formation music video Beyonce

Question 1

‘what happened at the New Wil’ins?’

Answer 1

• this is at the very start
• sample lyrics from YouTube star MESSI MYA where he is now dead as he was shot at a party.
  Messi Mya was quite famous within the black and LGBTQ+ communities
• As Messi Mya was shot and killed, it helps us to emphasise the theme of violent crimes affecting black victims.
• Use of Messi Mya’s voice might signify the genre, the theme of black oppression and discrimination and may engage her audience.
• Beyonce was sued for sampling Messi Mya voice without permission from his family
• Beyonce sampling these lyrics is perhaps a way of Beyonce using the media language:
  Perhaps reference other cultural icons that her target audience might be familiar with

Question 2

intertextual references with some shots that have been directly lifted from a documentary called ‘that B.E.A.T’

Answer 2

• referencing social, cultural and political context in America of racial discrimination police brutality
• start of the video:
  Seeing police, sirens and lights.
  This could communicate the theme perhaps police brutality against black communities and the difficulties that black people go through because of police.
• the shots highlight the conflict that is so common in America:
  In particular, highlighting binary oppositions between black communities and police.

Question 3

‘when he f**k me good, I take his ass to Reb lobster’

Answer 3

use of some profanity (use of swear words) in music video.
Adds an aggressive, passionate feel to the video, and to Beyonce connoting her power.
+ challenging typical female representations of submissiveness (to obey or yield to someone else)

Question 4

some shots, holds herself in formal manner and quite strong powerful manner

Answer 4

• The tracking shots towards her face makes her the focus of shots and creates an importance around her as she is the main person.

Question 5

wearing expensive clothing, gucci dress, hats, jewellery

Answer 5

• Might appeal to her audience who aspire to be her as a role model
• Helps subvert the typical representations of black people seen in the media as being poorer or less successful- GILROYS THEORY.
• Juxtaposition of the historical style clothing/setting with black people wearing symbols of wealth.
  Might highlight the historical way in which black people were enslaved.
  + how this has changed

Question 6

holds up newspaper of Martin Luther king

Answer 6

• showing black people in position of her video
• newspaper reference to Martin Luther king Jr draws attention again to the way racial discrimination has been an on going issue for a long time
• Beyonce constantly referring to things that have happened in the past like slavery or hurricane Katrina