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