Music Video: Postcolonial theory

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

The article lists cowboy hats, cow prints, rhinestones, fringed suede jackets, boots, and bolo ties as key western visual markers. 

2) How did the Yeehaw agenda come about? 
It was coined in 2018 by Bri Malandro as an online cultural archive celebrating Black cowboy aesthetics, especially on Instagram and social media, before expanding into a wider cultural movement. 

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

Although around 25% of cowboys were Black, mainstream media and history have overrepresented white cowboys, leading to the marginalisation of Black contributions. 

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

Designers like Pyer Moss and Telfar have incorporated western styles into runway shows, often featuring Black models and cultural references, bringing the Black cowboy image into high fashion. 

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

The removal of Old Town Road from the country charts suggests racial bias, with critics arguing that Black artists are often excluded from the genre despite using recognisable country elements.
 

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

• Banjo instrumentation
• Southern vocal “twang”
• Western visuals (horses, cowboy imagery, setting)
  These all align with traditional country conventions. 

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

The article states that Black artists have significantly shaped rock and roll, punk, riot grrrl, electronic music, and country music. 

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

Cultural reclamation (correcting historical erasure)

Social media virality (e.g. TikTok trends)

Fashion and music crossover

A challenge to racial boundaries in genres like country

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

The Old Town Road video by Lil Nas X both reinforces and subverts stereotypes. It initially plays on familiar tropes of Black masculinity through humour, swagger, and outlaw imagery—linking to stereotypes of criminality or rebellion. However, it challenges these by placing a Black cowboy at the centre of a traditionally white genre, disrupting expectations. The video also presents Black characters as wealthy, stylish, and socially mobile (e.g. in the modern-day scenes), countering narratives of marginalisation. This duality shows how stereotypes can be reworked rather than simply repeated.

2) How could you argue that the Old Town Road video challenges Gilroy's theory of double consciousness?
Paul Gilroy builds on the idea of double consciousness, suggesting Black individuals often navigate conflicting cultural identities. However, Old Town Road challenges this by presenting a fluid, hybrid identity—country and hip-hop are blended seamlessly. Lil Nas X does not appear conflicted; instead, he embraces multiple identities simultaneously, suggesting that in a globalised, digital era, identity is less divided and more integrated. This weakens the idea that Black identity must exist in tension between two worlds.

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.
Stuart Hall argued that race is socially constructed through representation, often via stereotypes. Old Town Road reflects this by challenging dominant representations of both Blackness and country culture. The initial rejection of the song from country charts shows how industries attempt to fix meaning around race and genre, but the song’s success demonstrates that these meanings are unstable and can be redefined. Alternatively, you could argue it still relies on recognisable stereotypes (cowboy imagery, hip-hop tropes), meaning it doesn’t fully escape representational limits.  

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

Manuel Alvarado identified stereotypes such as the ‘entertainer’ and ‘exotic’. In Old Town Road, elements of the “entertainer” stereotype are visible—Black characters are shown as charismatic, musical, and humorous. However, the video largely avoids more negative stereotypes (e.g. primitive or dangerous), instead presenting Black figures as empowered and culturally dominant. Therefore, while some aspects align with Alvarado, the video mostly reworks rather than reinforces his categories.

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

bell hooks emphasised how overlapping identities (race, gender, class) shape experience. Lil Nas X is a strong example because he exists at the intersection of Black identity, youth, internet culture, and later openly queer identity. His success in a traditionally white, conservative genre highlights how power structures can be challenged from multiple identity positions at once. This shows intersectionality in practice—his identity is not defined by one factor, but by how several combine to shape both opportunities and resistance.