Formation - Beyonce (2016)

A representation allows people a way to make sense of the world. People care about this because it has an effect on how people are then seen within society, because it cultivates a certain ideology. Representation then constructs reality, such as a self fulfilling prophecy.

Analysis of Anaconda - 

  • All the dancers in this video are dressed in a sexualised manner and are posed and dancing in this way as well
  • Set in a jungle, which could show they are wild and maybe uncivilised as they aren't dressed properly
  • The women in this video are all curvy and aren't very slim, and this is a stereotypically attractive body type for BEM women
  • She adopts a housewife role, however it is subverted because she is dressed in a sexualised costume 

Analysis of Gucci Gang by Lil Pump - 
  • Mise-en-scene of a tiger displays his aggression and his power, and displays him a being ferocious
  • It's set in a school and this connotes to rebellion
  • The amount of cannabis he is holding displays his status as a drug dealer
  • Uses and gratifications of escapism
  • Young girls rolling eyes at teacher shows no respect, and diplays that they have attitude because they aren't doing what he is saying 
  • Many aspects of this video display tripping on drugs, for example the use of drugs and the hallucinogenic imagery of the tiger and purple lights
CONTEXT OF FORMATION:
  • Leading single for the album "Lemonade"
  • Has won several awards, for example the Clio Award for innovation and Creative Excellence in 2016 awards and was nominated for a grammy at the 59th Grammy awards.
  • Was set at the time of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans

BINARY OPPOSITIONS AND CONFLICT IN FORMATION :

  • Beyonce is on top of a sunken police car, which displays power and rebellion as well as her facial expressions looking rebellious
  • Intertextual references of the persecution of black people
  • Hanging out the side of a car, which is illegal and conflicts with her calm facial expression
  • Contrast between the poor, dilapidated, neighbourhood and rich antebellum house as well as Beyonce's antebellum dress.
  • The use of the antebellum dress is a type of cultural appropriation as the dress signifies white women from the american South who were the wives of slave traders and owners. It displays her power over the past. 
  • Dancers in the empty pool are wearing oversized glasses and loose afros, and this would display that they are more normal people and Beyonce with them.
EXAMPLES OF MOVEMENT:




Movement here is effective because they are strong and jerky and this connotes to powe








Movement here and the girls in a gang shows that they are strong and also creates a sense that women are strong together






Middle fingers are generally considered rude and unladylike, however could also displays how she is trying to rebel against her past






INTERTEXTUALITY WITHIN FORMATION:
  • Use of clips from 'That B.E.A.T' (2012) 
  • Brings in New Orleans bounce music however it doesn't make reference of the fact that it is by the gay community, and this is left out.
  • In comparison to 'That B.E.A.T' which is inclusive and pleasant, Formation is exclusive and aggressive.

Hyper reality - refers to the idea that representations within media texts are more real than that which they represent. Some of these representations are simulacrum. This refers to a representation of something that no longer exists or never did.



A 'bricolage' is where there are lots of different elements of different time periods and styles that are combined within a media product. Using this, it creates an ideology that times haven't changed and that black people are still being treated poorly.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Woman Magazine, 1964

Image
Analysis/Audience responses: Serif font is almost sophisticated and would attract female audiences as they would feel this is a sophisticated product. It is also stereotypically feminine. The pink is quite delicate and dainty. The woman in the photo is of a woman who seems to be in her 30s. Her features are very smooth as well as having perfect teeth, and this would make women feel that they must read this magazine to be as perfect as her. (mise-en-scene). There is also a huge stress on being a housewife in this magazine, which is implied by the lexis about a home lifestyle such as "kitchen". (mode of address). There is a strong Z-line here with the title and the band at the bottom of the cover, which draws the attention to the fact that to be a true woman you would care about that the most and how you look. (composition).  The lighting in this is important because it is a very delicate and light cover, implying that women should be pretty and delicate (key lightin...
Read more

Learning Conversation

What do you think has gone particularly well so far this year? What are your strengths? I think what has gone well so far is that I am understanding more terminology this year and how I can incorporate them into my exams. I also feel as though I am quite strong in picking up the meanings of terms quite quickly, and therefore it is easy to be able to put them into answers. What is stopping you from achieving your goals? What threats might you face, (for example not enough time, lack of organisation, pressure from other subjects...) I am very restless, and get distracted from things easily. This means that I will go through short periods of time where I am incredibly motivated and then after this time I will spend a really long time sleeping and not being able to do work because I don't have the energy to complete it. It is also slightly harder to complete tasks set because I don't have a computer at home for myself, it is shared amongst my family members, and because my dad ...
Read more

The Sci-Fi Genre and Sociohistorical Context

Allegory - a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one Zeitgeist - the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas a beliefs of the time An example of an allegory would be Godzilla (Japan 1950, Ishiro Honda), which is an allegory for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The monster represents America, and the fact that he is a mutated species represents the nuclear/toxic waste and the way that it was unnatural and inhuman. It also was a little less raw to them, and appealed to more people. When America had overtaken Japan, they made them become more left wing and more westernised. What makes 'Humans' Sci-Fi?? - use of word 'synth' to describe them - the old man who fixes his synth makes it obvious he is a robot, along with the glitches - robotic speech and some head movements - computer generated music, glitch sounds - stock footage for titles involving robots and al...
Read more