Image credit: Texas Monthly | Courtesy of Ford
Once upon a time, pickup trucks were strictly utility vehicles, used primarily for picking up and hauling stuff. Not so anymore, says Rose McMackin, a Texas writer whose work focuses on the American West. Nowadays, she says, pickup trucks are “aspirational,” used to project how the drivers want to be seen. So how on earth did that happen? According to McMackin, it’s a change that’s been largely fueled by country music. Read all about it (and listen to it) in an article she wrote for Texas Monthly in August 2025.
Read it here.
EXPLORE, REFLECT, SPEAK UP.
1. McMackin focuses on one particular pickup truck, the Ford F-150, and she quotes from many of the ads, commercials, and country songs that she says helped make the F-150 America’s best-selling vehicle. “Works like a truck, rides like a car.” “Ford Tough.” “Truck Drivin’ Man.” This is just some of the vivid, colorful language in this article that helps readers visualize (and perhaps desire) an F-150. Read through the article to find 3 more examples of such language, and explain how the examples support her argument.
2. This article is more than just writing; it includes photos, ads, and links to music videos and commercials—all supporting McMackin’s argument that the lyrics and images of country music have helped create the mystique (and boost the sales) of the F-150. Read over the article, first focusing on what she wrote, and then read it again, this time clicking on the links to listen to the music and view the videos. How do these different ways of reading—with your eyes and with your ears—affect the way you understand the article? Do you prefer one—and if so, why?
3. LET’S TALK. According to McMackin, “identity drives automobile purchases.” Really? More than price or brand? Reread the article to see what evidence she provides for that claim. Point out any specific examples that you find. Look as well for any counterarguments: Does she acknowledge any other viewpoints? Get together with a few classmates and discuss whether she’s persuaded you—and perhaps whether this article makes any of you want an F-150.
5. AND NOW WRITE. If, as McMackin claims, a truck can say something about who you are or want to be, what about the music you listen to? The sneakers you wear? The team you root for? Think of something you really like or care about and then consider what it says about you. Write a short essay describing what you chose and reflecting on why you care about it—and what it might say about you.
LetsTalkLibrary 