Old Town Road

Question 1

Media Language - Dress Code?

Answer 1

From dull to very flamboyant and expressive

Question 2

Media Language - Colour Codes?

Answer 2

Yellows (dry land) to grey/blue in urban future

Question 3

Media Language - Body Language?

Answer 3

Dominant, authoritative, sometimes fearful

Question 4

Media Language - Camera Angles?

Answer 4

• Panoramic shot to begin with (western movies)
• Wide shots encompassing many people
• Some close-ups when singing (performative)

Question 5

Media Language - Key Lyrics?

Answer 5

• “Can’t nobody tell me nothing”
• “Cheated on my baby, you can go and ask her”
• “My life is a movie, Bull riding and boobies”
• “Gucci”
• “Wrangler”
• “Porsche”
• “Fendi”
• “Maserati”
• “Marlboro man”

Question 6

Media Language - Sounds?

Answer 6

• Horse whip
• Car revving

Question 7

Apply Todorov’s Narrative Theory to Old Town Road

Answer 7

• Equilibrium - western robbery 1889
• Disruption - shot at by white man and daughter, run away through hole to 2019
• Recognition - reaction from those in town, he does not fit in - other
• Attempt to repair - horse race and outfit change - more acceptance and respect
• New equilibrium - friendly photos with strangers in the bingo hall

Question 8

Apply Neale’s Genre Theory to Old Town Road

Answer 8

• Western genre - cowboy hats/boots/horses
• Rap genre - blingy outfits, fast cars, features from other stars (Billy Ray)
• Same but different - pink cowboy outfit, Maserati rather than horse, bingo hall with dancing (loud in quiet)

Question 9

Apply Hall’s Representation Theory to Old Town Road

Answer 9

• Appropriated representation - stereotypes are adopted by oppressed group - e.g. criminal, he steals the money and spends it on an expensive car
• Counter representation - Billy Ray in a pink cowboy suit
• Deconstructed representation - black community is close-nit and welcomes him

Question 10

Apply Gilroy’s Theory to Old Town Road

Answer 10

• Racial otherness - black community vs bingo hall, Lil Nas X is always othered
• Double consciousness - knows he isn’t accepted “last time I was here…”

Question 11

Apply Butler’s Gender Theory to Old Town Road

Answer 11

Male dominated world (cowboys), powerful men, who are listened to and eventually welcomed, ‘bull riding and boobies’

Question 12

What was the Yeehaw Agenda? (context)

Answer 12

• Black History Month 2019
• Reclaiming cowboy aesthetic
• One quarter of cowboys were black
• # yeehaw challenge promoted the song on TikTok (yeehaw juice challenge)

Question 13

What is the genre of Old Town Road?

Answer 13

Country/rap:

• Billy Ray - iconic country singer
• Objectification of women ‘boobies’
• Horses/guitars
• Cowboy gear
• Less racist tones (rap)
• Short snappy lines/verses

Question 14

Why was there so much controversy when the song was first released? (context)