It can totally be conspicuous consumption. Have you ever tried to buy a new pair of cowboy boots? That shit is expensive. As is a lot of the other trappings of the genre/aesthetic like big trucks. Plus there's an entire subset of people who spend a ridiculous amount of money to look like they're dudes helping out on the family farm.

That's not a country only thing but it definitely rubs people the wrong way.

[–] DragonBallZinn@hexbear.net 10 points 1 month ago

Basically. White reactionaries in the middle class actually spend a good deal of money just so they can LOOK like poor people. Personally, I like to call them "cosplay cowboys".

If you're a poor fool like me who's born in North America AND can't afford to live in megacities like NYC, Montreal, Toronto, LA, etc. You know what I'm talking about.

[–] AndJusticeForAll@hexbear.net 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Country music is not conspicuous. Which is the topic here.

[–] wild_dog@hexbear.net 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I think the culture surrounding music is relevant when discussing it but even if we want to stick only to the actual music: steel guitars are super expensive and the lyrical themes of many country songs involve lifestyles most working class people are priced out of.

[–] BurgerPunk@hexbear.net 7 points 1 month ago

It is when its being played in public