Old Town Road - Linking to theorists

Question 1

How can you apply Steve Neales Genre theory to OTR?

Answer 1

Neale’s theory emphasises the fluid nature of genre, genres are not fixed. OTR video challenges genre boundaries by mixing country and hiphop and creating a hybrid genre that defies easy classification.

Question 2

How can you apply Stuart Hall’s media representation theory to OTR?

Answer 2

Hall emphasises on the relationship between representation and power dynamics are relevant, the video challenges traditional representation of race through country music and confronting historical exclusionary practices against races. Encoding and Decoding links to audiences interpreting the video in there own way disrupting dominant narratives.

Question 3

How can you apply Butler’s theory of gender performativity?

Answer 3

Highlights the representation of masculinity within OTR, Gender is socially constructed through repeated behaviours, Lil nas x subverts traditional gender norms, highlighting the performative nature of masculinity and opening up space for alternative expressions of gender identity.

Question 4

How can you apply post modernism to OTR?

Answer 4

Postmodernist aesthetics are evident in the videos blending of disparate cultural elements, its playful subversion of genre conventions and its self aware references to popular culture and media tropes.