formation

• big freedia


  known in bounce music.

  she was a gay male who went by she/her - beyonce using her as an audio clip in the video can display beyonce as inclusive; whilst also representing her in the media - her gender, sexuality and race is underrepresented.
• ‘jackson 5 nostrils’


  these ‘type‘ of noses are popular to ethnic heritage and often seen as unattractive in the media. beyonce saying she likes these types of noses helps celebrate culture and beauty aswell as valuing the black community
• beyonce shows her heritage and her background in the video to help celebrate her own diversity aswell as the overall ethnic diversity in america
• the use of reclaimed racial slurs in the lyrics help demonstrate themes of the historical context. shows that they have the desire to reclaim back the previous repressed power, and they want to overcome the past
• beyonce subverts female stereotypes as she is shown as powerful, not submissive
• use of profanity in the video displays beyonces need to express anger and frustration, her passion showing through the message
• references of the black lives matter movement that was a critical aspect of black history in america
• intertextual references

  • scenes of the documerntary of ‘that beat’ whose plot is about bounce music and new orleans. they communicate a theme of black culture aswell as police brutality
• martin luther king


  referenced to show how the issues of race existed in the past
• some critics say that this music video and song was disrespectful and all for publicity, and that beyonce put on a front that alluded to a fake respect that was used to gain publicity and marketing
• messy mya

  • a popular youtuber aswell as a bounce music rapper. that was well known in black communities ; familiarised the audience

  he was murdered in 2010 at a house party at the age of 22. beyonce may of referenced him in the video to show themes of racist violence in USA, but she was sued for not asking for permission to use the clip; disrespect on her part?
• levi strauss - binary opposition


  black communities and the police
• multiple references to food, style, hair, and other aspects of black culture is celebrated throughout the video
• first scene - car

  beyonce on top of a car shows her as powerful.

  • the flooding is referencing hurricane katrina.
  • she is filmed with close ups and wide shots to show her as independent and powerful
• hurricane katrina

  • 2005 hurricane.
  • devestation in new orleans

  when sending help to the hurricanes victims, lower class black communities like ones in the lower ninth ward were neglected and ignored by search teams - white people were prioritized
• car scene


  low angles with confident and masculine body language shows beyonce subverting stereotypes of weakness and showing herself as a strong black woman
• tracking shots of beyonce in the antebellum scene build a sense of importance around her as a character
• juxtaposition & binary opposition

  symbols of wealth vs references to slavery -> such as jewellry vs the antebellum dresses; both worn by beyonce help to draw attention to the social changes
• children shown in the video

  connotes how the treatment of black people still effects communities and the younger generation; but some scenes of children expressing that they are happy can connote how there is hope for the youth due to social change
• shot reverse shot of dancing child

  the boy is scene to be confidently dancing infront of a row of armed police. he doesn’t stop, or show any signs of weakness. he is standing up to the police as a symbol for change and the effects of the younger generations advocacy
• dancing scenes


  beyonce is seen many times dancing in formation with a group of black women. they are united and together.
• sexualisation


  yet the video still adheres to the male gaze and over sexualisation in general due to costume, contrasting her earlier masculine appearence.

  • yet this can be shown as a sign that women can express themselves whilst being powerful - and despite if they are sexualised or not, they are strong
• ‘stop shooting us’

  • police brutality against black people in america, specifically young males