Task 2.1: Research Into Existing Products - Formation

The image of Beyonce standing on top of a police vehicle is a direct reference to the aid given, or lack thereof, to Hurricane Katrina victims. Beyonce here raises the topic of discussion which was very popular at the time and still today: What was the police (and government) doing when the public was in the most need? We can make this link between the video and the natural disaster as later on in the video images of sinking houses are shown: something which happened due to the events. It also refers to the nationwide movement, Black Lives Matter, as seeing an idolized independent black woman on top of a police officer’s car representing the idea of standing up against police brutality, specifically against black people, would be very influential to some people.

We also see Beyonce wearing a white lace dress in a upper class home in long and close up shots, as well as children of colour also dressed similar. Beyonce here is referring to the slavery that was forced upon people of colour around 150 years ago in which it was white women who wore this fashion then as they were seen as the wealthiest and the most important. By incorporating these shots into her music video she is stating that it is now possible for people of colour, including women of colour, to obtain this kind of status as Beyonce herself is an example of this as she states when singing “I earned all this money”. Beyonce makes several references to her being a woman of colour in the song’s lyrics: “I like my baby hair, with baby hair and afros. I like my negro nose with Jackson 5 nostrils” By doing this she is implying that she and other people of colour should be proud of who they are and where they come from.  By doing this she is making an indirect reference to the racism received daily by black people all over the world but especially in America.

Although not explicitly clear in this image here, Beyonce and the dancers are forming an ‘X’ shape, this is normally filmed using a long shot to show all the women there. Perhaps stating that is affecting many people. She does this in other shots of the video too including shots in which it is presented that they are being filmed on some kind of security cameras. This could be to indicate that they constantly feel watched and locked down upon. The ‘X’ formation is a reference to protesting against police brutality and specifically the movement ‘#blacklivesmatter’. The line “okay ladies, now let’s get in formation” is perhaps making a reference to preparing for battle as police brutality against black citizens in America is a continuous problem. The physical shape of the ‘X’ formation references Malcolm X who campaigned for Civil Rights in the 1960s. Another campaigner for Civil Rights is also referenced in the video as a black man holds up a paper with Martin Luther King Jr. The caption on the paper ‘more than a dreamer’ could be stating that this man is very responsible for the progress that was made for Civil Rights to this very day.

We also see images of a young boy dancing in front of the police, this is one scene that some black people associated with and one that also aggravated the police as it showed them as preying on the weakest, and sometimes youngest, members of society. Another shot that many people of colour thought was very realistic was a message written on the wall in the video stating ‘STOP SHOOTING US’. This makes a very clear reference to actions that have caused the movement : ‘#blacklivesmatter’. By including both this images, Beyonce is making the point that she is standing up to it and this shouldn't be happening anymore in America.

The video 'Formation' by Beyonce is completely targeted towards the actions of the police and the despair Americans are going through everyday because of institutional racism within the police force. Beyonce is using her popularity to raise awareness of these problems.