Formation by Beyonce Flashcards

Flashcards about Beyonce's Formation music video

Who is Messy Mya and why is his voice sampled at the beginning of 'Formation'?

A YouTube star known for challenging gender expectations and speaking about race issues; his voice is sampled to reference cultural icons and themes of racism and violence affecting the black community.

What is the significance of police sirens and lights at the start of 'Formation'?

They communicate themes of police brutality and the difficulties faced by black people in America, referencing social, cultural, political, and historical contexts.

How is Beyonce represented when she is sitting on top of the sinking car?

As isolated but powerful, using low angle shots and confident body language to challenge gender expectations.

What might Beyonce be communicating by sitting on top of a police car?

Potentially representing herself and black people as dominant over the police, challenging the historical power dynamic.

What do Beyonce's expensive clothing and jewelry represent in the music video?

Suggesting wealth and success, potentially subverting societal expectations about black communities and their ability to achieve wealth and power.

What is the significance of the images of children in 'Formation'?

Making it clear that issues of discrimination are still relevant to young black girls, while also showing progress and hope for the future.

What is the purpose of the intertextual reference to Martin Luther King in 'Formation'?

Drawing attention to the long history of racial discrimination and the ongoing fight for equality.

How does Beyonce reference her own cultural background in the music video?

By singing about her parents' ethnic backgrounds, celebrating diversity of culture.

What is the significance of Beyonce's reference to Jackson Five noses?

It is a way of celebrating ethnic features of black people and challenging mainstream beauty standards.

Which aspects of black culture does Beyonce reference in 'Formation' and why?

Fashion, foods (hot sauce, collard greens), hairstyles (cornrows/braids) to celebrate aspects of Black culture the mainstream media often ignores.

Who is Big Freedia and what does their presence signify in the music video?

A gay male bounce artist who uses female pronouns; their inclusion represents Beyonce as inclusive and progressive, promoting diversity in terms of gender and sexuality, and it attracts a pre sold audience.

What does the scene in the hair salon/wig shop represent?

References and celebrates black culture and fashion along with showing the diversity within black culture.

What is the possible significance of the scene in 'Formation' with the young boy dancing in front of the police?

The boy is confidently dancing in front of the police, but this scene may symbolize the Black Lives matter movement protests, but how ideally the police wouldn't be aggressive in return like how Beyonce portrays it in her video.

What does the phrase 'stop shooting us' on the wall reference?

This references police violence and the number of young black people shot by police, communicating themes about racial discrimination.

What's the significance of the dancers in formation in Beyonce's video?

The synchronized dancing of the dancers shows the unity and community among black women, and that there is power when working together.

What are some examples of lyrical feminism found in the song?

The idea that Beyonce is in charge, dominant, wealthy, and expects men to look after her challenges expectations of women in the media.

Why did Beyonce choose to create representations of ethnicity and gender and sexuality?

Is it a political and genuine message that she wants to highlight or is it all just a marketing ploy. Or perhaps she may want to highlight these issues because she may have personal experience or a very personal opinion of it.