Ep. 76: Country, Popular Music, & Fashion | A Discussion with Emmie Malone скачать в хорошем качестве

Ep. 76: Country, Popular Music, & Fashion | A Discussion with Emmie Malone

In this episode, Brandon Polite (Knox College | he/him) talks with Emmie Malone (Lone Star College | she/her) about the relationship between fashion (particularly, costumes) and popular music (especially, country music). Malone start the conversation off by providing an overview of the paradoxes surrounding the Nudie Suit, specifically how these expensive, flamboyant costumes can authentically coexist with country music’s image as a genre rooted in rural, working-class identity. To do so, she provides historical context, explaining how country music evolved from Old-Time music, to Hillbilly music, and to its modern form through its merging with the Western genre (i.e., music from Hollywood Westerns). Malone then delves into the Nudie Suit's origins, detailing its functional and symbolic elements. The suits’ bright colors and rhinestones served practical purposes on stage, enhancing visibility and engaging audiences. She argues these outfits demonstrate respect for the working-class fans, drawing parallels to the uniforms worn in labor-intensive professions. We then shift to consider the role of authenticity in country music, with Malone introducing the idea of country as a character concept. She argues that country music's authenticity isn't tied to class or geography, but rather to a set of shared values expressed through its aesthetic and cultural practices. The Nudie Suit, Malone suggests, is a symbolic artifact that tells the artist’s journey from humble beginnings to success, reinforcing authenticity through storytelling. We next examine the connections between country music, queerness, and class. Malone highlights the intersections of low-class aesthetics and queer identity, emphasizing how flamboyant costumes like Nudie Suits allowed artists to critique class structures subtly. We tie these themes to broader cultural moments, from Elvis Presley’s flamboyant jumpsuits to contemporary queer country music, exemplified by artists like Orville Peck. Expanding beyond country, we move on to consider the broader philosophical implications of musical costuming. Malone challenges the traditional view of music as purely sonic, arguing that fashion, staging, and other performative elements are integral to a musical performance’s ontology and aesthetics. She illustrates this with examples ranging from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter era to punk fashion, emphasizing how costumes shape our understanding of music’s meaning and cultural role. We conclude by discussing participatory aesthetics, highlighting how contemporary practices like themed concerts foster communal engagement, while also considering the pitfalls of the forms of isolated listening practices that streaming services promote. Malone contends that musical costuming can serve as a tool to reintroduce community and shared values into an increasingly individualized musical landscape. References: Emmie Malone, "Rhinestone Cowboys: The Problem of Country Music Costuming," Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism (2025): https://doi.org/10.1093/jaac/kpae028 Emmie Malone, "Nose to the Rhinestone: The Authenticity of Country Music’s Sparkling Suits," Aesthetics for Birds (2023): https://aestheticsforbirds.com/2023/0... John Dewey, Art As Experience (Minton, Balch & Co., 1934) Nadine Hubbs, Rednecks, Queers, and Country Music (University of California Press, 2014) Bill Malone, Country Music USA: 50th Anniversary Edition (University of Texas Press, 2018) Richard A. Peterson, Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity (Chicago University P,ress 1997) Chapters: 0:00 Introductions 1:03 Nudie Suits & the History of Country Music 9:55 Country Music Authenticity: The Wrong View 14:40 Country Music Authenticity: The Right View 17:33 The History of the Nudie Suit 22:07 Gender, Queerness, & Country Costuming 28:27 Elvis, Liberace, & Country Music's Three-Act Structure 35:36 Hallmark, Frodo Baggins, & Taylor Swift: An Aside 37:08 Outlaw Country, Rock Authenticity, & Queer Country 40:15 The Influence of Costuming on Music 47:52 The Influence of Music on Costuming 52:50 Chappell Roan & the Distinct Domain of Musical Costuming 54:45 Music's Social Value 1:02:02 Conclusion SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL https://www.youtube.com/c/Philosopher... Subtitles & audio edited by Athko Ehrnstein