Formation Flashcards
When was the music video released formation
feb 2016
What was formation exclusively released on
Tidal music
What album is formation on
Lemonade
How many viewers did beyonces super bowl performance get
115.5 million us viewers
What awards did formation recieve
MTV video od the year
Grammy best music video
4 pieces of cultural/historical context for formation
2005 hurricane katrina/new orleans flooding
Slavery/antebellum era
Police brutality
BLM movement
50 years od the black panthers
What does watching the formation music video require
Awareness of present and past racial issues in the us
What does the image of the dancing boy in formation reference
Police brutality footage
In terms of costume for formation, give an example of contrast and conflict
Old fashioned dresses vs contemporary tight fitting and revealing dance wear
What is the 2 possible readings for formation
Exploring black experience in the USA
Personal exploration of Beyonces life / the issue of gender equality
What genre does formation fit into
Trap/bounce music, boht of which fit into the hip hop genre
Where does trap music originate from
South of USA
How can Roland Barthes semiotics be linked to formation
Beyonce and other black women pose in white antebellum - era dresses associated woth slave owning women - reversed roles/overcoming racsim or suggesting its still there
How can bell hoojs feminsit theory be linked to formation
The video offers a strong gender message and shows beyonce as having made a political commitment to feminism
How does formation go against hooks theory
Feeds into the patriarchal oppression of women (objectification, sexualisation). Beyonce could have adopted a feminist lifestyle in order to make sales
How is beyonce represented as a person strength and power
Makes direct adress with audience by looking into camera
In what way can the formation video be seen as objectifying women
Sexualised costumes and dance moves
How does gilroys ethnicity theory link to formation
Challenges racial hierachies by subverting expectations and having black women in positions of power. Solidifies feelings of ’racial otherness’
How does beyonce represent minor ethnicities
Imagery and visual codes such as flipping their hair to show it off, beyonce saying one should be proud of their heritage
What does beyonce become to black women in the video
Beyonce becomes a figurehead that represents all black women.
Continuosly exposing and sexualising herself negativeky impacts their image,
feeding into ideas that black women are only there for others benefit.
What is the industry context of formation
The video was released a day before her superbowl performance. This increased the videos global circulation and increased financial gain for beyonce and her collaborates
How does formation link to levi strausses theory on binary opposition
By placing a black woman in the position of control may perpetuate a sense of binary opposition bethween the races.
How does formation link to stuart halls reception theory
Prefferered reading is likely the clear messages of empowerment relating to gender and ethnicity but alos critiscism of the governments handlings if katrina
