CMS 298 Final Presentation

1. A Rhetorical Analysis of
American Country
Music
Lindsey Kartaszewicz
Wednesday, April 23, 14

2. “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

3. “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...
Wednesday, April 23, 14

4. The American Flag
Wednesday, April 23, 14

5. “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.
Wednesday, April 23, 14

6. 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?
Wednesday, April 23, 14

7. Alcohol
While 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.
Wednesday, April 23, 14

8. 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
Wednesday, April 23, 14

9. “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.
Wednesday, April 23, 14

10. 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...
Wednesday, April 23, 14

11. 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.
Wednesday, April 23, 14

12. Works Cited
Images:
http://cf.ltkcdn.net/music/images/std/146953-425x282-Country-music.jpg
http://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