Formation, Beyonce

Question 1

Intersectionality

Answer 1

Understanding how aspects of a persons social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege
EG: gender, race, class, sexuality and physical ability

Question 2

When was formation released?

Answer 2

The day before Beyonce performed at the SuperBowl final in February 2016

Question 3

What album is it from?

Answer 3

6th studio album

Question 4

When was it the best selling album?

Answer 4

2016

Question 5

Who directed the MV?

Answer 5

Melina Matsoukas

Question 6

What is Melina known for?

Answer 6

hip-hop music videos

Question 7

How many music videos has she made for beyonce?

Answer 7

9

Question 8

What was this an introduction to

Answer 8

Beyonce’s new aesthetic: vulnerable and political

Question 9

What awards did it win?

Answer 9

Clio award for innovation and creative excellence in a music video

Question 10

What was it nominated for?

Answer 10

Music video category at the Grammy’s

Question 11

Where was the music video set?

Answer 11

New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina

Question 12

When was hurricane katrina?

Answer 12

August 29th 2005

Question 13

What was one of the most affected ares?

Answer 13

New Orleans with 80% of the city submerged underwater

Question 14

What was the response to the hurricane

Answer 14

US gov criticised for response
3000 people sought refuge in the super dome stadium
Conditions were unhygienic, shortages of food/water
Looting was common

Question 15

Impact of the hurricane

Answer 15

Obama: “plagued by structural inequalities… especially poor people. especially people of colour (2015)
NBC Universal sponsored an hour long celeb driven benefit concert September 2 2005
Racial tensions grew

Question 16

What happened in terms of race?

Answer 16

Racial tensions grew

Question 17

Antebellum period

Answer 17

Art style/fashion
Marked by the development of separation of Northern and Southern economics
North focused on industry
South on agriculture

Question 18

What are the antebellum dresses?

Answer 18

Use as a reference to slavery contrast heavily with stereotypical “pop” signifies such as tight fitting/revealing costumes

Question 19

What is the genre of the MV

Answer 19

Bounce

Question 20

What is bounce?

Answer 20

A style of New Orleans hip hop music

Question 21

Who was Messy Mya?

Answer 21

A popular rapper, comedian and YouTube star, famous within the black and LGBTQ+ community

Question 22

What was Messy mya famous for?

Answer 22

Speaking out on issues of race, sexuality and Hurricane katrina

Question 23

What does the use of Messy Mya’s voice signify?

Answer 23

The genre, theme of black oppression and discrimination and may engage a new audience

Question 24

What happened to Messy Mya?

Answer 24

He was shot and killed

Question 25

What happened to Beyonce in terms of Messy Mya

Answer 25

Sued for sampling Messy Mya without permission, might suggest a certain level of disrespect

Question 26

What is the documentary that is referenced in the MV called and what is it about?

Answer 26

Several shots come from a documentary called "That B.E.A.T" which was about bounce music and fans in New Orleans

Question 27

What does the use of profanity's add?

Answer 27

An aggressive, passionate feel to the video

Question 28

What does the use of the n-word do?

Answer 28

Adds themes of historical discrimination and a desire to reclaim this repressed power

Question 29

What does the position of Beyonce on a police car show?

Answer 29

Dominance over the police

Question 30

What were some audiences reactions?

Answer 30

Reacted badly and assumed she was anti-law enforcement and therefore anti-America

Question 31

What does the costume/jewellery connote?

Answer 31

Wealth and success

Question 32

What does the use of jewellery suggest?

Answer 32

Helps to subvert typical representations of black people often seen in thee media as being poorer or less successful

Question 33

What does the use of young children show?

Answer 33

That discrimination is still happening today

Question 34

What does the reference to Martin Luther King show?

Answer 34

The way racial discrimination has been an ongoing issue for a long time

Question 35

How is juxtaposition created

Answer 35

Through the use of children and an old figurehead who fought for POC (MLK)

Question 36

What do the references of her family origin show, along with the lyrics?

Answer 36

Shows she is proud of her heritage, is celebrating the rich diversity of ethnicity within America

Question 37

What does the word creole mean?

Answer 37

Often used to divide black communities based on the darkness of thier skin

Question 38

Why might have this been used within the lyrics?

Answer 38

Draw attention to negative historic practices, but some audiences found it offensive and divisive

Question 39

What does Beyonce reference to noses link to

Answer 39

Message about black culture and beauty, challenges the representations of black people in the media

Question 40

What does the use of Big Frieda show?

Answer 40

Engage an audience familiar with the bounce sub-genre

Question 41

How does Beyonce show diversity within black culture?

Answer 41

Variety of hair styles, fashions and colour son offer in the salon shots

Question 42

What does the use of different fashions, hairstyles and looks connote?

Answer 42

That there is more than one way to be a fashionable black woman, ethnicity is a diverse and complex thing

Question 43

What do the low angles of the police show?

Answer 43

Makes them seem intimidating in powerful contrast to the boy

Question 44

What does the eye level camera shot encourage when we see the boy?

Answer 44

Positions the audience to see themselves with the young boy and make them feel like they are there with him

Question 45

What is the representation of the police officers?

Answer 45

Initially the police do nothing which is in direct opposition to what audiences may have seen

Question 46

What is the binary opposite here?

Answer 46

Division of race

Question 47

What does "formation" connote

Answer 47

Women are a tight knit community working well together, united and strong

Question 48

Are the women sexualised?

Answer 48

Yes through the use of costume

Question 49

What do the low angle shows of women show?

Answer 49

Confident body language that represents black women as confident, strong and powerful

Question 50

What does the police car say on it?

Answer 50

New Orleans

Question 51

What does it show when Beyonce is standing on the sinking police car?

Answer 51

That the people will rise above the challenge despite being let down by the state

Question 52

What are shotgun houses?

Answer 52

Shown in the beginning, low cost housing associated with deprived areas in the South

Question 53

Why does BLM exist?

Answer 53

Neighbourhood watch guy killed a black main in claimed self defence

Question 54

When did the movement start

Answer 54

On twitter in 2013

Question 55

How many times was the #BLM used in August 2015 alone

Answer 55

52,000

Question 56

Out of the 990 fatal shootings in 2015 what % were black?

Answer 56

40% were people of colour making up only 13% of the US population

Question 57

Political zeitgeist

Answer 57

Defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas/beliefs Challenges colonial discourses and critiques the exploitation and discrimination of black people

Question 58

Mammy stereotype

Answer 58

Maid taking care of her family Doesn't have a life of her own There to support

Question 59

Jezebl stereotype

Answer 59

Over sexualised Only power is her body and influence over men

Question 60

Sapphire stereotype

Answer 60

Sharp tongue Manipulative Emasculates

Question 61

What does the swimming pool shot connote?

Answer 61

It looks down on the women potentially showing them as weak It switched to eye level view, we see them wearing coherent clothing to show them as one