Formation (Beyonce) Flashcards
(23 cards)
When was Formation released and in what context?
Formation was released in February 2016, the day before Beyonce’s Super Bowl performance.
Who directed the Formation music video?
Melina Matsoukas.
What awards did Formation win or get nominated for?
It won a Clio Award for Innovation and Creative Excellence and was nominated at the 59th Grammy Awards for Best Music Video.
What is the historical backdrop of the Formation music video?
The video is set against the flooding in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and reflects on racial tension and historical racism/slavery.
How does the video encourage audiences to interpret historical circumstances?
Through references to Hurricane Katrina and racial tensions, such as Kanye West’s criticism of President George Bush.
What kind of media literacy is needed to understand Formation?
High media literacy is needed to recognise intertextual references like That B.E.A.T. documentary and news footage of police brutality.
How does Formation use costume to convey contrasting meanings?
It uses antebellum dresses referencing slavery and revealing “pop” costumes to contrast historical and modern identities.
How does Beyoncé’s performance style shift in the video?
She moves between aggressive gestures and more conventional dance routines, creating layers of meaning.
What potential interpretations can be drawn from Formation?
It could explore the Black experience in America, Beyonce’s personal identity, or gender and equality, or all three.
What genres does Beyoncé incorporate in Formation?
Pop, R&B, dance, hip-hop, and especially bounce- a genre rooted in New Orleans’ Black culture.
What is the significance of the bounce genre in Formation?
Bounce links the song to New Orleans culture and themes of Black identity and resilience.
What is the significance of MOBO (Music of Black Origin) in relation to Formation?
MOBO highlights the importance of Black cultural expression across genres that Beyoncé draws from in Formation.
How can Roland Barthes’ theory of semiotics be applied to Formation?
The antebellum dresses worn by Black women signify a reappropriation of slavery imagery, challenging social conventions and reinterpreting historical signs.
How does Formation engage with Jean Baudrillard’s theory of postmodernism?
It may challenge Baudrillard’s idea of simulacra by using images that refer directly to real events and issues, such as racism, police brutality, and Hurricane Katrina.
How might Formation support Baudrillard’s idea of simulacra despite its social commentary?
The video could be seen as commodifying serious social issues for promotion, released strategically before Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance to sell records.
How is Beyoncé represented in Formation in terms of power and strength?
She is shown in dominant stances, leading groups, making direct eye contact, and standing on a police car- symbolising strength, control, and resistance.
How might Beyoncé’s representation be constructed for commercial purposes?
Her powerful image could be deliberately cultivated to enhance her brand and fan base rather than reflect authentic beliefs.
How is the release of Formation linked to financial and promotional strategy?
It was released just before the Super Bowl performance, gaining global exposure and contributing to commercial success.
What conflicting messages about gender are present in Formation?
While Beyonce presents strength and leadership, the sexualised dance and clothing may reinforce the objectification of women.
How can bell hooks’ feminist theory be applied to Formation?
The video invites debate on whether Beyoncé is making a genuine political feminist statement or using feminism as a lifestyle brand to sell music.
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According to bell hooks, what tension might exist in Beyoncé’s representation?
It may reflect a contradiction between empowerment and conformity to patriarchal standards through sexualisation and consumerism.
How can Paul Gilroy’s postcolonial theory be applied to Formation?
The video subverts racial hierarchies by placing a Black woman in a dominant position, but might also reinforce binary opposition through its portrayal of racial tension.
What is Gilroy’s concept of ‘otherness’ and how might it apply to Formation?
Gilroy’s ‘otherness’ refers to how minority groups are seen as different or alien. The video may challenge this by celebrating Black identity, or it may risk reinforcing division.
