Applying Theories: Music Videos

Formation (Media Language): Barthes’ Narrative Codes

• Name the 5 codes Barthes proposes.

• Where are these exmeplified in Formation?

• Semantic, symbolic, action, enigma and cultural codes.

• These are some examples:

  • Semantic Code: The colour grading of the shot of Beyonce inside the plantation house mimics a sepia tone which happens to photos with age and sun exposure, communicating the idea that this shot is taking the audience back in time.

  • Symbolic Code: The shadow of a bird cage inside the plantation house next to Beyonce is symbolic of the position the character she is playing (a slave) is in.

  • Action Code: The sinking New Orleans police car in the opening shot acts as an action code as the audience expects it to sink.

  • Enigma Code: Beyonce standing outside a plantation house potentially adds shock value as the audience would expect to see a white man stood outside a plantation house because this is who historically owned plantations.

  • Cultural Code: The use of antebellum dresses refers to the 19th century when they were popularised.

Formation (Media Language): Strauss’ Binary Oppositions

• Where are binary oppositions exmeplified in Formation?

• Beyonce is seen stood outside a typical plantation house in New Orleans, the audience would perhaps expect to see a white man stood outside a plantation house because this is who historically owned plantations. Here, there is tension built between the races (Black vs white). This is also exemplified when the young Black boy is dancing in front of white police officers in riot gear.

Formation (Representation): Hall’s Representation Theory

• How does Beyonce challenge negative stereotypes of Black people?

• Beyonce challenges negative stereotypes of Black people by using counter typical representations. For example, she stands outside a plantation house alongside five Black men, rather than a white man who, historically, would be seen in this setting. In this scene, she is the only person able to move, symbolising this MV’s purpose of subverting negative stereotypes of Black people and reclaiming the freedom and rights that were taken from them throughout history.

Formation (Representation): Gilroy’s Postcolonial Theory

• How does Beyonce subvert ideas of postcolonialism?

• Throughout the MV, Beyonce subverts ideas of postcolonialism as she creates representations of powerful Black people (particularly women). This is seen in the sequence where the young Black boy is dancing in front of white police officers in riot gear. The officers put their arms up as if to say they’re surrendering. Here, Beyonce is twisting the stereotype made by hegemonic groups that most Black people are criminals.

Formation (Audience): Hall’s Reception Theory

• How does Reception Theory link to audience positioning?

• How does Beyonce position her audience?

• The audience is positioned to take a preferred reading as this is what producers always want.

• Beyonce positions her audience to take a preferred reading by exploring the flooding in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and the resultant racial tensions.