender trouble."
Lil Nas X’s queer performance disrupts dominant gender ideologies, making his musical identity a source of both acceptance and controversy.
26
Race and Old Town Road, Billboard Controversy - Billboard’s Race & Genre History:
**Billboard’s Race & Genre History:**
* Billboard’s music charts have historically been racially segregated:
* In 1945, a "Race Records" chart listed Black artists.
Later, it evolved into "Rhythm & Blues" and is now the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
* Country charts primarily reflected white artists, with airplay on white-majority radio stations.
27
Race and Old Town Road, Billboard Controversy - The Old Town Road Controversy:
Lil Nas X was removed from the country charts, leading to accusations of racial exclusion.
Critics argued this was a "real-time erasure" of a Black artist breaking boundaries in country music.
28
Race and Old Town Road, Billboard Controversy - Billy Ray Cyrus's Support:
* Billy Ray Cyrus, a country music icon, supported Lil Nas X, saying “you’re with me this time” in their interaction.
* This is seen as a direct commentary on the Billboard decision, with Cyrus championing Lil Nas X’s place in country music.
29
archetypal definition + in relations to Old Town Road:
Refers to recurring characters, themes, or symbols that are typical in narratives across time and cultures. Archetypes are considered universal patterns in storytelling.
In Old Town Road:
The cowboy persona is archetypal, representing the rugged individualist who seeks freedom, independence, and challenges traditional norms.
30
Cultural Myth definition + in relations to Old Town Road:
A story or symbol that holds cultural significance, often reflecting values, fears, or social norms of a particular society. These myths evolve and are interpreted across different generations.
In Old Town Road:
The cowboy and western frontier myth are used, but Lil Nas X subverts them by merging them with hip-hop culture, challenging the traditional portrayal of masculinity and race in the country genre.
31
Double Consciousness definition + in relations to Old Town Road:
A term coined by W.E.B. Du Bois to describe the internal conflict experienced by marginalized groups who view themselves through the lens of both their own identity and the way they are perceived by dominant society.
In Old Town Road:
Lil Nas X faces the tension between his black identity and the traditional, white-dominated country music genre, as well as his position as a queer artist in a space that often marginalizes non-heteronormative expressions.
32
Hypermasculine definition + in relations to Old Town Road:
A term describing exaggerated, traditional traits of masculinity, often including physical strength, emotional stoicism, and dominance. This concept is frequently associated with "manliness" in media.
In Old Town Road:
The music video plays with the idea of hypermasculine cowboy imagery, but Lil Nas X subverts these traits by incorporating glittery, flamboyant outfits and playful expressions of masculinity, challenging the traditional norms of "toughness" in the genre.
33
Intertextuality definition + in relations to Old Town Road:
The way in which a text (song, video, film, etc.) references or draws upon other texts, genres, or media forms. It highlights the interconnectedness between various works and how they influence or inform one another.
In Old Town Road:
The video uses western genre conventions, referencing films like Blazing Saddles and Thelma & Louise. Additionally, the incorporation of the Red Dead Redemption 2 game footage acts as an intertextual reference to traditional cowboy narratives.
34
Mytheme definition + in relations to Old Town Road:
A fundamental building block of myth, often referring to the smallest unit of narrative that has symbolic significance. Mythemes are the basic elements that combine to form larger myths or stories.
In Old Town Road:
The cowboy figure (often linked with freedom and masculinity) and the outlaw persona (rebelling against the norm) are mythemes that appear in both the narrative of the song and the visual elements of the video.
35
Theorists we talked about so far so we know which others we need to include later.
Here’s a summary of the theorists we've already discussed in relation to Old Town Road:
Stuart Hall (Representation)
Focused on how media represents social groups and ideologies. His work on encoding and decoding and stereotyping is relevant here, especially in the context of race, gender, and identity in Old Town Road.
Judith Butler (Gender Performativity)
Known for her theory of gender performativity, Butler challenges traditional views of gender. She argues that gender is a performance, not an inherent trait, which connects well with Lil Nas X’s portrayal of non-binary masculinity in the music video.
David Gauntlett (Identity)
Gauntlett focuses on how media helps individuals form and negotiate their identities. Old Town Road can be seen as challenging and reshaping societal norms about gender and race, particularly through Lil Nas X’s subversion of cowboy masculinity and gender expectations.
Henry Jenkins (Textual Poaching)
He introduced the idea of textual poaching, where fans and creators remix and rework existing media to create something new. This concept was applied to Lil Nas X's use of Red Dead Redemption 2 footage and his broader engagement with the Old Town Road meme culture.
Liesbet van Zoonen (Feminist Media Theory)
Van Zoonen focused on how gender roles are constructed and reinforced through media. Her views on masculinity and femininity help us understand how Old Town Road subverts typical male stereotypes through its playful approach to masculinity.
Will Wright (Western Narrative Structure)
Wright’s theory on western narrative structure is applied to Old Town Road to understand the hero's journey and the conflict between the protagonist (Lil Nas X) and societal norms, particularly around race and identity.
Clay Shirky (Mass Amateurization)
Shirky’s idea of mass amateurization is used to explain how Lil Nas X, as an independent artist, leveraged the internet and social media to distribute and promote his music, bypassing traditional media gatekeepers.
