Beyonce Formation. Flashcards
The music video is partly based where?
New Orleans
What happened in New Orleans to make them film here?
Hurricane Katrina. The racial tension following the floods.
What are some intertextual references in formation?
Footage taken from a documentary about bounce called that B.E.A.T.
And
References to need footage of police brutality such as the lone dancing boy.
The antebellum costume dresses refers to? And how does this contrast the rest of the video?
Slavery.
Contrasts heavily with stereotypical “pop” signifiers such as tight fitting/revealing costume in some of the dance sections
What contrasting elements are present in Beyoncé’s performance?
Moments of aggression and culturally recognisable dance routines
The aggression is represented by obscene gestures, while the dance routines are less politically charged.
What possible themes does the video explore?
Black experience in America, personal exploration of Beyoncé’s life, issues of gender and equality
The video may encompass multiple themes simultaneously.
Fill in the blank: Beyoncé’s performance shifts from moments of aggression to more _______ dance routines.
culturally recognisable
True or False: The video can only explore one theme at a time.
False
The video can explore multiple themes simultaneously.
What are some examples of music genres mentioned?
Pop, R&B, dance, hip-hop, bounce
These genres are mutable and subject to change.
What is the historical significance of MOBO?
Music of Black Origin across different genres
MOBO highlights the contributions of Black artists to various music styles.
What does the use of antebellum era dresses signify in the music video? (Semiotics by Barthes)
Reference to slavery and American history
This imagery prompts discussions about historical context and representation.
Which theorist’s ideas does the video challenge regarding simulacra?
Jean Baudrillard
Baudrillard argues that contemporary images may not refer to any reality.
What was the timing of the video’s release and its significance?
Released the day before Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance
This timing maximized the video’s exposure and potential financial gain.
What dual purpose might the video serve?
Promote a political/cultural agenda or generate publicity and profit
The context of the Super Bowl performance adds to this discussion.
Which feminist theorist’s ideas can be used to analyze the video?
bell hooks
hooks’ work often critiques representations of race and gender in media.
How does ‘bounce’ relate to Beyoncé as a performer.
She often bounces in her dances which are sexualised.
The Super Bowl release date and a performance to over _______ people impacted the global circulation of the video and financial gain for Beyoncé and her collaborators.
100 million
This music offers a range of different representations relating to??
Race and ethnicity
Beyoncé frequently makes direct address to _______________ by?
The audience
Gazing directly at us
The most iconic image of her on top of the police car shows…
Her as a powerful black woman
What is a key concern regarding Beyoncé’s media representation?
Reinforcement of attitudes and values in relation to gender
This includes the objectification of women through her portrayal in videos.
How does Beyoncé’s representation in her videos potentially convey values about gender?
Through dance sections with short/tight or revealing outfits and sexualised lyrics
These elements may reinforce objectification despite her strong persona.
True or False: Beyoncé’s representation only offers positive insights into gender roles.
False
The representation can also reinforce negative stereotypes.
Fill in the blank: The representation of Beyoncé may _______ the objectification of women.
condone
What is the potential duality in Beyoncé’s representation?
Strong, powerful figure vs. objectification of women
This duality can lead to complex interpretations of her media presence.
What is the theory associated with Paul Gilroy?
Theories of ethnicity and postcolonial oppression of women in a patriarchal society
Gilroy’s theory discusses how ethnicity intersects with gender and oppression.
According to hooks, what is feminism a struggle against?
Sexist/patriarchal oppression
Hooks emphasizes the need for feminism to address systemic issues of gender inequality.
What question can be posed regarding Beyoncé’s music video in relation to feminism?
Is Beyoncé adopting feminism as a lifestyle choice to sell music or has she made a political commitment to feminism?
This question explores the authenticity of her feminist stance in the context of commercial music.
How does the music video challenge racial hierarchy?
By subverting expectations and placing a black woman in a position of power and dominion
This representation can be seen as empowering but also raises questions about racial dynamics.
What potential issue does the music video perpetuate despite its empowerment themes?
A sense of binary opposition between races
This binary opposition can reinforce divisions rather than promote unity.
What is meant by Gilroy’s sense of ‘otherness’?
A clear divide based on racial lines
‘Otherness’ refers to how certain groups are marginalized or viewed as outside the norm.
Fill in the blank: The music video can be analyzed in terms of racial hierarchies and _______.
Binary opposition based on otherness
This analysis framework examines how race and identity are portrayed.
True or False: The music video fully resolves issues of racial and gender representation.
False
The video presents complex representations that can be contradictory.
