Formation

Question 1

product context of formation:

Answer 1

• released the day before the Super Bowl Final in February 2016
• music video won many awards for innovation and creative excellence in 2016
• nominated for a grammy

Question 2

historical context of formation:

Answer 2

• flooding in New Orleans following hurrican katrina

- racial tensions following the floods (e.g. kanye west’s comments about President George Bush at the time)

Question 3

how media language influences meaning and intertextuality:

Answer 3

• video offers a wealth of (sometimes conflicting) messages and possible meanings
• footage taken from a documentary about bounce called That B.E.A.T and references to new footage of police brutality such as the long dancing boy
• use of antebellum dresses have references to slavery heavily juxtaposed by stereotypical “pop” signifiers such as tight fitting and revealing costumes.
• Similarly beyonces performance shifts from moments of aggression such as obscene gestures with her fingers to more culturally recognisable dance routines that seem less loaded with political or social message(exp)

Question 4

apply roland barthes theory to formation

Answer 4

• semiotics

- use of antebellum dresses, reference to american history and has significance of slavery, (exp)