Formation (Component 1) Flashcards
What’s the name of the album that Formation appears on?
Lemonade.
Stretch: Why does this have social/cultural significance?
What month and year was Formation released?
February 2016, the day before Beyoncé performed the song at the Super Bowl final
What US states were most affected by Hurricane Katrina?
Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi
What genre of dance music inspired much of formation and where did it originate?
Bounce music which originated in New Orleans
What does the graffiti say in Formation and why is it significant?
‘Stop killing us’, makes reference to the issue of police brutality within the US
What was Hurricane Katrina and its impact?
A category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi, August 2005. The storm caused widespread damage and flooding making it one of the most deadliest and costliest natural disasters in US history.
What is the purpose of the music video?
- to make money
- to advertise the song
- to convey a message
What music video genres does Formation come under?
-concept
-performance
-Intertextual
Bell Hooks - Intersectionality
combination of identities like race, class and sex affect how someone experiences oppression
Why was there criticism regarding federal assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina?
Because homes and communities of black people were seen to be less of a priority in comparison to rich, white-owned communities.
How does editing lead the video to be conceptual rather than narrative?
It does not follow a chronological timeline, sections are split up
(Montage editing, fast paced, non-linear, focuses on themes and motifs, rather than story)
What’s significant about the police car Beyoncé dances on top of?
Is semantic of police brutality in the US
Does Bell Hooks support Beyoncé video?
No - ‘cultural terrorist’
Who directed the Formation video?
Melina Matsoukas
What documentary is intertextually referenced in Formation?
That Beat
What issues does the video attempt to address?
- racial tensions in America e.g. police brutality
- the inadéquate réponse to Hurricane Katrina and the impact it had on African Americans
What clothing are dancers wearing whilst dancing in a parking lot?
Denim which is a reference to the 90s
What Award did ‘Formation’ Win?
Innovation and creative excellence in a music video
What Award was it nominated for?
the music category of the 59th Grammy Awards
Why is Hurricane Katrina significant in Beyonce’s Formation?
It highlights how African Americans were forgotten about, and did not get any support during this time - She is showing herself ‘this is who I am’
Why is the antebellum costuming significant?
It highlights the time of slavery - it challenges this time as African Americans are seen to be owning the house
What is this scene portraying?
A political statement to Police Brutality in America
Why does Beyonce include stereotypes? e.g “i got a hot sauce in my bag. swag”
To show that this is her and that she is proud to be who she is (identity) - as well as targeting a specific audience who will understand the references (cultural)
Why is the quote “ladies lets get in formation” significant?
highlights female empowerment
What does these shots look like? Why do they differ from the rest of the music video?
They look like CCTV footage/ Police camera footage - they suggest a political statement to police brutality and almost ‘makes fun’ of police
Who is the voice at the beginning of Formation? why is it significant?
Messy Mya - A bounce music rapper who was brutally murdered in 2010
Why are the intertextual references of past archival footage significant? e.g. Hurricane Katrina footage
creates a post-modern (Baudrillard) product
How is Paul Gilroy’s post-colonial theory accepted and subverted?
Subverted - people of colour are shown more powerful then what they would be in past media products
Accepted - Shown as ‘other’ but accepts this and suggests that these stereotypical traits that they are associated with is a positive aspect of themselves and that they should embrace it
What is the overall meaning of the music video?
Taking the past negative aspect of things and creating it to be more positive and more powerful within our current society
Analyse how the visual and technical codes communicate meaning in this frame.
Visual codes= iconography (police car, star appeal of Beyonce, flooded neighbourhood, lexis on side of the car)
Technical code= long shot (showing Beyonce on top of car)
Meaning= demonstrates Beyonce’s power over traditional authorities. Intertextual reference to Hurricane Katrina.
What band is referenced in the lyrics of Formation and why are they important?
Jackson Five
- Famous African American band from the 70s
What billionaire is referenced in the lyrics to Formation and why?
Bill Gates
- It shows that Beyoncé has reached levels of success previously only attainable for white men
What century was the Antebellum era in?
1800s
Name a significant setting in the Formation music video
- Plantation house
- Swimming Pool
- Car Park
- New Orleans street
What does M.O.B.O stand for?
Music of Black Origin
What feminist theorists have we studied?
- bell hooks
- Lisbet Van Zoonen
How many Americans watched the 2016 NFL Super Bowl?
100 million
