Beyonce - Formation Music Video

Beyonce - Formation Music Video

Contexts:

  • Immediate scene of police and sirens - communicate the social, cultural and political context of America (racial discrimination, police brutality, BLM movement etc)
  • reclaimed racial slurs - demonstrates themes of historical discrimination (trying to reclaim previously oppressed power)
  • sinking police car - contextually refers to hurricane Katrina (police car is placed in flood waters)
  • juxtaposition - historical clothing/setting highlights the historic way people were enslaved 
  • newspaper reference (Martin Luther King JR) - ongoing racism 
  • references to her mother's/father's cultural origins - many references to black culture 

Star Persona:

  • Beyonce represents herself as powerful and in control - confident and typically masculine body language
  • Position on top of the car - suggests she may have dominance over the police 
  • Camera angles are used to show her independence 
  • Due to some of the representations in the video, people though that Beyonce may be anti-law enforcement, however she issued a statement stating otherwise
  • shes presented as wealthy and powerful due to the costumes and jewelry
  • the video demonstrates she's proud of her heritage -  references to his mother's and father's culture throughout 
  • Celebrity collaborations - suggest Beyonce is successful and popular 
  • Including the voice of Big Freedia suggests that Beyonce is an inclusive, progressive and accepting artist due to her representations 
  • Still sexualised in some aspects of the video due to the costumes they're wearing
  • 'Cocky' - adds to representation of confidence (shes self-assured)
  • She represents people this way because she is considered a 'political artist' - someone who wants change 

Camera Angles:

  • Loosely framed, wide angled shot - connotes independence 
  • Low camera angles portray Beyonce as confident
  • Tracking towards her face - makes her seem powerful as she is the centre of focus
  • Tracking shot in hair salon - references the popularity of wigs and hair pieces with black women - referencing black culture 
  • low camera shots and confident body language - subvert stereotypes as women are viewed as being the ones in power
  • initial low angles - makes the police seem intimidating in contrast to the boy
  • eye level camera shot - makes the buy seem confident / unaffected by the police presence 

Representation:

  • use of young children - may signify that discrimination still occurs towards young individuals, however smiling and dancing faces may connote a change of treatment of black individuals (still hope for the current generation) 
  • references to the nose sizes - makes a strong message about black culture and beauty - challenges colonist representation and westernised beauty.
  • makes references to items associated with black culture (eg specific food) - celebrates black culture / encourages pride - also shown through the lyrics and Beyonce's clothing choices (braided hair)
  • The boy continuing to dance during the police presence - may suggest he doesn't yet understand the reason to be scared of police (not aware of police brutality and racism) - shows a sense of innocence 
  • Police doing nothing - makes them seem like they're not aggressive - direct opposition to what the audience may have thought - have been many incidents against young black men and women, but men specifically
  • Binary oppositions (boy and police) - draws attention to the division of race relations in the US and the unmoral panic against black communities 
  • Music video references relevant contexts (victimisation of black people) - graffiti on the wall ('Stop shooting us')
  • Challenges racial stereotypes, but can reinforces the sexualisation of women - highly sexualised through their clothing and dancing (leotards, shorts, stockings and suspenders, and high heels) - reinforces typical music video stereotypes
  • references taking her man to 'Red Lobster' if he pleases her sexually - shows her dominance over her male partner, however it also sexualises her as a person (someone who is easily swayed / bribed by sex)
  • 'I see it, I want it, I take it' - demonstrates a leader who is confident and in charge 

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