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Music Video: The Specials - Ghost Town CSP

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Background and historical contexts Read  this excellent analysis from The Conversation website of the impact Ghost Town had both musically and visually . Answer the following questions 1)  Why does the writer link the song to cinematic soundtracks and music hall tradition? It is eerie, atmospheric sound feels like it could belong in a film. The use of instruments like the Hammond organ and flute creates a dramatic, emotional mood that goes beyond typical pop music. 2) What subcultures did 2 Tone emerge from in the late 1970s? 2 Tone emerged from the Mod and Punk subcultures in the late 1970s, mixing their styles and attitudes with ska music. 3) What social contexts are discussed regarding the UK in 1981? The UK in 1981 is described as a time of recession, unemployment, and widespread social unrest. There were riots in many cities, along with tensions between young people and the police, and a sense of anger and frustration in working-class communities. 4) Cultural critic Ma...
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Music Video: Postcolonial theory

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Wider reading on race and Old Town Road Read  this W Magazine deep dive on the Yeehaw agenda  and answer the following questions:  1) What are the visual cues the article lists as linked to the western genre?  Cowboy hat, Cow print, Rhinestones, fringed suede jackets, denim, horses, guns. 2) How did the Yeehaw agenda come about?  The history of black cowboys had been erased from American culture and the  “moment” black cowboys are having in pop culture right now has actually persisted for quite some time. That’s why an Instagram archive like Malandro’s is so important to the preservation of black influence on the Americana aesthetic. The imagery associated with Americana has been overwhelmingly white, so much so that the  Studio Museum in Harlem even held a “Black Cowboy” exhibition  two years ago, featuring photographic works from K ahlil Joseph, Deanna Lawson, and Chandra McCormick that aimed to bring the black cowboy to the forefront of wes...
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Music Video: Old Town Road CSP

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  Background and cultural contexts Read  this Vox feature and podcast transcript on Lil Nas X and Old Town Road . Make sure you read the whole thing - including the podcast transcript - then answer the following questions:  1) What is the big debate regarding Old Town Road and genre? 2) What do you learn about the background of Lil Nas X and Old Town Road from the podcast transcript? 3) What is the Yeehaw agenda? 4) How did the story become a debate about race in America? 5) How does Charlie Harding sum up the whole thing in the final part of the podcast transcript? Now  read this Salon feature on Lil Nas X and LGBTQ+ identity . Answer the following questions: 1) How did Lil Nas X announce his sexuality on social media? Nas dropped a song class c7osure about coming clean about his secrets and accepting oneself,and then he tweeted a rainbow emoji and artwork from his new EP which   features an illustration of him wearing a cowboy hat and riding a horse tow...
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Music Video: Introduction

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  1) What is the purpose of a music video? The purpose of a music video is to sell products , the most obvious of which is the song featured in the video. However, other connected products are also marketed by a music video. For example, the album the song is featured on, the film the song is part of the soundtrack for, an upcoming tour by the artist and merchandise like t shirts. However, music videos are an unusual form of marketing as they allow the audience full access to the product they are selling. When a music video is shown, the audience is able to hear the song the video is for so they are ‘getting’ the product that is being promoted. When o ther products are advertised, such as a brand of coffee or an item of clothing , the advert suggests the product is desirable but the audience does not get to taste the coffee or wear the clothes. 2) How has the digital age changed the production and distribution of music videos? Music videos can now be viewed on mobile devi...
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