how is black identity encoded in the music video formation by Beyonce?

how is black identity encoded in the music video formation by Beyonce?


representation- the ways in which a media product constructs the world 


formation- Beyonce (2016) 

  • starts off with striking stand out imahe which implies violence or the aftermath of violence (what happened t the new Orleans?- non diegetic voice over )- later revealed she is on a new Orleans police car- intertextual reference to hurricane Katrina 
  • she is seen standing on top of the car, demonstartes dominance and proyest to the neglect and redelctio of inequality in America.
  • symbolic of protest and outrage towards the police- 
  • metaphorical ontop of the police 
  • political commentary- intertextual reference black people felt abandoned. 
  • beats- lgbt dance community in new orleans 
  • new Orleans was also a major slave trade city 
  • reference black communities- religion spirituality, dance expression fashion-> made in binary oppositions- pastor with a chain, break stereotypes 
  • antabelum period- reference time period of slavery- re-appropriation, taking something previously held against the black community
  • powerful reclamation of that era- confrontational and challenging 
  • mise-en-scene: 
  • lyrics- black features, such as nose and afro hair- challenges conventional white beauty standards in hegemonic spaces- embraces black beauty (anchors meaning)
  • all the little girls have their hair natural 
  • intertextual- jackson 5- historical to developmental cultural of black people within America (60s/70s)
  • fur white coat and expensive braids- symbolic of wealth 
  • this narrative of violence is further reinforcement through flashing police lights then a police officers uniform. 
  • uses a variety of stand to images to establish context and narrative of the video. 
  • within the video she is also featured in a white mansion typical of that on slave plantations within the south of America. in this home she is seen wearing modern revealing clothes that demonstrate her wealth and creates a binary opposition between what would be expected in that setting. 
  • the audiences stereotypical expectations are also challenged when 3 little black girls are seen dressed in white vintage traditional playing in the mansion. this stereotypical
  • panning shot 
  • binary oppositions 
  • bricolage- blend and mix of different things 
  • reclaim past  
  • no white representation so far- white is not seen despite in modern era, white is seen as the majority 
  • there is more representation so more chance to show dynamics within the demographic 
  • tracking shot towards 3 black women wearing wigs in a wig shop- symbolic of black culture and expression 
  • black sole food- unaware of their direct country of origin so lack of connection to where they came from and create their new modern identity thats celebrated 
  • colourism- all shades of skin own to show different tones are al beautiful 
  • twerking- origiat from dancing within the black community, not sexualised within the video- more to celebrate the body 
  • white media fetishise black bodies and sexualise twerking 
  • formation- unity- military and confrontational, stand up against oppression (polysemic- multiple meanings) 
  • "ladies get in formation"- women take the for front 
  • black basket ball players- nostalgic of old uniforms 80s, reinforces anchored through achieved old VHS filter- supposed to feel old 
  • post feminism- sexualise herself- taking power over her body 
  • direct address through out video is powerful mode of address  
  • group of women in antebellum dress
  • white dress- symbolic purity 
  • powerful 
  • low angle connotes power and status- pit her above 
  • over the top nostalgic reference- play arrow in the corner 
  • low angle slow pan to facial expressions- calm collected confident anchors power 
  • 70s/80s black power movement- stand with fist above her head- direct reference when she is on the police car  
  • Mandela- demonised 
  • confrontational mode of address- cant see her eyes- but middle finger is the only place to look- 
  • black man wearing a cowboy hat on a horse 
  • marly gra- festival parade event- new Orleans- large black community 
  • black Bill Gates- widens audience, reference that even white people will get 
  • bill Gates short hand for wealth 
  • clean intertextual reference political commentary- more that a dreamer- martin Luther King 
  • subvert stereotype black people are dangerous- little by being innocent dancing infront of police  
  • reflect the police pray on the innocent 
  • first and only representation of white people are the police- brutality and oppression 
  • Gilroy- post colonisation- 
  • police brutality cut together in montage with people celebrating in church- synominious with surrendering as they raise their handing in praise- binary opposition
  • the boy in the black hoodie represents black males who are falsely accused and labelled 
  • police at the end holding their hands up- police surrendering- political commentary 







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