Postcolonial theory: blog tasks

Wider reading on race and Old Town Road -

W Magazine deep dive on the Yeehaw agenda.

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

Western genre include cowboy hats, boots, fringe jackets, denim, belt buckles, spurs, and horseback imagery. 

2) How did the Yee-haw agenda come about? 

The Yee-haw Agenda emerged from Black creatives reclaiming the cowboy image, challenging stereotypes and asserting their historical presence in the American West. It gained traction through social media and fashion, emphasising inclusion and cultural pride.

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

Although roughly one in four cowboys were Black after the Civil War, their contributions were overshadowed by whitewashed Hollywood portrayals, leading to a cultural erasure from dominant narratives about the Wild West.

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

Fashion brands and celebrities have embraced Western style through a Black cultural lens: runways, music videos, and editorials now frequently showcase Black models in cowboy-inspired attire, highlighting its blend of heritage and style.

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

It underscores how Black artists face barriers in traditionally white-dominated genres. Lil Nas X’s viral success with “Old Town Road” sparked debates about who gets to define country music and exposed racial boundaries within the industry.

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

The song features banjos, cowboy imagery, horseback riding, and Western-style outfits, all hallmarks of country music, despite its trap beats. The video blends traditional Western scenes with modern flair, reinforcing genre crossover.

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

Genres such as country, rock, blues, and jazz owe foundational elements to Black musicians, even though this influence has often been minimised in mainstream narratives.

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

The Yeehaw movement is driven by a mix of cultural reclamation, visibility, and creative expression. It challenges dominant histories by spotlighting Black stories, aesthetics, and contributions that were historically ignored or marginalised.

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?

Reinforces - Naz represented as an 'other', exotic and not welcomed at first.

Represented as dangerous - the native.

Black man as a comedian or entertainer - Alvarado.

Subverts - Reclaim black identity from whitewashed country narrative.

Black man as sheriff, position of law enforcement.

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

Naz doesn't appear to be torn between two identities, he merges them - cultural hybridity. The fusion of trap/country demonstrates this.

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.  

Chris Rock - clown/entertainer

Naz - native at the start.

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

Humorous - Chris Rock

Exotic - Naz

There is no dangerous and pitied black man because this MV is trying to construct a positive representation of black people.

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

He is a black, gay man. Unfortunately, him being gay and queer doesn't work in his favour, as they are two marginalised identities. Less privileged than white women. 

A/A* extension task -

Media Magazine - This Is America: Music, Politics and Protest
Read This Is America: Music, Politics and Protest in MM65 (p14). You can find this in our Media Magazine archive. This is a great article on the power of music video in American culture. 

This excellent Berkeley Political Review article on the Yeehaw Agenda is worth a read, expanding on the issues discussed in the W deep dive above.