Formation Beyonce

• The media is the means by which information, ideas or messages are communicated to people.
• how are issues and events represented in the mv? (halls theory)


  - hurricane Katrina = a tragedy for new Orleans community, this can be seen through the long shots of sinking houses as well as her laying on a sinking police car

  - police brutality - a prominent issue that effected many victims, this can be seen through the innocent boy dancing with police lined up around him.
• how is ethnicity + gender represented in the MV?(hall)

  african women are represented as empowered but sexual, proud of their cultural heritage, advocated for marginalised groups, powerful rich and successful
• is there stereotypes, othering and inequalities of power present in the mv?

  although the stereotypes in the MV do reinforce inequalities (women being sexualised, African american community as victims, slavery etc) as beyonce is an advocate for these groups, she uses these sterotypes to male a political statement
• How does van Zoonen's theory apply?

  - clear objectification of women in the video - the dance sequence in the corridor Beyonce i swearing a revealing red body suit and dances provocatively- the slow push in and high angle shot constructs a male gaze

  - when B sits on the chair in the antebellum outfit she moves in a seductive manner with the lyrics also being highly sexual

  
  

  - in criticism to VZs argument that men are 'spectacle', B is the spectacle in this video. shes represented as iconic e.g. when shes on the sinking car. counter to VZ argument that women are nurturing and men are efficient, B is powerful, political, but also a mother, compassionate, sexual and beautiful
• how does gilroy apply?

  - gilroys suggestions that racial heirarchies are built on binary oppostions

  -can be seen with Bs refernce to slavery, antebellum era, and BLM where she highlights the binary opposition of black vs white and more.

  -B switches these roles in her video by being the plantation owner and wearing the traditional outfit of a plantation wife.
• Release date


  - Feb 2016

  - Day before Beyonce performs at the Superbowl

  - Black history month
• Awards

  - Won a 2016 Clio for innovation and creative excellence

  - Nominated for Grammys
• Historical context

  - Hurricane Katrina (2005) in New Orleans

  - References to slavery and racism
• Economic context


  - Purpose of a music video is to make money

  - 133 million people have watched on Youtube
• Intertextuality


  - Impact of Hurricane Katrina

  - Neglect of the black community

  - Footage from 'That B.E.A.T' documentary

  - Antebellum dresses

  - 'Don't shoot us' painted onto the wall
• Long shot of Beyonce sinking on the police car (High angle)

  - Shows how black people in New Orleans have been neglected by the authorities

  - Vunerable
• Group long shot of young girls running (Including Blue Ivy)


  The younger generation are care free and do not wish to conform to the stereotypes set on them
• Mid long shot of Beyonce wearing a short dress

  - Sexualised

  - Self expression or conforming to pop stereotypes
• Mid group shot of police with Trayvon Martin


  - Exposes police brutality

  - 'Bush doesn't care about black people'

  - Black lives matter
• I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils'

  Shows pride to be an African American and promotes black rights
• Black costume


  Connotes loss of black people who have been killed. Links to Black Lives Matter
• Lyrics about black pride


  - 'I like my negro nose'

  - 'I like my baby hair and afro
• Barthes- Symbolic code


  Antebellum dresses to reference to slavery
• Van Zoonen feminist theory

  Beyonce stood in front of the men to represent herself as strong
• Laura Mulvey - Male Gaze


  Tight fitted and revealing clothing shown by a long shot of the dancers in a corridor
• Narrative theory- Todorov


  Music video starts and ends with beyonce on top of a police car to show that nothing has changed and that police brutality and the neglect of new orleans is a cyclical structure
• Barthes- gesture code


  Beyonce swearing directly at the camera shows how she is ignoring the haters and racists
• Bell hooks feminist theory


  Beyonce is using this video to change social stereotypes and encourage people to join the movement for equality