Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA in English

Department

English

First Advisor

Shanté P. Smalls

Second Advisor

Elda Tsou

Abstract

Lil Nas X, a breakout music star has broken into the mainstream and has stirred up controversy and moral panic among conservative Christians as well as those who are not in support of over Black queer representation in media. Moreover, I am interested in which ways he queers the forms of pop, hip hop and camp through his music videos, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” “Industry Baby,” featuring Jack Harlowe, and his performative skits. In my first chapter, I will be laying down the theoretical framework that I will be connecting from various scholars to define campy musical Black queer forms using his lyrics, visual aesthetics, and various performances. In my first chapter, there will be a focus in how he queers origin and black femininity in his music video, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”. In the second chapter, I will discuss the ways in which he queers masculinity by eroticizing the masculine hip hop subject in a homoerotic way. Lastly, I will conclude with my own poetry to enter this conversation of Black queer form through poetic intervention.

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