Postcolonial theory: blog tasks
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 article lists: cowboy hats, cow prints, rhinestones and fringed suede jackets
2) How did the Yeehaw agenda come about?
It came about in September 2018, a trend of black pop-culture figures wearing cowboy garb which was names the 'Yeehaw Agenda' by Bri Malandro.
3) Why has it been suggested that the black cowboy has been 'erased from American culture'?
Any ideas associated with America have been largely white, to the point that the Studio Museum in Harlem sponsored a "Black Cowboy" exhibition two years ago with the goal of bringing back the black cowboy to the forefront of Western history.
4) How has the black cowboy aesthetic been reflected by the fashion industry?
By the Studio Museum in Harlem that had sponsored a 'Black Cowboy' exhibition two years ago.
5) Read the section on Lil Nas X and Old Town Road. What does it suggest about race and the country music community?
The song made it to the top of the Hot Country Billboard chart bus was then removed 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?
Lil Nas X'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 and even has Billy Ray Cyrus as a feature on the song.
7) What genres of music does the article suggest have been shaped by black influences?
The article suggests that these genres have been shaped by black influences: 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?
I think that the Yeehaw movement was introduced as a stand up against racism faced through societies on black people. It opened up an opportunity for black people to fight back and claim their rightful past.
4) Are there any examples of Alvarado's theory of black stereotypes in the Old Town Road video? Why/why not?
In the music video, there is an example of Alvarado's stereotype, exotic, which is shown by Lil Nas X as he is the music artist and changes costume into his sparkly pink cowboy outfit. By making his outfit pink, they make him stand out as a main character in the video. There is also an example of the humorous character that is played by Chris Rock, who is a comedian.
5) How does Lil Nas X provide a compelling case study for bell hooks's theory of intersectionality?
His intersectional identity combines two components of his identity and offers a distinctive viewpoint on the intersections of race and sexuality especially since he came out.
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 article lists: cowboy hats, cow prints, rhinestones and fringed suede jackets
2) How did the Yeehaw agenda come about?
It came about in September 2018, a trend of black pop-culture figures wearing cowboy garb which was names the 'Yeehaw Agenda' by Bri Malandro.
3) Why has it been suggested that the black cowboy has been 'erased from American culture'?
Any ideas associated with America have been largely white, to the point that the Studio Museum in Harlem sponsored a "Black Cowboy" exhibition two years ago with the goal of bringing back the black cowboy to the forefront of Western history.
4) How has the black cowboy aesthetic been reflected by the fashion industry?
By the Studio Museum in Harlem that had sponsored a 'Black Cowboy' exhibition two years ago.
5) Read the section on Lil Nas X and Old Town Road. What does it suggest about race and the country music community?
The song made it to the top of the Hot Country Billboard chart bus was then removed 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?
Lil Nas X'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 and even has Billy Ray Cyrus as a feature on the song.
7) What genres of music does the article suggest have been shaped by black influences?
The article suggests that these genres have been shaped by black influences: 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?
I think that the Yeehaw movement was introduced as a stand up against racism faced through societies on black people. It opened up an opportunity for black people to fight back and claim their rightful past.
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 challenges the idea that black musicians must stick to specific genres by merging parts of hip-hop and country music together. Lil Nas X dismisses the myths that confine black performers to those specific genres by mixing different musical genres together.
2) How could you argue that the Old Town Road video challenges Gilroy's theory of double consciousness?
Gilroy's 'double consciousness' is the idea of not feeling a sense of belonging. This could be applied to Old Town Road when Lil Nas X gets somehow teleported into the present day from the 1800s. It make make him feel like he doesn't belong there. However, it could challenge this idea when all of the black community are gathered together after the horse and car race. It could potentially be seen as one family where everyone may feel included.
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.
In Old Town Road, there are examples of Hall's theory of race representations. One being the native, also the criminal. In the music video, the native can be seen as Lil Nas X himself as at the beginning of the video, he is seen to be the thief who stole a bag of money and is on the run from the police on a horse.
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 challenges the idea that black musicians must stick to specific genres by merging parts of hip-hop and country music together. Lil Nas X dismisses the myths that confine black performers to those specific genres by mixing different musical genres together.
2) How could you argue that the Old Town Road video challenges Gilroy's theory of double consciousness?
Gilroy's 'double consciousness' is the idea of not feeling a sense of belonging. This could be applied to Old Town Road when Lil Nas X gets somehow teleported into the present day from the 1800s. It make make him feel like he doesn't belong there. However, it could challenge this idea when all of the black community are gathered together after the horse and car race. It could potentially be seen as one family where everyone may feel included.
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.
In Old Town Road, there are examples of Hall's theory of race representations. One being the native, also the criminal. In the music video, the native can be seen as Lil Nas X himself as at the beginning of the video, he is seen to be the thief who stole a bag of money and is on the run from the police on a horse.
4) Are there any examples of Alvarado's theory of black stereotypes in the Old Town Road video? Why/why not?
In the music video, there is an example of Alvarado's stereotype, exotic, which is shown by Lil Nas X as he is the music artist and changes costume into his sparkly pink cowboy outfit. By making his outfit pink, they make him stand out as a main character in the video. There is also an example of the humorous character that is played by Chris Rock, who is a comedian.
5) How does Lil Nas X provide a compelling case study for bell hooks's theory of intersectionality?
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