BEYONCÉ: ‘FORMATION’

CASE STUDY
• Beyoncé Knowles is an American singer, songwriter, performer and actress.
She was born in Houston Texas. Her influences of her music come from her
background in Gospel, R&B and pop music such as hip-hop. She first appeared
In the very successful group ‘Destiny’s Child’. She has won numerous awards
and has been featured on the US Billboard 200 and the Billboard Hot 100.
• Formation also featured on her album ‘Lemonade’ and was written by Khalif
Brown and produced by Beyoncé and Mike Will.
• The album ‘Lemonade’ has a music video for every track ‘Formation’ being one
of them. The Formation video was directed by Melina Matsoukas. The video
was filmed in Los Angeles-California and features reference to Hurricane
Katrina, the antebellum era, Louisiana Creole culture, police brutality, racism
and the black pride movement. Matsoukas is a two time Grammy award
winning director who often references the black pride movement in her works
as seen in ‘Formation’
• Formation was released on February the 6th, 2016 and was unusually
premiered with the music video. At the half time show of the Super Bowl 50
Beyoncé performed with Coldplay, Bruno mars and Mark Ronson all playing
parts of their new hits ‘Viva la Vida’, ‘Uptown Funk’ and ‘Formation’. In the
performance her and her dancers sport a Black Panther Movement-style outfit
while Beyoncé herself has what looks to be a bandolier to create a very
aggressive look.
“Consider the way in which the video invites the
audience to interpret historical circumstances in
regards to representation of race and racism”
• Hurricane Katrina New Orleans (2006): Places of flooding,
the lower nine, were predominantly low income families of
colour. President G Bush was heavily criticised for failing
to take action efficiently.
• Late 1980s (Hip-hop era): Two scenes run true to the late
80s era of hip-hip rap, artists such as the ‘N.W.A’ and ‘The
Notorious B.I.G’ used Hip-hop as a voice for the oppressed.
The scene showing Beyoncé hanging off a car (Chevrolet
El Camino) with rather expensive clothing ringing true to
hip-hop’s promotion of a lavish lifestyle. This is further
shown later on in scenes with Beyoncé riding in
Chevrolets, this is very similar to ‘Dr Dre’ and ‘Snoop
Dogg’s’ music video: "Still Dre”. Furthermore a second
scene showing Beyoncé surrounded by dances on a
parking lot; A filter is used to imitate V.H.S screens in this
scene to further reference the late 1980s.
• Antebellum era (1830-1860): Slavery and racism very is
prevalent in the south. During scenes present in a manor in an
antebellum era, two scenes are shown. In the first Beyoncé is
dressed in an semi-traditional outfit whereby the upper-half is
traditional however a short skirt subverts the outfit by being
very revealing. In other scenes a full traditional outfit is worn
however by groups of all women of colour.
• Antebellum era (1830-1860)symbols of oppressors and
Louisiana creole culture: In a scene where Beyoncé is
surrounded ay five men of colour who are all dressed in black
and white and stood facing forwards while Beyoncé continues
her routine the clothing used has meaning. The man left of
Beyoncé is dress in a fez, a fez is a symbol of power and
oppressors in the middle east. The man to the right of her is
dressed with a top hat which has the same meaning of power
but in the west. Furthermore Beyoncé herself is only dressed in
black whereas the men surrounding her have white features to
their outfits, this represents empowerment. In edition the
location chosen further enforces the antebellum era as it
possibly represents a slave owners premises.
• Beyoncé's contrasting performances, agressive vs dance routines?
The aggressive nature of her performance is to express empowerment to the audience
• Does it explore issues of being Black in America?
Yes, the music video has many references to the inequality effecting Black people in America. For
example the antebellum and the Louisiana Creole Culture clothing refers to historical oppression in
slavery. Other references are shown in what looks to be in New Orleans where the graffiti ‘Stop
Shooting Us’ refers to police brutality in America perhaps in cases such as Rodney King. The
• Does it have an autobiographical feel?
Yes, the lyrics often feature personal pronouns (‘I slay’ , ‘I might be the next Bill Gates in the making’)
furthermore the video often features her directly looking at and performing to the audience when she
addresses these lyrics.
• Does it attempt to discuss issues of gender and equality?
Yes, throughout Bell Hooks' theory of class is subverted as Beyoncé puts women of colour in positions of
power. For example in the scene where her and the men are dressed in Louisiana Creole culture
dresses the men are static whereas Beyoncé has her face covered(hiding identity) and she is moving.
• How does “bounce” relate to Beyoncé as a performer?
Bounce music is an energetic style of dance that developed in New Orleans during the 1980s hip-hop
era. It plays a major role in the HBO drama ‘Tremé” which was set in the hurricane Katrina aftermath in
New Orleans and follows the lives of people dealing and living in said aftermath. This obviously links
to the location of the music video.
• Think about the extent to which the video was designed to promote a political/cultural agenda
or simply to generate publicity and make money.
Firstly the music video first premiered with the music video itself so audiences would have to have
watched the video, additionally the video certainly presents issues and messages throughout unlike
many music videos which further suggests the video was used for an agenda rather than for profit.
However the music for Formation did release on ‘Tidal’ without the music video and Tidal is owned by
Jay Z and Beyoncé further benefiting their profit.
• How is Beyoncé presented through the video, what is her ‘on-screen’ persona?
Beyoncé’s on screen persona has an agenda throughout the video of making a statement about the
events of hurricane Katrina and oppression throughout history (The Black Lives Matter Movement).