This week’s Coffee & Conversation topic: From Old Town Road to Hell: A Conversation about Lil Nas X. Join us on Zoom this Friday, April 9 at 3 PM EST.
On the eve of the Christian Holy Week, rapper Lil Nas X gifted families something new to discuss around the Easter table: his music video for the song, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”
The video, which he wrote and co-directed, uses religious symbolism to explore queerness. Unsurprisingly, it drew widespread criticism from conservative political and religious leaders across the country. Lil Nas X is no stranger to controversy – his debut single, “Old Town Road,” saw similar levels of backlash in response to the ways he challenged the country music genre.
But, “Montero” is different. Conversations about the video exist at the intersection of queerness, Blackness, and Christianity. Join us on Friday as we consider questions like:
What does it mean to be a “good Christian?” Who decides?
What makes the criticism of it so different from other overtly sexual music videos like Christina Aguilera’s “Dirrty?” In what ways has the criticism and backlash to those two videos been similar?
Will “Montero” shift the Overton Window for Black queer sexuality in mainstream media?
Art doesn’t necessarily care about your feelings – should it?
Suggested Reading:
- Stream “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” If You’re a “Good” Christian (Mother Jones)
- What Lil Nas X’s ‘Montero’ says about black queerness (PBS News Hour)
- How Lil Nas X’s Groundbreaking ‘Montero’ Fits in LGBTQ Music Video History, From Bowie to Frankie to Kehlani (Variety)
- Lil Nas X’s Satan imagery angers parents. But advocates say critics are missing the point. (USA Today)