Formation

 How is black identity coded in the music video formation by Beyonce?

Representation - the ways in a media product constructs the world and the aspect in it. Including social groups, individuals, issues and events.  It is deliberately encoded by the ideology of the producer.

  • not a typical narrative structure as the song restart 1 minute in 
  • establishing shot - wide shot - Beyonce on top of a  police car- presents her as power- metaphor of empty police car floating in the flooded new orleans neighbourhood 
  • There is anchorage of the lyrics - 'paparazzi' shows camera flashing 
  • tracking of a neighbour 
  • polysemic representation and meaning - complex and vibrant video- editing is rich and encompasses various meaning 
  • non-diegetic voiceover - "what happened at the new orleans" - intertexuality reference and rejection of the black community when they needed welfare - inequality 
  • editing montage - 'that beat' (LGBT dance doc), pastor - many various representations - black culture is rich, complex - not straightforward and stereotypical 
  • Mise-en-scene - mid shot of Beyonce wearing a antebellum dress (Antebellum south)- subverting the expectations whilst wearing the dress - powerful move - recreating meaning, reapportion - gain power and status through the reclamation of the dress 
  • hair as a tool in representation of black identity - younger girls wearing natural hair - embracing natural beauty of black identity 
  • White hegemony we are seen as hegemonic idealised version of beauty - this is challenged here through the focus of hair as powerful embracing of black identity 
  • embraces black beauty through black features such as noses. 
  • mise-en-scene street- rundown, dilapidated neighbourhood reflecting working class community contrasted with a grand manor - also reinforced through the outfits - binary opposition creates meaning through that polysemic 
  • Black Hair shop - powerful representation of black beauty- emphasised through natural hair worn by the actors. 
  • deserted swimming pool - nostalgic 70's representation (larger Afro, filter used on the camera, fashion)
  • references to the past - owning the past, to give more status now 
  • mid shot of black women - wearing antebellum dresses - range of different hair styles - emphasise the black hair  
  • dancing and performance - confident representation of black women, sassy and confrontational
  • 'formation'- could reflect the coming together of the black community unity),  or control over the black community 
  • stereotypical rep of black women is loud, boisterous where as in the shot of Beyonce and women in the sofa its almost a quiet confident 
  • holding a fist above a police car - reference to black power movement that championed black rights 
  • postmodernism - intertextual reference- polysemic meaning 
  • context - impact on audience, generated conservation. Performed at Super bowl and live performance 
  • Male gaze- white perspective, Beyonce brings out a black perspective. white people are positioned in a encounter way 

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