Formation- Beyonce

Binary Oppositions:

• Mise-en-scene of the police car with her sitting on it symbolising rebellion, which is further anchored by her carefree and powerful facial expressions
• Intertextual conflict- Police persecution of black people 
• Hanging out of the car, conflicts with B's facial expressions 
• Contrast between poor, dilapidated neighbourhood and rich  antebellum house- 
• B wears an antebellum dress (what a slave trade owners wife would wear) which creates a binary opposition as she is black (BME) - This signifies cultural appropriation, but also demonstrates B's power over the past 
• High key spotlight in empty swimming pool, shorts, crop tops and 70's loose afros and Librarian glasses 

Context:

• Formation is the lead single from the album Lemonade, was released the day before Beyonce performed at the super bowl final 2016
• The music video has won numerous awards including a Clio award for innovation and creative excellence  
• Formation is exclusive and aggressive 

Ideology might be that times haven't actually changed that much

Bricolage is a media product which combines lots of different elements of different time periods and styles.

MOVEMENT:

In general Beyonce's movements are powerful, quick, blunt and almost violent. 

Movement connotes power through the jerky movement 

Mise-en-scene suggests she is rich, wealthy but also could symbolise a tie to Africa.Middle fingers symbolises anger. She confronts the camera with a direct mode of address. The aggressive head movement could suggest resignation 








Long braided hair which is common with BME women. 







Beyonce takes clips from That B.E.A.T - a documentary and includes them in her music video:

• To reflect the culture of new orleans 
• To save time and money 
• Referential codes- intertextuality
• Representation of gay people has been left out  
• Allows B to explore an aspect of Black southern American culture 
• Actual footage used, but mainly "filler" footage and establishing shots 
• Formation is exclusive and aggressive 

Hyperreality/ Postmodernism:

• Term at least in part developed by Jean Baudrillard
• This refers to the idea that representations within media texts are more real than that which they represent 
• Some of these representations are simulacrum. This refers to a representation of something that no loner exists, or something that never exists 
• Representation is the new reality- what he believed 

Paul Gilroy- theories around ethnicity and post colonial theory:

Colonisation is what happens when one country takes over another country and forces their culture on them 

Linked to the hierarchies 

Racial hierarchies and othering - From Gilroy's perspective, is is another method of establishing hegemonic control