A Rhetorical Analysis of American Country

MusicLindsey Kartaszewicz

Wednesday, April 23, 14

“There are many discrete texts within the very wide range of “hip-hop”, for instance, but hip-hop itself can be thought of as a diffuse

text made up of music, clothing, celebrities, gestures, and so forth...” (Brummett, 2011, p. 91)

Country music, like hip-hop, is a complex music genre that consists of many different songs by many different artists. A certain “country culture” has been created and is maintained by country music fans through aspects such as songs, clothing, artifacts, phrases, and people.

Wednesday, April 23, 14

“An ideology or consciousness is an interrelated system of meanings that is generated by the system of

artifacts that constitute a culture” (Brummett, p.26)

The culture of country music has created an ideology of what it means to be an American. It is through the use of different artifacts that this ideology was created and is maintained.

Let’s take a look at some of these artifacts...

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The American Flag

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“Persuaders who use visual images in texts..take great care to present the images

in a way that facilitate preferred readings” (Brummett, p.168)

Country artists will often wear, display, or make reference to the American flag in order to facilitate a preferred reading from their audience. This intended meaning often portrays the artist as patriotic or supports their ideals of what it means to be American.

“Images occur in context that affect attribution of meaning to them and reduce

their ambiguity” (Brummett, p.168)

By placing anything next to, behind, in front of, or anywhere in relation to the American flag, it automatically encourages audiences to view that person/place/thing as American. The intention is usually to create a sense of national pride and community in the audience members.

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Watch this music video by country artists Brooks & Dunn, for their song, “Only In

America”. How many times do you see the American flag, whether subtle or obvious?

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AlcoholWhile many music genres make

reference to alcohol, country music seems to have a great deal of songs that mention it. Specifically, country artists seem to favor beer and whiskey when it comes to alcohol. This acts as another

artifact that contributes to country culture.

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I compiled a few clips from different popular country music

videos that illustrate the prevalence of alcohol in country

culture...

Content Cited:“Drink A Beer” by Luke Bryan“Boys ‘Round Here” by Blake Shelton“Redneck Woman” by Gretchen Wilson“Beer For My Horses” by Toby Keith ft. Willie Nelson“Toes” by Zac Brown Band“Drink in My Hand” by Eric Church

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“A sign becomes an artifact as it becomes charged with particular meanings that belong to a system. The meaning

relates to the meanings of other artifacts in the cultural system; the whole group or system of those meanings is

consciousness or ideology”. (Brummett, p. 27)

It is through the use of artifacts like the American flag and alcohol that the main ideologies of country music are supported. The artists of country music use these symbols to create a

culture based on patriotism and appreciation of the small things in life (such as beer). Many country songs celebrate aspects of a simple

lifestyle that many non-wealthy Americans can relate to.

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Here is a music video from Zac Brown Band that illustrates the previously mentioned idea of

celebrating a simple lifestyle. This song, “Chicken Fried” became extremely popular in country music

culture. The band sings about different artifacts that are assumably well-known to most Americans. By doing so, they create a sense of community and pride for people that subscribe to that subject

position of an average American...

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In Conclusion..Cultures are created and maintained through artifacts, symbols, images, and phrases that all support the main ideologies of the culture. Country music culture has an ideology that is all about what it means to be an American and appreciating the small pleasures in life that the “average American” gets to enjoy. The songs sing about these artifacts and main values of the culture, they are portrayed visually in music videos and concerts, and the fans that take on that preferred subject position perpetuate the beliefs. The artifacts and words themselves do not create a culture, but rather the attribution of meaning that country artists and fans create in relation to those aspects are what make up the country music culture.

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Works CitedImages:http://cf.ltkcdn.net/music/images/std/146953-425x282-Country-music.jpghttp://tasteofcountry.com/artists-wearing-the-american-flag/http://www.andyhanselman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/beer.jpg

Texts:Brummett, B. (2011). Rhetoric in popular culture (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.

Wednesday, April 23, 14