Formation Flashcards
(15 cards)
What historical context is key to formation
Hurricane Katrina
Racial tension in America
Slavery
Black experience, especially through New Orleans imagery
How does formation use mid en scene to communicate meaning?
Antebellum dresses - slavery
Sinking police car - resistance
Southern locations - black heritage
How is intersexuality userd ( refer to documentary used)
Footage from ‘ that BEAT’ ( New Orleans bounce doc ) and viral clips relating to black culture and police brutality
How is Beyoncé positioned through camera work and editing?
Dominant framing, central position, direct gaze which all connote power, confidence and control.
How is race represented in formation
Black identity is celebrated through natural hair, skin tones and southern culture. Counters whitewashed media norms.
Give an example of contrasting dress codes
Antebellum dresses (slavery) vs revealing dance outfits ( pop star image and feminism)
What music genre influence the video?
Bounce, hip hop, R&B, pop - genre hybridity
What could be said about Beyoncé’s feminist message, is it genuine?
Is she resisting patriarchy or commodifying feminism
How is gender and race represented
Celebrates black identity and challenges stereotypes but uses sexualised imagery
How was the release timing significant?
Released before Super Bowl for maximum impact
What does the antebellum dress signify (Barthes)
Slavery, racial history, contest between oppression and current power
What did bell hooks say about Beyoncé?
. She called Beyoncé a terrorist in terms of feminism
. She sexualises herself to sell records
. Commodifies feminisms, a brand not a revolutionary movement
What is bounce music?
Subgenre of hip-hop that originated in the late 1980s in New Orleans housing projects
