Formation

Question 1

Whose voice is sampled in the music video and why is this significant?

Answer 1

Big Freedia
LGBT Bounce music artist
Reflects Beyoncé’s values and beliefs

Question 2

How does beyonce perform a masculine gender?

Answer 2

• spreads her legs whilst sitting on the police car
• dominating language that is typically expressed by male rappers “when he fuck me good I take his ass to red lobster”
• low angle shots presents her as dominant

Question 3

How does beyonce perform her gender?

Answer 3

• Feminine costume
- fans
- dresses
- jewlery
- low cut tops

Question 4

What documentary does formation intertextually reference?

Answer 4

That BEAT (2013)
Explored the bounce music scene of New Orleans
Clips inserted into the video

Question 5

Whose voice is sampled at the beginning of the video “What happened at the New Orleans”?

Answer 5

Messy Mya
A black YouTuber/activist who spoke out against racism/homophobia/hurricane Katrina
He was shot dead at a party
Refelects Beyoncé’s values and beliefs and violence against black communities

Question 6

How is black culture celebrated?

Answer 6

• Africa American hairstyles (Beyonce has braids/cornrows)
• Wig stores
• Music of Black Origin (Bounce, hip hop)
• Reclaim antebellum era dresses

Question 7

How are women represented?

Answer 7

• Sexualised in leotards and uniform outfits
• Twerking
• Also represented as united and powerful

Question 8

What scene represents police brutality?

Answer 8

Scene where the little black boy dances infront of a row of armed police in riot gear
- He wears a black hoodie, representing how young black men are often viewed as thugs in society (Trayvon Martin shot by police after wearing a black hoodie)

Question 9

What album was formation released on?

Answer 9

Lemonade, 2016

Question 10

What day was formation released?

Answer 10

The day before the Super Bowl
Performed the song at the Super Bowl

Question 11

What year did hurricane Katrina happen?

Answer 11

2005

Question 12

Why is hurricane Katrina represented in the music video?

Answer 12

• Because many believed that black communities were being neglected by the police in comparison to white areas
• JayZ and Beyonce started funds to support victims of Hurricane Katrina

Question 14

What does bell hooks believe about beyonce?

Answer 14

Claims that beyonce is selling black bodies through the sexualisation of women
- claims she is a cultural terrirost as patriarchal society can not be dismantled then and women are being reduced to singing and dancing for the pleasure of consumers