A Level Media - Old Town Road by Lil Nas X

Summary

This guide explores the media language and representation in Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' music video, particularly relevant for AQA A-level media studies students. The video combines elements of spaghetti westerns with a modern twist, featuring an all-black cast in powerful roles, challenging traditional genre norms. It cleverly uses cinematic techniques and genre signifiers to create a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The video also includes humor, celebrity cameos, and a mix of country and rap elements, reflecting on social issues and offering a post-modern commentary on music and media representation.

Takeaways

• 🎥 'Old Town Road' by Lil Nas X is analyzed through the lens of media language and representation, particularly relevant for AQA A-level media studies students starting from 2024.
• 🌟 The video employs cinematic techniques like wipe edits and freeze frames, reminiscent of old-fashioned movies, to create a narrative feel.
• 🔍 The video is heavily influenced by the 'spaghetti western' genre, indicated by the use of serif fonts, sepia color palette, and establishing shots of grassy plains and cowboys.
• 👤 The characters in the video subvert traditional western roles by being black, which was unconventional for the genre historically dominated by white actors.
• 🤣 The video uses humor and irony, such as the juxtaposition of 'everything's going to be alright' with a gunshot, to challenge and play with societal norms.
• 🎭 The video features celebrity cameos, including Chris Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus, which broadens its appeal and incorporates fans of different genres.
• 🏁 The narrative includes elements of race and power, with black sheriffs and other authoritative figures challenging historical racial dynamics.
• 👶 The video contrasts traditional gender roles by portraying women as victims or background characters, while men are central and dominant.
• 🚗 The video's setting and activities, such as racing cars and playing bingo, are used to create a comedic and surreal atmosphere.
• 🌈 Lil Nas X's representation as a gay man in the video challenges conventional portrayals of masculinity in both rap and country music genres.
• 🔄 The video is described as postmodern, blending genres and incorporating intertextual references to movies and music, including a sample from Nine Inch Nails.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video guide on 'Old Town Road' by Lil Nas X?

The video guide focuses on media language and representation, particularly relevant for students studying AQA A-level media studies as it is one of the set texts from 2024 onwards.

How does the video use cinematic techniques to create a narrative?

The video uses wipe edits from black, title displays, and logos to create a film-like narrative, along with establishing shots and genre signifiers that are reminiscent of the Western genre.

What genre is 'Old Town Road' associated with and how is this represented in the video?

The video associates 'Old Town Road' with the Western genre, specifically the sub-genre of spaghetti western, using elements such as the color palette, font style, and imagery of cowboys and horse riders.

How does the video subvert traditional representations found in spaghetti westerns?

The video subverts traditional representations by casting black actors in lead roles, which was unconventional for spaghetti westerns and the historical period they often depict.

What role does Chris Rock play in the video and how does his presence impact the audience?

Chris Rock, a recognizable figure, plays a character in the video, adding a sense of comedy due to his fame in comedic movies.

How does the collaboration between Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus contribute to the video's appeal?

The collaboration brings together fans of different genres - rap/hip-hop from Lil Nas X and country and western from Billy Ray Cyrus, broadening the audience and adding humor and novelty to the video.

What is the significance of the scene where Billy Ray Cyrus's character says 'you should be fine'?

The scene adds humor by juxtaposing the reassuring phrase with the sound of a gunshot, playing on the irony that things are not actually going to be alright.

How does the video use the concept of time travel to create a sense of otherness for Lil Nas X's character?

The video contrasts modern attire and activities, like a basketball, with Lil Nas X's old-fashioned Western clothing, making him appear out of place and 'othered' in the modern setting.

What does the video suggest about the role of women in the narrative?

Women in the video are portrayed as background characters, either as victims or not playing significant roles, which is quite conventional for certain music genres.

How does the video's representation of masculinity differ from traditional expectations?

The video presents a masculine representation that is both powerful and flamboyant, challenging traditional views of masculinity, especially when considering Lil Nas X's real-life identity as a gay man.

What controversy surrounded the song's classification on the Billboard charts and how did the video respond?

The song was removed from the country and western chart on the Billboard for not being 'country enough', which some perceived as homophobia or racism. The video then overemphasizes country and western signifiers as an ironic response to this controversy.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Media Language and Representation in 'Old Town Road'

This paragraph discusses the cinematic and genre-specific elements of Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' music video, focusing on its relevance to AQA A-level media studies. The video employs a wipe edit and title presentation reminiscent of old films, particularly the spaghetti western genre, characterized by its yellow sepia color palette and establishing shots of grassy plains and cowboys. The video uses symbolic codes like the dollar bag to suggest a bank robbery narrative. It introduces characters with freeze frames and whip sound effects, akin to old western films. Unconventional for the genre, all characters are black, challenging traditional representations and engaging modern audiences with more inclusive imagery. Celebrities like Chris Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus add layers of comedy and country western appeal, broadening the audience base. The video's humor and unconventional collaborations contribute to its post-modern aesthetic.

05:01

🤠 The Unconventional Western and Social Commentary

This section delves into the music video's unconventional portrayal of a spaghetti western, with a comedic twist. It discusses the juxtaposition of safety phrases with gunshot sounds, reflecting on historical racial dynamics in America. The video uses fast-paced, handheld shots and 'trombone shots' to create a sense of danger and chaos. It also explores the concept of time travel with modern and old-fashioned visuals, positioning Lil Nas X as an outsider. The video critiques societal reactions to difference, using Stuart Hall's theory of 'othering,' and highlights the protagonist's journey as a hero. It also touches on modern phenomena like selfie culture and the comedic elements of a car race against a horse. The video concludes with a more inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, embracing the protagonist and breaking from traditional western narratives.

10:02

🎉 Celebrity Cameos and Genre Merging in Music Video

This paragraph highlights the use of celebrity cameos and the blending of genres in the 'Old Town Road' music video. It mentions cameo appearances by well-known figures in the music industry, such as DJ Diplo and rappers Vince Staples and Rico Nasty, which helps to broaden the audience and incorporate fans from different genres. The video portrays men as powerful, playful, and central to the narrative, a convention in rap and country music. Women, however, are depicted as background characters, reinforcing traditional gender roles. The representation of masculinity is both powerful and flamboyant, possibly influenced by the artist's real-life identity as a gay man. The video's post-modern nature is underscored by its mix of rap, country, and western elements, along with intertextual references to movies and other artists.

15:04

🏁 Billboard Controversy and the Overly Country-Westernized Music Video

The final paragraph addresses the controversy surrounding the song's removal from the Billboard country and western chart, which many perceived as influenced by homophobia and racism. In response, Lil Nas X collaborated with Billy Ray Cyrus to create a music video heavily laden with country and western signifiers, serving as an ironic commentary on the initial classification issue. The video's success on platforms like TikTok and its initial classification as country and western, despite Billboard's decision, are discussed. The paragraph concludes with an invitation for viewers to explore more relevant content on the channel and to request videos on additional topics.

Keywords

💡Old Town Road

Old Town Road is the title of the song by Lil Nas X, which serves as the central theme of the video discussed in the script. The song blends elements of country and hip-hop music, challenging traditional genre boundaries. The video features cinematic edits and genre signifiers of the Western film, specifically the 'spaghetti western' subgenre, which is characterized by its stylistic elements like the font and color palette used in the video.

💡Media Language

Media language refers to the specific techniques, symbols, and codes used in media to convey meaning and create narratives. In the context of the video, media language is employed through cinematic techniques such as wipe edits, freeze frames, and whip pan shots, which contribute to the storytelling and genre representation. These techniques are used to engage the audience and create a sense of familiarity or novelty depending on their prior exposure to similar media.

💡Representation

Representation in media refers to how individuals or groups are portrayed, which can influence perceptions and attitudes. The video for 'Old Town Road' subverts traditional representations by casting black actors in roles typically associated with the Western genre, challenging historical norms and offering a more inclusive perspective. This unconventional representation can be seen as engaging and thought-provoking for audiences seeking diversity in media.

💡Spaghetti Western

Spaghetti Western is a subgenre of Western films that originated in Italy during the 1960s and 1970s. These films are characterized by their distinctive visual style, often featuring a sepia color palette and dramatic, wide shots of landscapes. In the video, the spaghetti western is referenced through its aesthetic elements, such as the title font and the portrayal of cowboys and horse riders, creating a nostalgic and cinematic feel.

💡Genre Signifiers

Genre signifiers are visual or auditory cues that help audiences identify the genre of a film, song, or other media. In the script, examples of genre signifiers include the Western motifs like cowboy hats and grassy plains, as well as the use of a money bag with a dollar symbol, which suggests a narrative involving robbery or crime. These signifiers help to establish the video's setting and narrative within the Western genre.

💡Cinematic

Cinematic refers to qualities that are characteristic of films or resemble film techniques. The script mentions the wipe edit as a cinematic feature, which is a type of transition between scenes that can make a video feel more like a movie. This adds a layer of sophistication and storytelling depth to the music video, aligning it with the conventions of film rather than just a simple music clip.

💡Intertextuality

Intertextuality is the relationship between texts, where a text references or borrows from another. The video for 'Old Town Road' is described as intertextual due to its references to spaghetti western films and other artists, such as Quentin Tarantino's movies. This creates a rich tapestry of cultural references that can enhance the viewing experience for audiences familiar with the source material.

💡Inclusivity

Inclusivity in media refers to the practice of including and representing diverse groups of people. The video is noted for its inclusive representation, with black actors playing powerful roles that defy historical stereotypes. This can make the video appealing to a broader audience and can also challenge viewers to rethink traditional portrayals in media.

💡Postmodern

Postmodernism in media often involves the blending of different styles, genres, and cultural references in a way that challenges traditional narratives and structures. The video for 'Old Town Road' is described as postmodern due to its mix of rap and country music, its intertextual references, and its subversion of genre expectations. This approach can make the video feel fresh and engaging for audiences.

💡Cameo Roles

A cameo role is a brief appearance of a known person, often a celebrity, in a film or video. The script mentions several cameo roles in the 'Old Town Road' video, featuring celebrities from the music industry and beyond. These appearances can add star power to the video, attract a wider audience, and provide moments of surprise or recognition for viewers.

💡Consumerism

Consumerism is the idea of acquiring goods and services in ever-increasing amounts as a cultural norm. In the context of the video, consumerism is hinted at through the scene where Lil Nas X exits a shop with the camera tracking back to reveal the entire storefront. This can be interpreted as a commentary on modern society's focus on consumption and materialism.

💡Othering

Othering is the act of perceiving or portraying someone as fundamentally different or 'other.' In the video, the script describes how Lil Nas X is made to feel different through the reactions of the townspeople, who stare at him as he walks through the town. This creates a sense of alienation and can be related to concepts of social exclusion and discrimination.

💡Selfie Culture

Selfie culture refers to the modern trend of taking and sharing self-portrait photographs, often on social media. The script mentions a man taking a photo of Lil Nas X on his phone, which reflects the prevalence of selfie culture. This moment in the video can be seen as a commentary on how people document and share their experiences, sometimes at the expense of genuine interaction.

💡Racial Discrimination

Racial discrimination involves treating individuals or groups differently based on their race. The script suggests that the video may reflect elements of racial discrimination, particularly in the historical context of the American West where black people were rarely in positions of power. The video's unconventional representation of black actors in powerful roles can be seen as a commentary on and challenge to these historical injustices.

Highlights

The video focuses on media language and representation, particularly relevant to AQA A-level media studies students.

The cinematic and old-fashioned wipe edit sets the tone for a film-like narrative.

The use of spaghetti western genre elements such as serif font and sepia color palette is discussed.

The unconventional representation of black characters in a western genre is highlighted.

Chris Rock's recognizable presence adds a comedic element to the music video.

The introduction of Billy Ray Cyrus brings in country and western music fans.

The unusual collaboration between Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus adds humor and diversity.

The video uses narrative techniques like whip pan shots and trombone shots to create tension and fear.

Lil Nas X's time-traveling visuals juxtapose modern and old-fashioned elements.

The video explores themes of otherness and exoticism through the reactions of the town's people.

Stuart Hall's theory is mentioned to explain the character's feeling of being different.

The video reflects modern contexts like selfie culture and social media through character actions.

A race between a horse and a car adds comedic value and narrative breaks.

The video's post-modern elements include a mix of genres and intertextual references.

The music video's creation was influenced by the song's initial classification and removal from Billboard's country chart.

The video features numerous celebrity cameos, broadening its audience and cultural impact.

The representation of men as powerful yet playful is noted, along with the unconventional portrayal of masculinity.

Women are portrayed as background characters, reflecting conventional music video tropes.

Lil Nas X's open sexuality is discussed as an unconventional representation in the country and rap genres.

The video's success on Tick Tock and its promotion through memes and short videos is mentioned.

Transcripts

hello and welcome to my easy to

understand guide to Old Town Road by Lil

Nas X this video is going to focus on

media language and representation and

it's going to be most relevant to those

students studying AQA a-level media

studies as it will be one of the set

texts on that specification from 2024

onwards the wipe edit here from black

feels very cinematic and it also feels

quite old-fashioned like something we

would see in an older movie we get the

title of the song here as well as logos

and small prints and that adds to this

feeling of it being a film and creates a

real narrative we're immediately getting

signifiers of particular genres here in

particular the Western genre so if you

look up the genre spaghetti western

um well nothing to do with pasta

strangely but um certainly the kind of

serif font in this yellow style

um the kind of yellow almost sepia color

palette to a lot of the shots and like

lots of establishing shots of kind of

grassy planes horse riders cowboy hats

they're immediately identifiable as this

idea of a spaghetti western these easy

to recognize symbolic codes carry on the

use of the bag with the kind of dollar

symbol on it immediately

to go oh okay they've robbed somewhere

or this is a money bag and that they you

know perhaps they've robbed a bank or

something like that

um so lots of easy to recognize

narrative codes

the introduction of characters here as

though they were in a movie

um and as they're introduced the camera

freeze frames on them with their name

coming up on the screen and this kind of

whip sound effect that comes up on the

screen at the same time and again that's

very conventional of old style spaghetti

western films but some audiences might

be more um kind of familiar with it from

more modern movies like Tarantino movies

um Django Unchained for example does it

kill Bill does it as well

um so these kind of typical media

language techniques might be familiar to

audiences from a lot of different films

and genres of course what is

unconventional in terms of a spaghetti

western genre is that all the characters

are black and that was obviously very

unconventional for spaghetti westerns

which were mostly made in the kind of

50s to 70s I guess when it was far less

likely for black actors to be cast in

any roles particularly protagonists

obviously also unconventional because

the kind of Western times that we're

talking about often supposed to be I

guess the kind of 1800s to early 1900s

when there were very few black people

allowed in positions of any kind of

power within America and it's these

positions of power these powerful

representations for example the black

sheriffs wearing their badges riding

their horses make them seem very

powerful and these unconventional

representations are going to be perhaps

a little bit shocking for audiences and

quite engaging who they're looking for a

more modern context and so perhaps a lot

of audiences are going to be engaged by

the more inclusive representations

Chris Rock is pretty much easily

identifiable for a lot of audiences and

if you don't know his face his voice is

very recognizable as well he's been in a

lot of other movies in particular comedy

movies so it perhaps adds a sense of

Comedy to the music video

we see an image of a young white girl

here who I guess is a spaghetti western

movie would often be the kind of Damsel

in Distress character she's certainly

got quite a fearful uncertain face and

she calls out with the word daddy

suggesting she needs an older adult male

to protect her

then that we're introduced to Billy Ray

Cyrus so Billy Ray Cyrus obviously

another celebrity quite famous in

particular within country and western

music so he's going to be bringing in

those fans of country and western music

as well which ties in with the Western

filmic type genre bringing in you know

collaborating with another star another

artist it's a great way of drawing in

more pre-sold audiences and broadening

your fan base

there's also quite an unusual

collaboration you know Lil nazex is a

reasonably youthful young black artist

who is kind of known for doing kind of

shocking videos from within the kind of

country but also the kind of rap hip-hop

genres and then you get Billy Ray Cyrus

who's a much older white man within the

country western genre so quite an

unusual collaboration and that perhaps

adds to the sense of humor about the

video the track out of the shot where

Billy Ray Cyrus's character says oh you

should be fine or you should be safe

because you're with me the track out

adds humor because it reveals the kind

of white father and daughter sneaking up

on them with guns so we as an audience

can see something that the characters

can't

the girl does not have a weapon which

suggests that she is weaker and needs

protecting by the father

and of course the um phrase everything's

going to be all right juxtaposed with

the sound of The Gunshot adds comedy

because clearly it's not going to be

okay but that phrase everything's going

to be all right

um adds comedy because you know there is

this it does reflect kind of social

cultural historical context that if you

are a white man or if you are with a

white man you are safer than if you were

a black man on your own so perhaps

reflecting elements of racism and racial

discrimination within America's past

the whip pan shot here to the bunker

acts as a transition very handheld very

fast paced and it adds to this idea of

this trip being very dangerous and

treacherous and chaotic you get these uh

shots called trombone shots in the

tunnel here I mean everyone's got their

own frames for these type of shots but

it makes it look like the background is

kind of Disappearing behind the person

it adds this feeling

shock and realization so it adds quite a

lot of fear here when he comes through

the tunnel we get some shots where it

feels like he's time traveled so we get

a much more modern boy uh wearing modern

clothing with a basketball and that is

juxtaposed with the image of Lil nazex

and his kind of Western old-fashioned

clothing so you're getting kind of

binary opposites of you know visuals and

that makes little nazex feel quite out

of place

um as though he is now the odd one out

in this community the boy just like the

girl was at the beginning seems quite

scared whereas she pulled out for her

daddy he calls out for his mama

um which perhaps reflects the more

modern context of mums being the

protective ones for children there's a

lot of montages here of different people

turning to stare at him as he walks

through the town lots of slow looks long

takes it makes it feel quite

uncomfortable and it definitely makes

him seem as though he's being othered if

you look up Stuart Hall's Theory

um it makes him feel very different and

exotic and strange in comparison to the

rest of the people within this town

there's lots of him singing directly to

the camera which is of course

conventional for a music video the shots

of him going on his kind of quest

through this town we get medium shots

and close-ups he's centrally framed the

camera tracks um alongside him or in

front of him behind him and that makes

him feel quite important as though we're

following him as a kind of hero or

protagonist on his journey or Quest

people are clearly shocked by him the

shot reverse shots show their kind of

quite stunned reactions to him and his

dancing you even get a man taking a

photo of him on his phone so perhaps

reflecting kind of modern context of

this idea of photo media selfie culture

where we often take photos of things we

see that are strange

um rather than actually engage with

people that we think are different or

interesting or odd I decided to take a

photo of them and that again adds a

little bit of Comedy you get the binary

opposites here between little Nas X and

the girl that's done that's dancing

um and it kind of reflects the

differences between them but also draws

attention to the similarities between

them as well it's at this point that Lil

Nas X on his horse has a race against a

man in a car so again adds comedy value

here there's a narrative break here

which is quite unconventional in a music

video there's some dialogue between Lil

Nas X and the man with the car and the

fact that we see the girl dancing on top

of the horse in the background and the

man with the car has to kind of turn and

tell her off like we don't do that here

um again it all adds to this sense of

comedy and silliness and surrealism

which little Nas X is quite famous for

he has a costume change here to a

slightly more modern Western outfit and

it's black and it's kind of got lots of

sparkles on it makes it feel kind of um

quite powerful and perhaps wealthier and

more successful as though in this Modern

World Lil nazex as a black man can

succeed he exits a shop and the camera

tracks back and we see the whole of the

shop front perhaps reflects this idea of

consumerism and and capitalist culture

they speed off in the car together

um which I guess you know cars and speed

and racing is a kind of convention more

of the rap genre than of the country

genre

and shots of people playing bingo in a

bingo hall here which again is quite an

odd thing to put in context uh next to a

young black man it's something we

associate with like older white people

um and again that adds quite a lot of

Comedy it makes him and Billy Ray Cyrus

I guess seem a little bit out of place

here and that's again emphasized by the

break in the music the silence and the

way everyone turns to stare but then we

see them performing on the stage in the

bingo hall and there's a lot of line

dancing going on line dancing is quite a

conventional country and western dance

um it makes it seem like everyone's

having a lot of fun like as though

they've embraced him

um and as though he's welcome there and

is entertaining them they're taking

photos

um so it's a much more inclusive and

welcoming atmosphere than the old

western part was in the beginning of the

music video there are a lot of Cameo

roles here from other celebrities who

audiences may or may not be familiar

with so for example simple the person

playing the deputy at the beginning

um is uh haha Davis he's a comedian he's

also quite famous on social media the

person playing the kind of washboard uh

in the bingo hall is a DJ called Diplo

the man who is playing the car racer is

a rapper called Vince stapler the Bingo

caller is a lady called Rico nasty who

is a rapper

um the person playing the kind of

mechanic as they kind of stop and stare

as he walks past uh is Young Keo who

happens to also be the producer of the

song there's also the white-hearted

cowboy

who is Josie who is a rapper who wrote a

verse on the song as well so there's

quite a lot of

um people who were famous Within the

Music Industry in particular within the

rap industry who have been given Cameo

roles within this that helps to broaden

out the audience brings in their fans as

well

um and it also kind of represents I

guess little Nas X has been quite

popular but he's got all these celebrity

friends that want to be in his video men

in the video are obviously represented

as reasonably powerful you know they're

armed they're in positions of power like

the police they're involved in crime

um and they're often quite admired but

they're also quite playful and fun as

well so men certainly quite important

and Central to the narratives within the

music video and that's quite

conventional for both

um rap modern music country western

music so reasonably conventional

representations of men women are

basically background characters in this

they're either kind of victims at the

beginning like damsels in distress or

the kind of background characters that

don't really do anything

um so again this is quite conventional

particularly of certain genres of music

um minimizing women

um and and maximizing the amount of

screen time for men of course the

representation

in this video is being quite masculine

and powerful and important and dominant

um whilst also being quite flamboyant

and unusual that representation and the

way that audiences respond to that

representation might well be different

if they know that in real life he is gay

our ideas of what masculinity is and

what masculinity is for a gay man versus

masculinity for a straight man you know

people often make a lot of assumptions

and and have a lot of stereotypical

ideas in their head so people may well

see the more flamboyant side of him and

focus on that if that they're aware he's

a gay man of course featuring a gay man

within a country and western genre is

very un uh conventional and also within

the kind of rap genres any modern music

actually so

um you know being quite open about his

sexuality albeit not you know tackled at

all within the narrative it's not

mentioned and it's not featured within

the narrative

um it's a way of encouraging audiences

who perhaps might want that

representation within the videos that

they watch

post-modern video you know it's a it's a

big mixture of genres that normally

wouldn't be put together like rap and

country and western music

um it's got lots of kind of intertextual

references to spaghetti western movies

potentially Tarantino movies

um it's kind of homage to those genres

um it's got lots of kind of intertextual

references to other artists the music

also samples other traps as well which

is quite conventional for postmodern

music

um so for example it has a uses a kind

of banjo sample from The Nine Inch Nails

song 34 ghosts uh some surreal imagery

so it is quite a post-modern music video

and post-modern music videos are quite

popular the first version of the song

was released in 2019 and was primarily

promoted on Tick Tock with lots of

people turning the song into various

short videos and memes and that's what

shot the song to success and led to the

music video being created the original

music video was archive footage from uh

mostly country and western video games

like Red Dead Redemption so when this

song was released it was classified as

country and western and certainly has a

lot of elements of country and western

music and movies however when it was in

the Billboard charts um for what they

call their hot country chart for country

in western New music it was actually

removed because billboard said that it

wasn't country enough

um and so um some people believed that

it didn't represent enough genre

signifiers it didn't connote that genre

enough to audiences many audiences

reacted quite badly to Billboard's

decision to remove the song from the

country and western chart and a lot of

audiences assumed that this was to do

with deep-reated homophobia and racism

Within the Music Industry after the song

was withdrawn from the country and

western music charts by billboard Lil

Nas X partnered with Billy Ray Cyrus to

create the music video so the music

video is deliberately overly country and

westernized with lots of genre

signifiers almost as a kind of bit of an

ironic nod to the fact that when the

actual song was released billboard

didn't think it was country and western

enough so that was my easy to understand

guide to little Nas X Old Town Road

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