Easy to Understand Guide to 'Old Town Road' by Lil Nas X
Introduction
Focus: Media language and representation.
Target Audience: AQA A-level Media Studies students (set text from 2024 onwards).
Cinematic Style and Genre
Wipe Edit: From black, gives a cinematic and old-fashioned feel, reminiscent of older movies.
Title Presentation: Includes song title, logos, and small print, enhancing the filmic narrative.
Genre Signifiers:
Spaghetti Western: Serif font in yellow, sepia color palette, establishing shots of grassy plains, horse riders, cowboy hats.
Symbolic Codes: Dollar bag implying a robbery or money heist.
Character Introduction: Camera freeze frames with their names and a whip sound effect, common in spaghetti westerns and modern movies like Tarantino films.
Unconventional Elements
Black Protagonists: Unusual for traditional spaghetti westerns (1950s-1970s).
Historical Inaccuracy: Set in times (1800s to early 1900s) when black people had limited power in America.
Powerful Representations: Black sheriffs with badges and horses, seems engaging and inclusive.
Celebrity Appearance and Humor
Chris Rock: Recognizable face and voice, adding comedy.