Representations

Question 1

What is significant about Beyoncés references to items which symbolise black culture?

Answer 1

She makes cultural references which often symbolise black culture and encourage pride in it

Question 2

What is significant in the video about women?

Answer 2

Women in the video are often highly sexualised through the use of costume, this is very conventional of music videos, especially pop

Question 3

Does this video challenge stereotypes or add to them?

Answer 3

Whilst the video often challenges stereotypical representations of ethnicity there is some quite stereotypical pre presentations of women as sexualised (messages about women seen as confusing)

Question 4

What des the intertextual reference to Martin Luther King draw attention to?

Answer 4

Intertextual reference draws attention again to racial discrimination that’s been an ongoing issue for a long time

Question 5

What does the juxtaposition of the historical style clothing highlight?

Answer 5

The juxtaposition of the historical clothing and setting with black people wearing symbols of wealth highlights the historic way black people were enslaved, drawing attention to ways this has changed

Question 6

What does the smiling when dancing connote?

Answer 6

Smiling when dancing connotes treatment of black people has changed and that there is hope

Question 7

What do Beyoncé and the other women’s costumes and Jewellery connote?

Answer 7

Costumes and jewellery connote wealth an success = common for artists in music videos

Question 8

Which album was this the lead single for?

Answer 8

Album Lemonade.

Question 9

When was Lemonade released?

Answer 9

Released the day before she performed at the Super Bowl final in 2016.

Question 10

Where is the backdrop of the video set?

Answer 10

Video set against the backdrop of the flooding in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and the associated racial tension in America, helps draw racial parallels with references to racism and slavery.

Question 11

What do many of the references in the video require?

Answer 11

An awareness of issues and events eg flooding in New Orleans and racial tension in America

Question 12

Where are intertextual references taken from in the video?

Answer 12

-That B.E.A.T (documentary about bounce music)
-References to news footage of police brutality such as the lone dancing boy

Question 13

What do the Antebellum dresses contrast with?

Answer 13

Antebellum dresses which reference slavery contrast heavily with “pop” signifiers such as tight fitting/revealing costume in some of the dance sections.

Question 14

What does Beyonces performance shift between?

Answer 14

Shits between moments of aggression such as obscene gestures with her fingers to more culturally recognisable dance routines that seem less loaded with political or social messages.

Question 15

How does the contrasting signs in the video make possible readings?

Answer 15

-Is it exploring issues of black experience in America?
-Is it personal exploration of Beyonce’s life?
-Is the video an attempt to discuss gender and equality?

Question 16

What could an oppositional reading be of this video?

Answer 16

That the video is reducing important issues down to a means to promote her own career and sell records due to her leasing it the day before her Super Bowl performance (raise finance and profits)

Question 17

What impacted a global circulation of the video?

Answer 17

Combination of the release date and her performane to over 100 million people impacted the global circulation of the video and the finical gain for Beyonce ad her collaborators.

Question 18

What mode of dress does Beyonce frequently use?

Answer 18

Frequently makes direct access to the audience by gazing directly at us, she stands in strong, powerful stances at the front of groups (men and women) and the most iconic scenes of her on top of the police car.

Question 19

How does Beyonce reforge gender stereotypes?

Answer 19

Some of the costumers are tight fitting and revealing which could condone the objectification of women alongside the sexualised lyrics. However this may be balanced by looking at her construction of a strong powerful figure.

Question 20

How does the video challenge expectations of racial hierarchy? (Gilroy)

Answer 20

The video subverts expectations by placing a black woman in a position of power and domination. However may perpetuate Gilroy sense of “otherness” and a clear divide based on racial lines based on the science of the young boy dancing alone infront of a line of police.