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Victor Villanueva’s Bootstraps: From an Academic of Color Playlist
by Devin Marshall

After reading Victor Villanueva’s Bootstraps: From an Academic of Color, I felt inspired to create a playlist in response to his work. As an undergraduate senior, I’ve noticed that opportunities to express my creativity within academic courses has been few and far between; however, my Intermediate Composition course professor provides students an innovative environment. Therefore, I used this pent-up creativity to challenge the traditional essay that was proposed within the writing prompt and instead create something a multimedia project. Within the course, students were asked to respond to Villanueva’s work by drawing parallels between the tones and motifs of Bootstraps: From an Academic of Color and songs. I used personal favorite songs within this modernized playlist to respond to Villanueva and show a sense of relatability that is as timeless as his work. After completing this piece, I emailed my playlist to Dr. Villanueva to share my insight into his writing. Luckily, he seemed to enjoy what I wrote which is an accomplishment to get his perspective, as he is a renowned author and professor in academia.

My exigence behind this project was to challenge the traditional and “professional” essays that have been so rewarded by the education system and within corporate America. Students shouldn’t have to diminish their expressiveness in the form of Word documents so regularly required; freedom in composing helps to establish a sense of identity. Creating conversations on the importance of multimedia writing platforms and personalization can be a new wave of writing, and I hope my work helps evoke that sentiment.

“Ketchum, ID” by boygenius

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “Back in the States now, in a college town.”
• “I am never anywhere, anywhere I go, when I’m home, I’m never there long enough to know.”
• “You say, “how are you?” I say, “I don’t know.””

Victor Villanueva sets the tone for Bootstraps: From an Academic of Color in a way that is similar to the first track in my playlist, boygenius’s “Ketchum, ID.” boygenius encapsulates the feeling of yearning for belonging, which parallels Villanueva’s “maybe in the next life” quote as he drives past the University District of Seattle (Villanueva 108). He feels the pressure to find a job that is worthwhile, but his options are “not good enough,” creating an almost melancholic tone that might result if he’d listened to too much of boygenius’s discography (Villanueva 109).

“Better Distractions” by Faye Webster

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “Sit around until I find something better to spend my time.”
• “I wonder what’s inside your mind, but you seem pretty occupied. So I’ll leave it alone. If only I could do the same, share your ways and I’ll change the name.”
• “The better the distractions are, and there isn’t a lot. Only took a couple times without you here to realize, but I figured it out.”

Villanueva may find himself listening to Faye Webster’s “Better Distractions” as he processes his feelings about going to a college that is “more like Dominguez High School in California” (Villanueva 109). He sees this new venture as an “immediate profit” because “if he failed, there would be nothing lost” (Villanueva 109). Faye emphasizes the feeling of needing distractions in her life through rewriting her narrative and wanting to gain back her personal power, much like Villanueva.

“Bambi” by Clairo

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “I’m stepping inside a universe designed against my own beliefs. They’re toying with me and tapping their feet. The work’s laid out, cut out to the seams.”
• “Rushing so I can beat the line, but what if all I want is conversation and time?”
• “I drift and float through counties with my one-sided climb.”

“Bambi” by Clairo may have been blasting through Villanueva’s headphones when he faced his initial struggles with writing and Mrs. Ray. She would tell Villanueva that “there was a problem with his writing” when the night prior he felt “a little guilty” after not putting forth his utmost effort (Villanueva 109). He may feel like he’s on an uphill “one-sided climb” where the work he needs to have done is “cut out to the seams” in a “universe designed against his own beliefs,” which contextualizes his initial writing struggles in college (Clairo). Clairo and Villanueva share their battles in wanting to be taken “too serious” but realize their styles are “too abstract, not typical” (Villanueva 110).

“Love It If We Made It” by The 1975

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “The poetry is in the streets. Jesus save us, modernity has failed us.”
• “The war has been incited, and guess what? You’re all invited, and you’re famous.”
• “We can find out the information, access all the applications that are hardening positions based on miscommunication.”

Villanueva would enjoy The 1975’s “Love It If We Made It,” which reads like political poetry, much like he did “I’m a Cowboy in the Boat of Ra” by Ishmael Reed. Matty Healy of The 1975 sings about the destruction of humanity at our own fingertips due to political leaders, technological advancements, and social impacts of modernity. Villanueva would find that “There was meaning” in both Reed and Healy’s words as he developed his fondness for poetry (Villanueva 110). As The 1975 states, “the poetry is in the streets,” which is reminiscent of Villanueva’s realization that “this was Victor’s history, his life with language play” (The 1975; Villanueva 110). Here we see pivotal turns in how the band uses lyrical interplays to get important points across alongside the development of Victor’s shifting writing identity.

“MASSA” by Tyler, The Creator 

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “It’s still loopholes that I use, nobody knows.”
• “I don’t mirror the stereotypical products of my environment.”
• “Thankfully by hour three it detoured perspective. Um, thoughts changed so rapid. Turned to butterfly, Flower Boy happened.”

Tyler, The Creator uses his identity and background as motivation for his achievements in “MASSA.” Villanueva realizes that he is not like the “stereotypical products of [his] environment” as a Puerto Rican among primarily white people at school. He has doubts about himself, believing “he is still not really competitive with the white kids” who had previous coursework that gave them an upper hand (Villanueva 111). Tyler talks about “loopholes” that he had to use to achieve success. This is not unlike Villanueva having to read “no matter how late in the night” to achieve academically (Villanueva 111). “MASSA” then would put into perspective that his hard work has a cost but will pay off due to his dedication.

“Strangers” by Ethel Cain

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “Found you just to tell you that I made it real far, and that I will never blame you for loving me the way that you did.”
• “Don’t think about it too hard or you’ll never sleep a wink at night again.”
• “I tried to be good, am I no good? Am I no good? Am I no good?”

While Ethel Cain’s concept album titled Preacher’s Daughter is a story about a preacher’s daughter who accidentally falls victim to a cannibal’s love, there are motifs that are relevant to Villanueva’s journey. Specifically, the song “Strangers” speaks to Villanueva’s devastation when feeling like he doesn’t belong at his institution: “I tried to be good, am I no good” (Cain). Likewise, Villanueva seems to never get the credit he deserves from feedback, which includes comments like “all well and good, but what’s the point” or “36 out of a possible 100” (Villanueva 111). Cain could provide some advice with her lyrics, “don’t think about it too hard or you’ll never sleep a wink at night again,” giving some perspective on the discrimination he faces (Cain). Similarly, Cain’s “I’ll never blame you for loving me the way you did” parallels Villanueva’s reflection that he “never got over the stigma with that professor (whether real or imagined)” to change his perspective. Maybe the professor wanted to push him harder; more likely, he was just racist (Cain; Villanueva 112). Like Ethel not blaming her cannibal lover for devouring her, Villanueva tries to persevere through the struggles.

“Love Song” by Lana Del Rey

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “You know I’d die just to make you proud.”
• “I believe in a place you take me. Make you real proud of your baby.”
• “I’m a f****in’ mess, but I, oh, thanks for the high life. Baby, it’s the best, passed the test, and yes. Now I’m here with you, and I would like to think you would stick around.”

Villanueva can’t “get enough despite the pain and the insecurity” in a manner much like Lana Del Rey in “Love Song” (Villanueva 112). He states that “school becomes his obsession,” emphasizing his love for writing despite the struggles he continuously faces. Del Rey’s lyric, “You know I’d die just to make you proud,” is similar to Villanueva’s reflection that “he didn’t see the exploitation; not then; he was obsessed” (Villanueva 113). Being enthralled whether in a relationship or in an academic setting can lead to exploitation—an issue seen when Villanueva’s girlfriends would get grades that exceeded his 36%. Through navigating friendships, lovers, and schoolwork, he seems to find himself in short-lived relationships like the physical intimacies sang about by Del Rey. Ultimately, both “would like to think [their partners] would stick around” (Del Rey).

“Garden Song” by Phoebe Bridgers

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “And it’s gonna be just like my recurring dream.”
• “The doctor put her hands over my liver; she told me my resentment’s getting smaller.”
• “No, I’m not afraid of hard work, I get everything I want. I have everything I wanted.”

My personal favorite artist, Phoebe Bridgers, would obviously have to make it into Villanueva’s playlist. Bridgers’s “Garden Song” emphasizes fighting back the dark times while trying to personally grow. She sings about her struggles with resentment and hard work in order to achieve her goals. However, it seems like she is trying to convince herself that things are aligning when she sings, “I have everything I wanted” (Bridgers). With Villanueva’s papers being “written over days, weeks” with “paragraphs cut and laid out on the floor,” it can be a repetitive, strenuous process like Bridgers’s “recurring dream” (Villanueva 114; Bridgers). But Villanueva changes his perspective by recognizing “the repetitions take on new significance,” which ultimately help him learn the lessons within his rhetoric course (Villanueva 114). Bridgers and Villanueva use repetition as a motive to challenge the dark times in their life and to find acceptance from within.

“The Adults Are Talking” by The Strokes

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “Information’s here. Here and everywhere.”
• “Because you’re all confused, ’cause you want me to, but then you want me to do it the same as you.”
• “But then it don’t make sense when you’re trying hard to do the right thing, but without recompense, and then you did something wrong, and you said it was great.”

Villanueva looks to others in the field for their views on writing in a way similar way to The Stroke’s “The Adults Are Talking.” In reading the works of Bartholomae, Petrosky, Quintilian, Haswell, Sommers, and more, he tries to gain insight into the dynamics of the classroom. He seems interested in the grading aspects of the classroom, calling to mind The Strokes’s lyrics of “it don’t make sense when you’re trying hard to do the right thing. . .then you did something wrong, and you said it was great” (The Strokes). The fast-paced chorus of the song signifies confusion and trying to stay up-to-date with the information provided. The Strokes singing “You’re all confused…you want me to do it the same as you” revisits how professors’ viewpoints of grading are supposed to be “agreeable” and “gentle,” yet they still must remain “rough in their nature” without causing students to “grieve” or “hate their work” (Villanueva 115). Villanueva works to educate himself on the way professors view students’ work.

“Ring of Past” by Men I Trust

Corresponding song lyrics:

• “The dreams that we cherished foremost soar through me.”
• “The thought of the one I loved most brings me heat.”
• “You spin in a ring of past. Solace in believing that we will repeat what might be and what’s lost.”

As Villanueva’s playlist comes to an end, “Ring of Past” by Men I Trust serves as the final song. Villanueva’s statement that “Without a knowledge of history and traditions, we risk running in circles while seeking new paths” directly correlates with Men I Trust’s lyric, “solace in believing that we will repeat what might be and what’s lost.” In looking at traditions in literature, Villanueva’s appreciation for writing exceeds prior notions. He begins to realize that he does enjoy literature and could see himself teaching despite all the challenges he’s had to overcome within the field. When rhetoric becomes his passion and he finds a spot in English for him to specialize, his triumph is mirrored in the Men I trust lyric, “the thought of the one I loved brings me the most heat” (Men I Trust). Although Victor and others identify as “players with language, victims of the language of failure,” he was able to succeed in his goals. As Men I trust sing, “the dreams that we cherished foremost soar through me” (Villanueva 117; Men I Trust)

Do you want to listen to these songs? Here’s a link to my Spotify playlist that includes all of them:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6kOdcusPTkR4JMEgsg3E2b?si=556f158734244640

Enjoy!

Works Cited

The 1975 – love it if we made it. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/The-1975-love-it-if-we-made-it-lyrics

“The 1975: Being Funny in a Foreign Language Review – a Surprising but Welcome Paring Back.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 14 Oct. 2022, http://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/14/the-1975-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language-review-a-surprising-but-welcome-paring-back.

Bloom, Madison. “Faye Webster Announces North American Tour, Shares Video for New Song.” Pitchfork, 20 June 2023, pitchfork.com/news/faye-webster-announces-north-american-tour-shares-video-for-new-song-watch/.

Boygenius – Ketchum, ID. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/Boygenius-ketchum-id-lyrics

Clairo – bambi. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/Clairo-bambi-lyrics

Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews, and ClashMusic. “Sought-after Intimacies: Clairo Interviewed.” Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews, 6 June 2022, http://www.clashmusic.com/features/sought-after-intimacies-clairo-interviewed/.

“Ethel Cain.” Another Planet Entertainment, apeconcerts.com/events/ethel-cain-231023/.

Ethel Cain – strangers. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/Ethel-cain-strangers-lyrics

Faye Webster – better distractions. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/Faye-webster-better-distractions-lyrics

Gentry, Noah. “The Impact of the Strokes’ Charmingly Detached ‘Is This It.’” The Emory Wheel, 25 Apr. 2021, emorywheel.com/the-strokes-is-this-it-impact/.

“How Boygenius, a Chart-Topping Supergroup, Avoids Toxicity.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 31 May 2023, http://www.wsj.com/articles/boygenius-phoebe-bridgers-lucy-dacus-julien-baker-eb5c47cc.

Lana Del Rey – love song. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/Lana-del-rey-love-song-lyrics

Maeoka, Toshio. “Lana Del Rey Premieres New Song ‘Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman like Me to Have – but I Have It.’” Pm Studio World Wide News, 9 Jan. 2019, http://www.pmstudio.com/music/music.html?page=20190109-8637.

Martínez, Alonso. “Phoebe Bridgers Nos Explica Su Traje de Esqueleto y Ser Vinculada Con La Muerte.” GQ, GQ México y Latinoamérica, 8 Oct. 2020, http://www.gq.com.mx/entretenimiento/articulo/phoebe-bridgers-traje-de-esqueleto-entrevista.

“Men I Trust.” Higherground, highergroundmusic.com/events/men-i-trust/.

Men I trust – ring of past. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/Men-i-trust-ring-of-past-lyrics

Phoebe bridgers – garden song. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/Phoebe-bridgers-garden-song-lyrics

The strokes – the adults are talking. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/The-strokes-the-adults-are-talking-lyrics

Tyler, the creator – massa. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://genius.com/Tyler-the-creator-massa-lyrics

“Tyler, the Creator.” Spotify, open.spotify.com/artist/4V8LLVI7PbaPR0K2TGSxFF.

Villanueva, Victor. (1993). Excerpt from Bootstraps: From an Academic of Color, 107–118.

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Devin Marshall is a student at the University of North Georgia, graduating Fall 2023; he is a psychology major and an English minor. While at his university, he conducted research studies, presented results at a conference to further mental health education, and helped create a club to help students with their prospective psychology career pathways. Outside of schooling, Devin is a model, enjoys antiquing/thrifting, and collects vinyl. His love for music and literature is reflected within his “Victor Villanueva’s Bootstraps: From an Academic of Color Playlist” publication. 

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