Postcolonial theory: blog tasks

Wider reading on race and Old Town Road

1) What are the visual cues the article lists as linked to the western genre? 

• cowboy hats
• cow prints
• rhinestones
• fringed suede jackets

2) How did the Yeehaw agenda come about? 

In September 2018, the trend of black pop-culture figures wearing cowboy garb was dubbed the “Yeehaw Agenda” by Bri Malandro, a Texas-based pop-culture archivist. Her Instagram account, also called @theyeehawagenda, functions as both an archive and celebration of black cowboy aesthetics in popular culture. 

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

Wrangling cattle and the riding, training, and keeping of horses are practices that have been mastered by black Americans since the 1800s, but the impact that African American men and women have had on cowboy culture is not well known. During the Civil War, Texas slaveowners left cattle wrangling up to the black slaves they purchased while the slaveowners fought in battle. After the war ended, many slaves had become expert cowhands, and roughly 25 percent of cowboys were black.

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.

Telfar, another label determined to shake up the homogenous couture landscape, has emphasized the importance of the black cowboy figure by employing this aesthetic on the runway. For Telfar, the “runway” at the fall 2019 New York Fashion Week happened to be a stage, where Ho99o9 and other musicians donned in their finest western accoutrements—including cowboy hats and chaps—and performed while models stage dove into the crowd turned moshpit. The show was appropriately titled “Country.”

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

When Billboard decided to remove the song, 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. But really, what about the musical composition of “Old Town Road” disqualifies it from being a country song? Its singer’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.

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

Its singer’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.

7) What genres of music does the article suggest have been shaped by black influences? 

Just as black artists have had a hand in the invention and popularization of genres including, but not limited to, rock and roll, punk, riot grrrl, and electronic music, the ways in which black artists have shaped the sounds of contemporary country music have historically been overshadowed by the emphasis placed on white artists. 

8) In your opinion, what do you think has been the driving force behind the Yeehaw movement? 

The act of dressing like a cowboy, highlighting the impact black artists have had on country music, and flooding the Internet with decidedly black western imagery is a form of paying homage to this nearly forgotten community and a mode of archiving it so that it won’t be forgotten in the future. As Maladro posited last fall, “the Yeehaw Agenda is in full effect,” and it shows no sign of stopping any time soon.

Applying postcolonial theory to Old Town Road

1) How does the Old Town Road music video both reinforce and challenge black stereotypes in the media?

The video incorporates classic Western and cowboy aesthetics, which have historically been associated with white culture. By featuring a black artist in this context, it can be argued that the video reinforces the stereotype that black individuals do not typically belong in Western settings.

"Old Town Road" blends elements of country and hip-hop, challenging the notion that black artists must adhere to specific genres. By fusing different musical styles, Lil Nas X challenges the stereotypes that restrict black musicians to specific genres, providing a broader representation of black creativity.

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

In the video, Lil Nas X confidently embraces his own identity and self-expression. By being himself, Lil Nas X challenges the idea that black individuals must conform to a narrow set of societal expectations.

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.  

Hall's theory recognizes that representations are political in society. "Old Town Road" sparked debates about racial representation in the music industry and highlighted the discriminatory behaviour present in the media. The song's popularity and various debates surrounding its genre classification demonstrates the cultural and political significance of Lil Nas X's challenge to established racial representations.

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

• Exotic: Billy Ray Cyrus' pink cowboy suit
• Humorous: Chris Rock comedy cameo

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

Lil Nas X is a black artist who openly identifies as gay. His intersectional identity brings together two aspects of his identity, providing a unique perspective on the intersections of race and sexuality. Through his music and public persona, Lil Nas X challenges stereotypes and expectations associated with both being black and being gay.