Formation - C1

Question 1

Who sings Formation?

Answer 1

Beyonce

Question 2

The song was a lead single for what album?

Answer 2

Lemonade

Question 3

When was the single released?

Answer 3

6th February 2016

Question 4

The music video was released the day before what big event?

Answer 4

Beyonce played the 2016 Super Bowl half time show

Question 5

Who directed the music video?

Answer 5

Melina Matsoukas

Question 6

What awards did the video win?

Answer 6

A Clio award for innovative and creative excellent and it was nominated for a grammy

Question 7

What happened in New Orleans that is referenced in the music video?

Answer 7

Hurricane Katrina caused nearly 2000 deaths in Florida and Louisiana making it the deadliest hurricane in the USA since 1928. George Bush and the government were criticised for their lack of immediate response in New Orleans and controversially Kanye West said “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people”.

Question 8

Where is the music video set?

Answer 8

New Orleans

Question 9

What issues are raised in the video?

Answer 9

• Gender
• Hurricane Katrina
• Slavery and Antebellum era
• Police brutality
• Black panther movement

Question 10

What inspired Beyonce’s costume at the 2016 Super Bowl?

Answer 10

The black panther movement

Question 11

What intertextual references are used in the video?

Answer 11

• Flooding houses and Beyonce on the car connotes Hurricane Katrina
• weaves in wig shop connotes black women’s culture
• Antebellum era and costume of the Southern Belle connotes black people taking control of their narratives
• Blue Ivy Beyonce’s daughter in the video connotes proud black role models
• Black people in the frames in the mansion connotes representation of black people who history has forgot
• 1980s music video connotations
• MLK on newspaper called the Truth connotes Beyonce’s ideologies
• Boy dancing in front of police connotes police brutality
• Gospel scene connotes black culture
• INTERTEXTUAL REFERENCE bounce genre footage from documentary That B.E.A.T

Question 12

What genres has Beyonce worked within?

Answer 12

pop, R&B, dance and hip-hop - all music of black origins

Question 13

How many people watched the half time performance which would have influenced the global circulation of Formation?

Answer 13

100 million people

Question 14

How can Jean Baudrillard’s theory of post modernism be applied to Formation?

Answer 14

Question whether Beyonce is making a social commentary or reducing issues down to a means to promote her career.

Question 15

How does Beyonce engage audiences?

Answer 15

By making direct eye contact encouraging active evolvement in the issues.

Question 16

What costumes does Beyonce wear in Formation?

Answer 16

• natural classy dress on the car
• antebellum dress
• white fur coat and dress with braids
• Gothic dress and hat
• revealing red bodysuit
• active wear in swimming pool
• translucent spring outfit
• denim outfit

Question 17

How can Van Zoonen’s theory on objectification be applied to Formation?

Answer 17

Beyonce it could be argued condones the objectification of women to sell her music

Question 18

How can Paul Gilroy’s theory of post-colonialism be applied to Formation?

Answer 18

• subverts expectations by placing a black woman in a position of power
• however perpetuates otherness

Question 19

What did the SNL sketch ‘When Beyonce turned black’ suggest?

Answer 19

It suggested that white people are uncomfortable with the idea that Beyonce is black and has addressed it and wants her music to only be for them.

Question 20

What does Brittany Barrons’ TED talk suggest?

Answer 20

That America doesn’t like when black women aren’t stereotyped because they subconsciously see black people in a certain way - for entertainment stemming from slavery.