Music Videos Flashcards
What album was it released on, and when/ what is the significance of this?
Lemonade (lead single)
February 2016 (Black History Month for the USA)
- Released the day before she performed at the Super Bowl (major American Event)
-Highlights the importance of remembering the black slave past of America and the modern injustices of society, while also providing a monetary draw for Black audiences.
Piggy backs off of power drawn from the Super Bowl to maximise profits.
What was Hurricane Katrina and why is it the focus of the video?
August 29 2005, A category 5 hurricane struck USA, and by
AUGUST 30- 80% of New Orleans was under water.
-Flocked to super dome with hope of evacuation but poor sanitation, lack of food and water, and fights . For many, buses to evacuate didn’t arrive.
Post- Launched Road Home Program to grant them the funds to rebuild and start over but - swam in legal documents
-delayed payments
- cruel treatment
-waited months for appointments.
Only 506 got grants, out of 10,000 plus but they had delayed payments and it wasn’t enough.
- But 8 years later, struggling to rebuild still.
The Music Video shows the flooding in New Orleans and the devastation, and critiques the white led state for their treatment of Black Americans.
What was the response to the music video?
Police from Tampa to Nashville threatened to protest her shows and music and claimed that
-Post hurricane Katrina/ the boy dancing to the police/ ‘stop killing us’ in Graffitti were unnecessarily critical of the state.
-Louis Tarrakhan offered to provide her security if the police would not
How did Beyonce respond to her criticisms?
‘Anyone who perceives my message as anti police is mistaken’
‘ I have so much admiration and respect for officers’…. but ‘ Let’s be clear, I am against police brutality and injustice’
Bounce Genre
A music genre originating in New Orleans with calls and chats, heavy brass beats, and definite by tempo. Originated in the 80s.
Online Success of Beyonce’s Formation
Critical Success of Beyonce’s Formation
29 Grammy award
Clio Award
6MTV Music award
Apply Levi Strauss’ binary opposites to Formation
Black VS White
Police vs Civilian
Black Culture Vs White culture but predominately regards aspects of Black culture.
Religion vs State and police
F- Key Historical ref : long shot, standing on police car.
Strong- on top of car.
Squatting down- taking back power, and destroying the foundations of the police- police brutality against people of colour.
Dress- oppression, poverty, slavery- civil war.
- Antebellum era, evoking images of civil was periodically brought to the modern day, suggesting that the struggle for equality has not ending. Highlights racial oppression
F- key historical ref
Children playing in civil war house, and paintings of black family on the walls.
Creates a hyperreality where black people were not oppressed, and focuses on the idea that it could have been the other way round, placing an importance on the understanding that racial oppression is superfluous. _Subversion of reality where people of colour were oppressed and in the civil war.
- Dress- traditionally worn by white land owners- but now they are not. _
It has been switched.
F_ Key historical ref-Long shot- hat pulled over eyes adorned with jewellery
Hat pulled over eyes- Mourning- the past, the fallen who have died in the fight for racial equality in America, relating to black religion and gospel.
- middle finger- an f you to America, gov. sign of power and strength because they are getting there. They are strong. Jewellery- wealth, but also could represent the importance of black success. Beyonce champions black success and wealth- ‘ New bill gates’- business man-.
F- What is the significance of the motif of children
The little children- Antebellum house.
Modern little boy dancing in front of the police.
heightened sense of innocence and injustice.
F-Name 3 key messages
New Orleans Floods
Police car in water(numerous shots)
Shots of damage by the floods
-*Signifies Beyonce’s feelings as though damage might as well have been done by the police and state who failed to grant enough money for black people in New Orleans to rebuild while leaving white areas to rebuild with much greater funds.
Racial tensions in America
- Shows solidarity by performing together in large numbers - African Americans working together against police brutality.
Subversive
nature of video, - SUBVERTS REALITY BY CREATING A Simulacra A - Antebellum dresses, white colour, civil war house, black paintings on the wall, signifiers of wealth.
Police Brutality
Line of police shown w/ one little black boy- There is an unequal force with his size- BO.
Graffiti- Stop shooting us
- These show her perception of police brutality as unnecessary, inhumane and a force of control preying upon people.
F-How are clothing codes used?
Antebellum dresses-
Originally worn by White Southern belles, combined with the parasol. Directly links America’s black slave past with acts of injustice against people of colour suggesting this is the root of the problem , and forces audience to come to terms with the fact that it could have been anyone.
Hoodie-
Typical stereotype of ‘criminal’ attire , and threat, juxtaposed by the presence of the child suggest innocence. This forces the audience to face the problem , that they are essentially accusing families, people just like any other of looting. (In media in Katrina, white- ;looking for help’ black ‘Looting’)
2:00- When slaves Fred given fancy clothes so wearing such rich fabrics even throughout the music video) represents their freedom and respectability. The jewels also represent this
Masks as well represent suppressing identity(black Identity)
How do RNB Genre Conventions apply to Formation?
