At start for Formation, there is a sample of audio where the
audience hear someone say ‘what happened at the New
FORMATION - Beyonce is represented in the music video. The audience first encounter
her on top of a sinking police car, which is contextually supposed to be
the flood water in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. These shots
Orleans?’ This sample is taken the YouTube star Messy Mya,
who was quite famous within black and LGBT communities. REPRESENTATION represent her as isolated because the shots are loosely framed, and she is
on her own. But she seems quite powerful through the low angle shots,
the close-ups of her face and her confident body language of her legs
He was famous for speaking out in a controversial way in
issues of race and sexuality and Hurricane Katrina. He was being spread in a confident and typically masculine pose. This is
shot dead at a part several years ago. By sampling his voice at challenging those expectations of gender that often see women as weaker.
the start of the video, is a way of Beyonce using media This is also reflected in the lyrics of words like ‘cocky’ and the tone in the
There are intertextual references, with some shots being directly taken from a way in which she sings, which adds to her representation as confident and
language to reference cultural icons, which her target documentary called ‘That B.E.A.T’, which is about bounce music and fans in New
audience might be familiar with. This also signified the link self-assured
Orleans. The references to this documentary, include the shots of the police sirens,
of themes about racism, crime and violence against black lights, police uniforms, etc, communicates themes of police brutality and the
communities. The fact he was shot is part of the reason why difficulties that black people face in America. The music video is referencing social, There are several uses of profanity in the video. This adds to the aggressive
Beyonce chose to reference him at the start. However, it is cultural, political and historical contexts in America of police brutality against black and powerful feel to the music. When people swear, it gives a sense of
important to note that Beyonce was sued for sampling this people in America, the Black Lives Matter movement and institutional racism. These passion or anger and rage. The use of reclaimed racial slurs and profanity in
audio without permission. This was Beyonce’s attempt to images in the video are there to communicate the idea that there is a binary opposition Formation, either from, Beyonce or the samples in the track, demonstrate
communicate a theme of violence against black people and between black people and the police in America, with a lot of conflict happening themes of historical discrimination and to communicate anger that they feel
give the ‘illusion’ of black culture on screen for marketing towards discrimination and racism that they and others have experienced. It
reasons. But perhaps itself showed a lack of actual respect in shows passion for wanting to overcome this. This also connotes Beyonce’s
real life power and challenging of typical female representations of submissiveness
Beyonce holds herself in a formal, strong and powerful manner in a lot of shots in the music
video. The camera seems to track/zoom in closer to her, making her seem powerful and
Use of shots of the children is a way of making it clear that these dominant. She forces the audience to focus on her and creates a sense of importance around In the video, Beyonce is wearing expensive clothing. She is wearing a Gucci dress,
issues are still relevant to young black girls and how her and is later wearing an elegant black dress with jewellery and a hat. This represents
discrimination is not over. However, the young children are her as wealthy and successful. This might also be because she wants to represent
happy, smiling and running around, putting the message across The fact she is sitting on top of a police car is significant. It might be that she is representing herself in this way because she is an artist, and that what her audience expect of her.
that whilst discrimination hasn’t been wiped out, it is better now herself and black people as being dominant over the police. This idea reflects context of black This might appeal to her audience who aspire to be her and see her as a role model.
for young black people and there is hope for black youth today, people feeling weaker in comparison to the police in America. The music video caused But this representation also subverts typical expectations that society has about
unlike several years ago. The video is trying to draw controversy, as some audiences reacted badly to the representation and took the fact she was wealth and success and black communities. Beyonce may be trying to put across a
parallels/binary opposites between the past and present, as well as sitting on top of the police car to mean she was anti-police and anti-law enforcement. She later message about black women being successful and able to obtain wealth and power,
future with the use of children released a statement saying she supported the police. Therefore, people did take this especially as the music video is set against the traditional slavery style plantation
representation quite seriously houses and the antebellum dresses that hark back to times of slavery. This helps
subvert the typical representations of black people in the media as being poorer or
less successful. This links to Gilroy’s theory of postcolonialism. The juxtaposition
In the video, there is a mid-shot of a man in the street holding up a newspaper with an image of Martin Luther king on the cover, as well as one of his famous of the historical style of clothing and setting, with black people wearing symbols of
quotes. This intertextual reference to a real person from history that most people are familiar with is a good way of drawing attention to the fact that issues of wealth, might highlight the historic way in which black people are enslaved, and
racial discrimination and inequality are ongoing issues. This is reinforced by Beyonce continually referencing the past, such as slavey, hurricane Katrina, Martin draw attention to the ways in which this has changed. Beyonce is drawing attention
Luther King, etc. therefore, the idea of past and present are in the video. Beyonce is highlighting the fact that in the past there was lots of struggles for black to the binary opposites between how black people have been treated historically and
people, and then she shows black people in positions of power. Therefore, she is creating binary oppositions between what was the past and what is now how now they are able to achieve in many parts of society
In the video, Beyonce makes reference to her own cultural background. Her references to her mother and father’s cultural origins suggest she is proud of Beyonce makes a reference to a ‘Jackson 5 nose’. The Jackson 5 were a popular
her heritage and she is celebrating the rich diversity and of ethnicity in America. This is her way of celebrating diversity and culture and suggesting that band in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and many members of the band had wide noses and
she is made up from different backgrounds. Although it is noting the word ‘creole’ is are used to divide the communities and judge them based on the large nostrils. It is an ethnic trait which is typically common amongst people of
‘darkness’ of their skin tone. Beyonce might have use this to draw attention to negative historic practices, but some audience may have taken an black heritage. This is something that has been shamefully represented as
oppositional reading and found it offensive and divisive unattractive in media over the last few decades. Mainstream media products often
represent westernised and white beauty as being ideal, and people with ethnic
features, like the Jackson 5 nose, are often not represented at all or represented as
less attractive. Beyonce’s reference to the Jackson 5 nose is a way of celebrating
There is another audio sample in the break of the main song, from an artist called ethnic features of black people and making it clear that black people should be
Big Freedia, who is a gay male and uses female pronouns, but still refers to herself proud. It creates a strong message about black culture and beauty, and challenges
as a gay male and doesn’t consider herself trans, but is often misidentified as trans. colonialist representation in media of black features being shown as ‘other’
This artist is particularly famous within the bounce sub-genre, thus attracting a compared to white Westernised beauty ideals
pre-sold audience. The use of a celebrity collaboration makes Beyonce been
successful and popular, as the more celebrity friends appearing in the video, the
most successful she looks. The use of the artist is interesting because people who
are LGBTQ communities and non-binary backgrounds are often misrepresented or
Beyonce makes references to typical black fashions, cultures, food, etc in the video,
represented in negative ways in the media. The use of Big Freedia’s voice, as well
which celebrates black culture and encourages a discussion of things people consider to
as being involved in the premotion of the song, represents Beyoncé as being
be part of black culture. She makes references to ‘hot sauce’ and ‘collard greens’ in her
inclusive, excepting and progressive as an artist, who is an ally to the LGBTQ+
lyrics, she wears her hair in cornrows, etc, showing she is trying to celebrate and be
community. This represents her as wanting diversity, not just ethnicity, but in
proud of things that are typically representative of black culture, which is something
terms of gender and sexuality. other mainstream products fail to show
There is a tracking shot in what appears to be a hairdressers or a shop that
sells wigs, accessories, hair pieces, etc. There are lots of mannequin heads on The tracking shot of the wall as it goes across reading ‘stop shooting us’
the shelves with different wigs on them. There are women stood with references police violence and the number of young black people unnecessarily
different hair colours and styles. This is a reference to black culture, linking shot by the police. The video is communicating themes about racial
to the popularity of wigs and hairpieces with many black women. The discrimination and violence represented against black communities. The music
variety if hair styles, fashions and colours on offer in the shot, suggests that video therefore clearly reflects relevant contexts such as the victimisation of
there is more than one ‘way’ to be fashionable black women. The connotes black people, Black Lives Matter movements, institutionalised racism, etc
ethnicity is diverse and complex. This references and celebrates black culture
and fashion, and shows diversity within black culture by showing different
ways to celebrate ethnicity and being black. There is not just one universal
ethnicity and there is much diversity within the community, shown through
the different colours, styles and people within the shots There is a lot of shots in the video of Beyonce and a group of female dancers. The
song title and the use of formation style dance routines connotes a sense of unity
and suggests black women are a tight unit community, working well together,
united and strong. They are dancing together at the same time and the same way.
In the video, there is a shot reverse shot between the young boy dancing and the police officers stood in front of him. The initial low angle of the police
This represents black women as united and powerful when they work together
officers, making them seem dominant, intimidating and powerful in contrast to the boy. There is the idea that as the boy on his own dancing, it makes him
seem vulnerable. But the eye-level camera shot encourages the audience to position themselves with the boy who seems confident and unaffected, as he is
confidently dancing and is not shy or scared. Initially the police officers don’t do anything, don’t respond and don’t arrest him makes them seem impotent,
which is in direct opposition to what audiences may have seen in the media these may have been incidents of police violence against young black boys in
particular. The binary opposites between the boy and police draws attention to division of race relations that seems evident in the US, and the unnecessary
There is a reasonable amount of sexualisation in the video. This is conventional in
moral panic that many white people have about black communities. This is referencing the Black Lives Matter protests, where young black people stand up
music videos and the way women are represented in the music industry, especially
against the police, get their points across and change the world. In these instances, there is a lot of violence from the police towards the protestors. But in the
within pop and bounce music. In Formation, women are dressed in leotards, shorts,
video, the police don’t move. This is illustrating how Beyonce thinks they should be. However, this don’t seen fair as there is a lone in police officers in riot
high heels, etc. There are also shots of Beyonce in stockings and suspenders. This
gear which might be a message about the fear amongst white people that somehow there needs to be an aggressive line of police officers against a child,
fairly revealing clothing in the video sexualises women. Whilst this music video is
simply because of his ethnicity. This draws attention to race relations in America
challenging expectations of ethnicity, there is a certain amount of conforming and
typical expectations and stereotypes of gender. Although there are powerful
representations of women that are challenging in terms of stereotypes. There are
several low angle shots of Beyonce and the women in different scenes. They use
The reasons why Beyonce and her record label chose to create these representations of ethnicity, gender and sexuality should be considered. It could be
powerful and determined body language and facial expressions from Beyonce and the
because of her reputation as a ‘political’ artist. She is known for being involved in political campaigns during Hurricane Katrina, as herself and Jay-Z
other women. Beyonce’s lyrics show her and black women as confident, strong and
raised funds for the victims. She has been involved in songs and discussions about topics involving feminism and race by raising support. Beyonce feels
powerful leaders, e.g. ‘I see it, I want it, I take it!’ Beyonce also talks in her lyrics
as though she wants to raise awareness of these political issues. One reason is that she is a black female herself. She may have experienced discrimination
about having necklaces and expensive designer clothes, making her seem successful.
and may be aware of issues of race and crime against black people in America. She wants to highlight these issues as she may have a personal experience
Whereas we often make the assumption that rich men are going to buy things for
or personal opinion of it, therefore she is likely to represent the conflict and division between ethnicities in this way. She feels her target audience of
women, in the music video Beyonce references taking her man to ‘Red Lobster’
primarily women might be engaged by the images of women being powerful and she may feel her audience, particularly those from black communities
(restaurant) if he pleases her sexually. This shows dominance over her male partner
might enjoy representations of black people in positions of power, subverting historic ideas and images relating to black slavery, oppression and racism.
and is the idea that she is in charge and dominant, as well as the one who is wealthy
A black female audience are more used to seeing more submissive representations in music videos. They may be entertained by seeing powerful
representations of black people. These representations might have been included to please her audience. and rich. This challenges expectations of women in the media
It could be argued the representations have been designed to be unusual and It can be argued the music video is quite feminist as it
therefore engaging, for a more cynical reason of a marketing tool, in an attempt makes strong messages about women being able to
to gain more notoriety and to make money. Beyonce chose to release the music There are arguments about whether the video is overcoming racism and discrimination and subvert typical expectations and being powerful and
video at the time of the Superbowl in America, which is one of the most promoting equality and the rights for people of all ethnicities, or whether it is contributing dominant. But at the same time, it shows women in a
viewed TV programmes in America. Beyonce performed the song during half towards this feeling of ‘otherness’. Stuart Hall uses this within his theory, as well as Paul sexualised and objectified manner, through revealing
time dressed in ‘Black Panther’ style outfits and with a huge dance routine, Gilroy. Some argue that it doesn’t embrace and welcome all ethnicities, or it could exclude outfits and suggestive lyrics. These images have been
which might suggest that the representations are deliberately overtly political anyone who isn’t black. This creates divisiveness of its own as a sort of ‘us’ vs ‘them’ used for entertainment value. Therefore, there is a
and controversial and designed to be interesting and dramatic to gather as much representation of race. Some people might interpret the video as excluding other ethnic slightly confusing and muddled message. It is hard to
publicity as possible at a global event. Perhaps this was a cynical ploy to make groups, and showing people as separate and ‘othered’ from the rest of society, even if united say if there are definitely feminist messages in the
money, because the main point of a music video is to promote the song and to together. This creates a feeling that black people are united in a community, but as their video because it can be seen as both feminist and
make the artist and the record label money community on their own and separate from other groups. misogynistic
