Formation

Question 1

When was the music video released formation

Answer 1

feb 2016

Question 2

What was formation exclusively released on

Answer 2

Tidal music

Question 3

What album is formation on

Answer 3

Lemonade

Question 4

How many viewers did beyonces super bowl performance get

Answer 4

115.5 million us viewers

Question 5

What awards did formation recieve

Answer 5

MTV video od the year
Grammy best music video

Question 6

4 pieces of cultural/historical context for formation

Answer 6

2005 hurricane katrina/new orleans flooding
Slavery/antebellum era
Police brutality
BLM movement
50 years od the black panthers

Question 7

What does watching the formation music video require

Answer 7

Awareness of present and past racial issues in the us

Question 8

What does the image of the dancing boy in formation reference

Answer 8

Police brutality footage

Question 9

In terms of costume for formation, give an example of contrast and conflict

Answer 9

Old fashioned dresses vs contemporary tight fitting and revealing dance wear

Question 10

What is the 2 possible readings for formation

Answer 10

Exploring black experience in the USA
Personal exploration of Beyonces life / the issue of gender equality

Question 11

What genre does formation fit into

Answer 11

Trap/bounce music, boht of which fit into the hip hop genre

Question 12

Where does trap music originate from

Answer 12

South of USA

Question 13

How can Roland Barthes semiotics be linked to formation

Answer 13

Beyonce and other black women pose in white antebellum - era dresses associated woth slave owning women - reversed roles/overcoming racsim or suggesting its still there

Question 14

How can bell hoojs feminsit theory be linked to formation

Answer 14

The video offers a strong gender message and shows beyonce as having made a political commitment to feminism

Question 15

How does formation go against hooks theory

Answer 15

Feeds into the patriarchal oppression of women (objectification, sexualisation). Beyonce could have adopted a feminist lifestyle in order to make sales

Question 16

How is beyonce represented as a person strength and power

Answer 16

Makes direct adress with audience by looking into camera

Question 17

In what way can the formation video be seen as objectifying women

Answer 17

Sexualised costumes and dance moves

Question 18

How does gilroys ethnicity theory link to formation

Answer 18

Challenges racial hierachies by subverting expectations and having black women in positions of power. Solidifies feelings of ’racial otherness’

Question 19

How does beyonce represent minor ethnicities

Answer 19

Imagery and visual codes such as flipping their hair to show it off, beyonce saying one should be proud of their heritage

Question 20

What does beyonce become to black women in the video

Answer 20

Beyonce becomes a figurehead that represents all black women.
Continuosly exposing and sexualising herself negativeky impacts their image,
feeding into ideas that black women are only there for others benefit.

Question 21

What is the industry context of formation

Answer 21

The video was released a day before her superbowl performance. This increased the videos global circulation and increased financial gain for beyonce and her collaborates

Question 22

How does formation link to levi strausses theory on binary opposition

Answer 22

By placing a black woman in the position of control may perpetuate a sense of binary opposition bethween the races.

Question 23

How does formation link to stuart halls reception theory

Answer 23

Prefferered reading is likely the clear messages of empowerment relating to gender and ethnicity but alos critiscism of the governments handlings if katrina