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? 

- There are black people in western/cowboy clothing 

2) How did the Yeehaw agenda come about? 

The Yeehaw Agenda is a social and cultural movement that emerged in the late 2010s and early 2020s to celebrate and reclaim Black cowboys and Western aesthetics. It seeks to challenge the historical erasure of Black contributions to cowboy culture and disrupt the traditionally white-dominated narratives of the Western genre. Popularized on social media, particularly Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, the Yeehaw Agenda highlights Black individuals embracing cowboy fashion and Western-themed performances, promoting a more inclusive and diverse representation of Western culture. Musicians like Lil Nas X, with his hit "Old Town Road," further contributed to the movement by fusing hip-hop and country music, breaking genre boundaries and amplifying the demand for diverse narratives in country and Western music.

3) Why has it been suggested that the black cowboy has been 'erased from American culture'? 

The imagery associated with Americana has been overwhelmingly white

4) How has the black cowboy aesthetic been reflected by the fashion industry?

Over the past few years, their popularity has surged to the point that Pyer Moss—a label that prominently presented western-inspired looks in its fall/winter 2018 runway show—featured the Compton Cowboys in the look book for their fall 2018 collaboration with Reebok.

5) Read the section on Lil Nas X and Old Town Road. What does it suggest about race and the country music community?

The Internet erupted when Billboard decided to take the song off the country charts, claiming that it "does not embrace enough elements of today's country music" to be considered a part of the genre. Many people claimed that the removal of the song from the country charts reveals a problem with race in the country music industry. 

6) What elements of the song and music video are suggested to be authentically country and western?

- Southern twang of the singer.

- Banjo is used in the song.

- Backdrop for the video is in keeping with the aesthetics of country music.

7) What genres of music does the article suggest 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? 

The driving force behind the Yeehaw movement has been the desire to reclaim and celebrate Black contributions to cowboy culture, challenge stereotypes, and promote a more inclusive representation of Western aesthetics and history.

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?

The "Old Town Road" music video by Lil Nas X both reinforces and challenges Black stereotypes in the media. It challenges stereotypes by showcasing a Black cowboy protagonist, subverting traditional Western norms and empowering Black representation in a genre historically dominated by white figures. The video challenges notions of masculinity and embraces self-expression. However, it also reinforces some stereotypes through humorous depictions, such as the use of comedic elements and exaggerated characters. By blending contemporary hip-hop and country aesthetics, the video challenges racial boundaries in the music industry while also acknowledging and playing with certain stereotypes to engage the audience in a visually engaging and entertaining way.

2) How could you argue that the Old Town Road video challenges Gilroy's theory of double consciousness?

The "Old Town Road" video challenges Gilroy's theory of double consciousness by celebrating cultural fusion and empowering Black representation in traditionally white-dominated Western themes, demonstrating a seamless and empowered sense of identity.

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.  

Lil Nas X and "Old Town Road" provide an example of Stuart Hall's theory of race representations by subverting traditional racial stereotypes, challenging the fixed notions of Blackness, and promoting a more fluid and empowering representation of Black identity in the context of cowboy culture, thereby challenging the dominant racial narratives in the music industry and popular culture.

4) Are there any examples of Alvarado's theory of black stereotypes in the Old Town Road video? Why/why not?

In the "Old Town Road" video, there are elements that align with Alvarado's theory of black stereotypes, such as humorous and exaggerated depictions of characters, which can perpetuate certain stereotypes, but it also challenges these stereotypes through its empowering representation of a Black cowboy protagonist, promoting a more complex and diverse portrayal of Black identity in the context of Western themes.

5) How does Lil Nas X provide a compelling case study for bell hooks's theory of intersectionality?

Lil Nas X provides a compelling case study for bell hooks's theory of intersectionality by embodying a multifaceted identity that challenges traditional norms and highlights the interconnectedness of race, gender, and sexuality in shaping his artistry and representation in the music industry.