Component 1: Section A - Media Language and Representation - Formation Music Video

Question 1

Give at least two reasons why music videos are produced.

Answer 1

At least two from:

• To allow artists to become more recognisable.
• To add a visual element to music.
• To entertain audiences.
• To promote a new song.
• To attract fans of specific artists.

Question 2

Give at least two examples of the features you would expect to see in a music video.

Answer 2

At least two from:

• The artist
• Lip sinking or performance.
• Costume and colour.
• Multiple locations
• Instruments being played in rock videos.

Question 3

What are the three subgenres of music videos?

Answer 3

• Performance
• Narrative
• Thematic

Question 4

What is included in a performance music video?

Answer 4

• The artist performing the song.

Question 5

What is a narrative music video?

Answer 5

• Where the music video tells a story.

Question 6

What is a thematic music video?

Answer 6

• Where the images used relate to the lyrics of the song.

Question 7

Give at least one reason why performance music videos are created.

Answer 7

At least one from:

• To demonstrate the band or performers musical skill.
• To develop and artists persona (their constructed image and personality).

Question 8

Give at least three examples of the codes and conventions of performance music videos.

Answer 8

At least three from:

• Clips from live stage audiences e.g. shots of the artist and their diegetic audience or shots of real life situations e.g. warming up.
• Close ups of the performer.
• Close ups of the iconography linked to a specific genre.
• Potentially the artist could have a motif (prop, costume, setting etc), which is echoed throughout their video.
• For entertainment value, the artist may perform in an unusual setting with the song lip-synched post production.

Question 9

Give at least three examples of the codes and conventions of narrative music videos.

Answer 9

At least three from:

• Filming and editing which reflects the story suggested by the lyrics.
• The video may surprise the audience by giving a different interpretation of the lyrics.
• The narrative may feature the artist playing themselves or a character.
• The artist may not appear at all, the video will feature actors playing characters.
• Mini film with cinematic production values.
• Narrative enigmas to maintain audiences attention.
• Close-ups and POV shots to engage the audience.
• Intertextual references.
• Stereotypical representations to help the audience quickly access or understand the characters and situation.

Question 10

When was the music video released?

Answer 10

• A day before the Super Bowl in February 2016.

Question 11

Where did Beyonce perform for the song?

Answer 11

• At the Super Bowl final in February 2016.

Question 12

Complete the sentence.

The video is set against the backdrop of the _____ in New Orleans following ________

Answer 12

• Flooding

- Hurricane Katrina

Question 13

What does the video attempt to address?

Answer 13

• Racial tensions in America (poorer people were unable to evacuate following the flooding) and historical references to racism and slavery.

Question 14

What came as a result of the flooding in New Orleans in relation to the police?

Answer 14

• A lack of police intervention to help the public.

- Police brutality towards the public - inconsiderate towards black people.

Question 15

What do the antebellum dresses represent?

Answer 15

• Slavery

Question 16

How does Beyonce’s performance shift throughout the video?

Answer 16

• From moments of aggression such as gestures with her fingers to more culturally recognisable dance routines that seem less loaded with political or social messages.

Question 17

What can be denoted from the image of Beyonce sitting on top of the police car at the beginning of the video?

Answer 17

• Beyonce sitting on top of a New Orleans police car with shots of flooded houses in the background at the start of the video and pushing the car underwater at the end.

Question 18

What can be connoted from the image of Beyonce sitting on top of the police car at the beginning of the video?

Answer 18

• The car is likely to sink - the natural consequence of having a car on water.
• Beyonce’s posture is authoritative.
• The police car is authoritative - could suggest that Beyonce is challenging the police.
• Sinking at the end, the police are supposed to help, but they are not. This potentially shows that American police do not care very much about black people in America.
• Long shot of the police car - Beyonce is trying to challenge the fact that audiences think she is the most important. Beyonce is trying to show that the flooding and overall situation in New Orleans is more important than she is.

Question 19

What is the mise-en-scene of the image of Beyonce sitting on top of the police car in the water?

Answer 19

• Grey colour palettes - could show the severity of the impact of Hurricane Katrina on America.
• Beyonce is a leader - this is seen through the sexualised costumes which could show her attitude towards the situation.

Question 20

Which contextual element is relevant to the image of Beyonce sitting on top of the police car at the beginning of the video?

Answer 20

• Flooding as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Question 21

Which elements of theory can be applied to the image at the beginning of the video with Beyonce sitting on top of the police car in the water?

Answer 21

• Action (Proairetic) code that the car will sink.

- The police car acts as a symbolic code for the police being and institution of power and authority.

Question 22

What is denoted by the image of the black man dancing in the bar?

Answer 22

• The dancer is black, shirtless and dancing in front of the mirror.
• Located in a bar.
• Specific type of dancing for the black, gay culture of New Orleans.

Question 23

What is connoted by the image of the black man dancing in the bar?

Answer 23

• The rolled down trousers give an idea of a youthful culture.
• Beyonce is open up to a more diverse fan culture.
• Beyonce is authentic and diverse due to the use of more diverse images.
• Intertexual reference to That Beat.

Question 24

Which contextual element is relevant to the image of the black man dancing in the bar?

Answer 24

• THAT BEAT - Lots of imagery from this contextual documentary are recreated for the Beyonce video - this becomes and intertextual reference for the audience.

Question 25

Which elements of theory can be applied to the part of the video where the black man is dancing in a bar?

Answer 25

• The fact that the rolled down trousers create an idea of youthfulness conforms to Hall’s ideas of stereotypes and ideas relating to identity theories (Gerbner)

Question 26

What is denoted by the part of the video with the woman sitting on the chair in an antebellum dress?

Answer 26

• Long shot.
• Her posture is like a painting.
• She is wearing a sexualised version of old 19th century dress.
• Older images are in the background because they are in black and white.

Question 27

What is connoted by the part of the video with the woman sitting on the chair in an antebellum dress?

Answer 27

• She is mirroring the old, yellowing images on the wall.
• You could argue that Beyonce is suggesting that whilst some things in society are changing, others are not.
• The light is not on Beyonce - society of today is pretending that slavery did not happen.

Question 28

What is the mise-en-scene of the video with the woman sitting on the chair in an antebellum dress?

Answer 28

• Bland and muted colours.
• Beige.
• Nostalgic colour palette.

Question 29

What contextual element can be applied to the part of the video with the woman sitting on the chair in an antebellum dress?

Answer 29

• Slavery.

Question 30

What elements of theory can be applied to the part of the video with the woman sitting on the chair in an antebellum dress?

Answer 30

• Symbolic code - ice tea in a jug is very typical of South America.
• A binary opposition takes place with regards to the contrast between her light outfit and the light on the wall.

Question 31

What is denoted by the part of the video where Beyonce and the other dancers are dancing in front of the swimming pool?

Answer 31

• Beyonce and her dancers are performing in formation.

- They are wearing stereotypically tight fitting outfits that audiences would expect to see in a pop music video.

Question 32

What is connoted by the part of the video where Beyonce and the other dancers are dancing in front of the swimming pool?
Give at least two examples.

Answer 32

At least two from:

• Beyonce is positioned in the middle of the line of people which suggests her importance.
• The fact that Beyonce is the only one with braided hair could represent how white audiences have influenced the aspects that are and are not included in the video to suit there own needs and expectations of the video.
• The women are very objectified and sexualised.
• Even though costumes look similar, they are all slightly different - we are all individuals.
• The water is on the outside of the swimming pool when it should be on the inside - the flood has had greater impacts.

Question 33

What is the mise-en-scene of the part of the video with Beyonce and the dancers dancing by the swimming pool?

Answer 33

• Close up shot.

Question 34

What elements of context is relevant to the part of the video with Beyonce and the dancers dancing by the swimming pool?

Answer 34

• Hurricane Katrina - caused floods and loss of water. Water is on the outside but should be on the inside.

Question 35

Which elements of theory are relevant to the part of the video with Beyonce and the dancers dancing by the swimming pool?

Answer 35

• There is a binary opposition between Beyonce and her dancers (with regards to the way in which they are represented, with Beyonce in control).
• The idea of ‘lets get in formation’ - leaders command, and as Beyonce is a leader, she does too.

Question 36

What is denoted by the part of the video where Beyonce is dancing in the corridor of the plantation house?

Answer 36

• Beyonce is dancing in a corridor.

Question 37

What is connoted by the part of the video where Beyonce is dancing in the corridor of the plantation house?

Answer 37

• Beyonce is dancing in a plantation house.
• There is an intertextual reference to love is a slave and jango.
• Brown colours and expensive furniture connote wealth and that the furniture is old.

Question 38

What is the mise-en-scene of the video where Beyonce is dancing in the corridor of the plantation house?

Answer 38

• Costumes are sexualised.

- Costumes are reclaimed and being contrasted to the slavery that happened previously.

Question 39

What is denoted by the part of the video where people are dancing in the car park?

Answer 39

• Canted angle.
• Blue colour palette.
• Set in a car park.

Question 40

What is connoted by the part of the video where people are dancing in the car park?

Answer 40

• The play button makes this look more personal as this is a feature seen on homemade videos.
• This connotes that black people are always being watched.
• Urban attire.

Question 41

What is the mise-en-scene of the part of the video where people are dancing in the car park?

Answer 41

• Jeans are being worn which could be seen as rebellious.

Question 42

What is denoted by the part of the video where Beyonce is standing outside the mansion?

Answer 42

• The focus is on Beyonce.
• She is surrounded by men in black suits.
• She is holding her two middle fingers up.

Question 43

What is connoted by the part of the video where Beyonce is standing outside the mansion?

Answer 43

• The black outfit connote death and funerals - possibly the death of racism?
• Beyonce is trying to give the audience an experience of black culture.
• The mode of address is confrontational and powerful.

Question 44

What is the mise-en-scene of the part of the video where Beyonce is standing outside the mansion?

Answer 44

• The black outfit connote death and funerals - possibly the death of racism?

Question 45

What is denoted by the part of the video where a newspaper is being held?

Answer 45

• A man in the centre frame, is holding a cardboard box and newspaper called The Truth with a main image of Martin Luther King.

Question 46

What is connoted by the part of the video where a newspaper is being held?

Answer 46

• Martin Luther King is important.

Question 47

What is the mise-en-scene of the part of the video where a newspaper is being held?

Answer 47

• Medium shot - makes the newspaper look like it is opposite the man but in close proximaty to him.
• The newspaper is being held close to the audience to allow them to see it and focus on it.

Question 48

What contextual elements are relevant to the part of the video where a newspaper is being held?

Answer 48

• Martin Luther King is an iconic black role model.

- Reminds the audience of Malcom X.

Question 49

What is connoted by the part of the video where the police are joined by a dancer?

Answer 49

• Policemen are standing in a line in front of the dancer.

Question 50

What is connoted by the part of the video where the police are joined by a dancer?

Answer 50

• Police are perhaps more available to help than was thought at the beginning of the video.

Question 51

Which is the mise-en-scene of the part of the video where the police are joined by a dancer?

Answer 51

• Glowing police car lights show that the police are present.
• The way that the police are ‘in formation’ suggests that they are authoritative in the way that they are standing.

Question 52

Which elements of theory can be applied to the part of the video where the police are joined by a dancer?

Answer 52

• Levi-Strauss - This image is a binary opposition to the image at the very beginning of the video with Beyonce sitting on top of the police car. The first image suggests that the police are not present so acts as a binary opposition to this image which suggests that the police are perhaps more present than originally thought.

Question 53

What is the significance of the binary opposition that has been created between the police force and the boy dancing?

Answer 53

• It is significant that there is only one boy and multiple policemen. This links to the fact that the boy is a child and these two aspects combine together to suggest that the police are being mocked, even by little children which suggests that the police force is weak and not up to the job.
• This message is telling children to express themselves and not be scared.

Question 54

Which is the significance of the binary opposition between Beyonce sitting on the police car and the police car itself?

Answer 54

• Beyonce is challenging authorities and standing up for the black culture by doing so.

Question 55

What is the significance of the binary opposition created by Beyonce dancing in the hallway and the plantation house?

Answer 55

• Beyonce is mocking former slave owners and is owning the place.
• The hallway is boxlike and trapping her in which shows how black cultures used to suffer.

Question 56

What is the significance of the binary opposition created by the fact that Beyonce has her hair in braids and the dancers have affro hair?

Answer 56

• Beyonce does not have affro hair and this could be because she is trying to make the video acceptable to a white audience.

Question 57

What are Beyonce’s motives for making the video?

Answer 57

• To expose the unfair treatment of black people.
• To gain money and views.
• To express her political views visually.

Question 58

Give at least two examples of the background around Hurricane Katrina.

Answer 58

At least two from:

• New Orleans was one of the most highly affected areas as a result of this hurricane.
• New Orleans lies beneath sea level and is protected by leeves which project it from the Mississippi river and Lake Ponchartrain.
• The leeves were unable to cope because the hurricane was so strong and this resulted in the flooding of the city.
• Many of the poorer people in New Orleans at the time were unable to evacuate and so remained in the city.
• 1 million people became homeless and around 1,200 drowned as a result of the floods.

Question 59

How does Hurricane Katrina become relevant to the video contextually?

Answer 59

• The flooding and the image in the video used to represent it link together because Beyonce may have wanted to show how the disaster affected those in New Orleans, but also emphasise the poor treatment of black Americans by authorities, such as the police, hence the use of the police car.

Question 60

What is the background around slave children of New Orleans (1963)? Give at least one example.

Answer 60

At least one from:

• Photographs of emancipated (free from legal, Social or political restrictions) were sold to raise money in order to pay for the education of freed slaves in New Orleans.
• Slavery was not just due to someone’s skin colour, if the child’s mother was a slave then he or she would be a slave to.

Question 61

How does slave children of New Orleans (1963) become relevant to the video contextually?

Answer 61

• The slavery and the image in the video used to represent it link together because Beyonce is again trying to show the fair treatment of black people in relation to slavery but also the idea that black people (Children) were still treated unfairly even after being released from slavery as photos were sold to pay for education.

Question 62

What is the background around hair and wigs in American culture? Give at least one example.

Answer 62

At least one from:

• Afro hair was common in African American culture.
• It was painful for black people to straighten their Afro hair.

Question 63

How does hair and wigs in American culture become relevant to the video contextually?
Give at least two examples.

Answer 63

At least two from:

• Beyonce is trying to show the unfair treatment of black people in relation to the ‘requirement’ to have straight hair.
• Women thought the wigs were needed to disguise their natural hair and show their workshops were common in African-American culture.
• If Black African Americans were not treated unfairly, they would have been less likely to feel the need to change their appearance in order to look ‘normal’ and therefore be excepted by white people.

Question 64

What is the background around Michael Jordan?

Answer 64

• He is a former American basketball player.
• He played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association.
• He won 6 NBA championships as well as 5 ‘most valuable player’ awards.

Question 65

How does Michael Jordan become relevant to the video contextually?

Answer 65

• Beyonce is trying to support the idea that basketball is popular in America.
• She Which linked this in order to show that black people should should be seen as equal to white people and can still be successful in life and do not deserve the racism they face.

Question 66

What is the background around antebellum dresses?

Answer 66

• They were worn during the American Civil War.
• Centred around the traditional Victorian hoop skirts which were elegantly embellished with ribbons and bows. Elaborate and grand styles of the time were a symbol of wealth and status in society.

Question 67

How does antebellum dresses become relevant to the video contextually?

Answer 67

• Antebellum dresses indicated wealth so Beyonce could have chosen to have black women dressed in expensive clothing to try and make a white audience more culturally aware and accepting of the fact that black and white people should be equal.

Question 68

How are women being represented in the video?

Give at least two examples.

Answer 68

At least two from:
- Self confident
- Sexualised - Tight outfits that are designed to please men. Antebellum dresses are uncomfortable for women but pleasing for men as they outline figure of the woman.
- Confrontational - Beyonce swearing outside the mansion.
- Vulnerable - the police car sinks which shows that Beyonce cannot make changes completely on her own and that there is still work to do until black and white people become equal.
- Intimidating - Beyonce sticking her middle finger up at the audience outside the mansion.
- Beyonce is a role model and leader.
- Followers - traditional representations of women. The women in the group by the swimming pool are all ‘following’ each other in the way they act and keep themselves in the group.
- Empowered - Beyonce sitting on the police car and standing up for what she feels is right. She is expressing the feelings that she has from within.
Dominant - outside the mansion, the males are positioned behind Beyonce showing that she is dominant and the men are submissive.
- Objectified - Beyonce objectifies the other women by commanding them. They don’t have their own identity and are wearing sexualised, revealing outfits.
- Masculine - Beyonce is strong as she is sitting on top of the police car.
- Independent

Question 69

How are black people being represented? Give at least two examples.

Answer 69

At least two from:

• Unapologetic
• Strong
• Proud
• Stereotyped
• Victimised
• Diverse
• Individual
• Separated from white people
• Empowered
• Neglected
• ‘free’

Question 70

Give at least one example of the ways in which Van Zoonen’s theory can be applied to the music video.

Answer 70

At least one from:

• Beyonce is standing in front of the men at the mansion: she is dominant and the men are submissive, and this subverts traditional gender ideas or roles.
• Beyonce is being a role model for other women and this subverts traditional gender roles as women are traditionally submissive.
• Beyonce objectifies her backing dancers by manipulating them and moving them around to where she wants to be.
• The antebellum dresses are tight and hold in the figure of women so are appealing to men and encouraging them to see women as objects rather than people.
• Beyonce’s facial expressions are stern and represent more closely the way that males would act.
• The maternal images of Beyonce’s child conform to traditional gender ideas.

Question 71

Give at least one example of how bells hooks’ theory of patriarchy can be applied.

Answer 71

At least one from:

• Beyonce is fighting for equality by showing the floods to show how much black people were not helped by the police when they needed to move away from the flooding.
• Black people in America are oppressed more than white people from other countries.
• Beyonce is not being oppressed - subverts the theory.
• Males are oppressed by Beyonce by standing behind her at the mansion and being submissive. This challenges the theory.
• The man introduces Beyonce’s song which conforms to the theory because the man has a voice before Beyonce does.

Question 72

Give at least one example of how Gilroy’s theory of post-colonialism can be applied.

Answer 72

At least one from:

• The police are standing in for the authority of white people.
• The plantation house is representative of white people due to the context around it.

Question 73

How can Gauntlett’s theory of pick and mix be applied?

Give at least one example.

Answer 73

At least one from:

• Black children learn that they are able to have access to empowerment and be proud to be black.
• Black people can learn that their culture is diverse.