Deviance as Innovation in Music, Movies & Television

Consider legal innovation within the world of music, movies, and television. In the making of popular music, movies, and television there is definitely a norm in terms of how the final product should sound, look, or feel. However, some artists take risks and push the boundaries of those accepted/expected norms.
Instructions:
Choose a specific song, movie, or television show, that you think breaks with the typical norm within its genre (or subgenre). For example, you might choose a particular Hip Hop song that you think breaks the typical mold of what is expected for songs of its kind, in terms of instrumentation/beats or lyrics or theme. Or choose a movie or TV that has characters or ways of storytelling that defy the norm. Perhaps it simply discusses a topic that is taboo. If you select a song, you may also choose to discuss its music video.
Your paper should include, in no particular order:

The name of the song, movie, or television show. Include any other information that might be relevant, such as the artist, director, actor, etc.
A description of the expected norm for this medium or genre.
A description of how the song/show/movie you chose innovates, and thus breaks with this norm. Be detailed and thorough, however try to avoid a complete description of the plot, lyrics, or video.
Your thoughts about the risks you think the artist took and whether those risks paid off. In other words, do you think this act of innovation affected the world in any way (e.g. the genre it belongs to, or the viewing/listening audience).

sample solution

The song I have chosen is “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus. The expected norm for Hip Hop songs is that they typically contain a heavy bass line, as well as lyrics with references to violence or drugs.

“Old Town Road” breaks this mold in several ways. It has an upbeat country-inspired melody, featuring acoustic guitar and banjo played over a trap beat. Lil Nas X’s lyrics are cheerful and whimsical, with references to popular culture rather than violence or substance abuse. Furthermore, the accompanying music video features various characters dressed in western attire dancing on horseback against arresting visuals of the American Wild Wes

The risks taken by Lil Nas X paid off enormously; the song became an international hit, reaching number one on both Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and its all-genre Hot 100 chart — making it the first ever rap single to reach number one on both charts simultaneously. It also set records for most weeks at number one; “Old Town Road” spent 19 consecutive weeks atop Billboard’s Hot 100 chart – breaking Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men’s 1995 record of 16 weeks at number one held by their classic single “One Sweet Day” – before eventually being dethroned after a total run of 20 weeks atop the chart. As such, not only did “Old Town Road” break down barriers between different genres within music itself –but it also demonstrated how hip hop music can be just as successful when breaking away from traditional conventions regarding lyrical content and production elements while simultaneously incorporating other genre influences into its soundscape as well

In conclusion, although many musicians take risks within their work when creating something new that deviates from existing norms within any particular genre or medium of art form–Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus took things to a whole new level with “Old Town Road” resulting in immense success and worldwide recognition for their unique blend of country/hip hop fusion that defied expectations while ultimately setting new industry standards across multiple genres in doing so .

This question has been answered.

Get Answer