Non Genre Specific Analysis: Beyonce
Formation
This is a highly iconic video about black culture and the independence of Beyonce, as a black independent solo artist and being the most famous and well paid female artist in the world, she is incredibly influential. Which is why this video is so important as she is spreading a message out saying it's okay to be who you are and embrace your colour and don't let anyone walk over you. This is shown in this shot as it represents how black people have been mistreated by the police and now they are superior and they can choose what they want to do.
Both the beginning shot and this shot show a town drowned in water, this is referring to the horrible natural disaster in New Orleans of Hurricane Katrina. This was a huge hit to the black community and a huge part of their culture as lots of people suffered unnecessarily. The colours are very monotone making the shoot look muddy representing how their culture downed with their houses.
This shot is using lighting in the mise en scene to link back to the police theme at the beginning. In this shot, you can see a shot of a boy (presumably black) being around the police. The red lights and red tone to the shot represent danger and the blue connotes sadness. This shows the not so nice relationship the people have with the police especially, with the children. This shot also connotes danger and has some links to gang culture as well.
In this shot, we see Beyonce again surrounded by black men again referring to black culture. Throughout the video she hides her face almost as if she trying to hide her identity, and then at the end she reveals her face and she swears at the camera as if to say I am who I am and I don't care who you are but I'm not going to hide my face from you.
In this shot, we have a black priest. This again refers to black culture as some are very invested in religion and there are a lot of black priests nowadays which is a good thing, however, previously people of colour have been suppressed by the church and this shot is powerful as we see someone of colour raised high as if he is superior and empowered.
When we see this shot the song slows down making this shot stand alone/ stand out. this is an interesting shot as the shot shows historical context of racism themes which is particularly interesting. The era in which this shot is set was in a time where racism and slavery were particularly present in America. Also, the dress she is wearing is one of a high-class white lady of the early to mid 19th century. This shows that as a black woman she is in power now and that she can sit there in pride and not be looked down for it. This video is a lot about overcoming the things against black culture in the past.
In this shot we can see children in similar clothing from the same era as the shot above, again showing that black people are no different. What is particularly good about this shot is that Beyonce's child is the girl in the middle and shown in the shot. This represents that the black community is a large family as they all stick together, this is further shown by the fact that only black people are shown in the shot.
In this shot, we see three empowered women in a wig shop. This again links to black culture as a lot of black women wear weaves and wigs and it's a huge part of who they are and their identity. This also represents that they stand together and that they are a unity. Blue can connote authority which I think is very present in this shot as all the women stand with pride.
In this shot, we see some relation to the song as they sing 'okay ladies now let's get in formation' as they actually get into formation. This again links to how they are a community and that they work together. The lyrics in this video are very random and don't have much relation to the video, however, the crazy lyrics kind of represent how different the culture is and that again it's okay to be different and that people should embrace that.
Again we see unity in this shot paired with a lot of mis en scene. This shot is similar in time period to one of the previous shots. This again shows the ladies in pride, each one of them with a different hair style yet again embracing what it is like to be unique. the white dresses represent how they are pure innocent and how they are just as much of a lady as anyone else. Its about embracing their past and overcoming it and ending up on top.
This shot shows how she is reckless yet still free and that she can do what she wants, the sky blue car represents how she is free like a bird and that yet again she can move around and feely go where she wants. Its kind of like she is spreading her wings and letting the wind blow through her hair. Her hair style keeps changing and I feel like that represents the different sides the her and her personality.
This shot is important as you see black people wearing masks as if they are having to hide themselves, this links to the the past and people of colour being discriminated against. This song is about them removing their masks and being themselves. The song is upbeat and empowering.
In this shot, we see what we are presuming is the child from earlier dancing in front of the police and just being himself. This is another reference to how some of the police treat black people and that a lot of them over react because of someone's colour. This is shown in this shot as there are a lot of white (only white people in the video making this shot dramatic) police standing against a harmless child like it's something bad showing the mindset of some police in the US.
In this shot, police are again referenced as the bad history between the police and people of colour is shown. The graffiti on the wall says 'stop shooting us' this is almost a plea for help as people just want to be themselves and have to be afraid of it. The black paint in comparison with the white wall represents the black population compares to the white and how overwhelming it is and how they feel like a minority.
In this shot, we see Beyonce again surrounded by black men again referring to black culture. Throughout the video she hides her face almost as if she trying to hide her identity, and then at the end she reveals her face and she swears at the camera as if to say I am who I am and I don't care who you are but I'm not going to hide my face from you.
When we see this shot the song slows down making this shot stand alone/ stand out. this is an interesting shot as the shot shows historical context of racism themes which is particularly interesting. The era in which this shot is set was in a time where racism and slavery were particularly present in America. Also, the dress she is wearing is one of a high-class white lady of the early to mid 19th century. This shows that as a black woman she is in power now and that she can sit there in pride and not be looked down for it. This video is a lot about overcoming the things against black culture in the past.
In this shot we can see children in similar clothing from the same era as the shot above, again showing that black people are no different. What is particularly good about this shot is that Beyonce's child is the girl in the middle and shown in the shot. This represents that the black community is a large family as they all stick together, this is further shown by the fact that only black people are shown in the shot.
In this shot, we see three empowered women in a wig shop. This again links to black culture as a lot of black women wear weaves and wigs and it's a huge part of who they are and their identity. This also represents that they stand together and that they are a unity. Blue can connote authority which I think is very present in this shot as all the women stand with pride.
In this shot, we see some relation to the song as they sing 'okay ladies now let's get in formation' as they actually get into formation. This again links to how they are a community and that they work together. The lyrics in this video are very random and don't have much relation to the video, however, the crazy lyrics kind of represent how different the culture is and that again it's okay to be different and that people should embrace that.
Again we see unity in this shot paired with a lot of mis en scene. This shot is similar in time period to one of the previous shots. This again shows the ladies in pride, each one of them with a different hair style yet again embracing what it is like to be unique. the white dresses represent how they are pure innocent and how they are just as much of a lady as anyone else. Its about embracing their past and overcoming it and ending up on top.
This shot shows how she is reckless yet still free and that she can do what she wants, the sky blue car represents how she is free like a bird and that yet again she can move around and feely go where she wants. Its kind of like she is spreading her wings and letting the wind blow through her hair. Her hair style keeps changing and I feel like that represents the different sides the her and her personality.
This shot is important as you see black people wearing masks as if they are having to hide themselves, this links to the the past and people of colour being discriminated against. This song is about them removing their masks and being themselves. The song is upbeat and empowering.
In this shot, we see what we are presuming is the child from earlier dancing in front of the police and just being himself. This is another reference to how some of the police treat black people and that a lot of them over react because of someone's colour. This is shown in this shot as there are a lot of white (only white people in the video making this shot dramatic) police standing against a harmless child like it's something bad showing the mindset of some police in the US.
In this shot, police are again referenced as the bad history between the police and people of colour is shown. The graffiti on the wall says 'stop shooting us' this is almost a plea for help as people just want to be themselves and have to be afraid of it. The black paint in comparison with the white wall represents the black population compares to the white and how overwhelming it is and how they feel like a minority.This is again shown in this shot as Beyonce is shown on top of the police car which brings the video into circular shaping making her point even more dramatic. Her sinking with the car is basically a message saying if we are going down you are going down with us. Also, the car is from New Orleans police which is interesting as they seem to be some of the most racist considering the black population of that area.
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