
Throughout the music video “Formation” Beyoncé demonstrates the overall theme of how the police and citizens of the United States are going through a rough patch in their relationship. There are two specific scenes where Beyoncé demonstrates this theme. One is where she is sitting on top of a police car while it is being overcome by the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. The other scene is when a child lifts his hands surrendering to police officers and they raise their hands as well as a sign of peace. Both of these scenes relate to the theme that the relationship between the citizens and police is struggling, and both parties need to come together to fix it. The relationship has been going downhill due to many recent events involving police shootings and videos of police being very aggressive dealing with civilians. Beyoncé is trying to argue that the relationship between the two has been rough lately, but as citizens we must surrender to the police and trust in our countries legal system. 

The first scene is at 0:58 of the video, when Beyoncé is sitting on top of a police car that is being overcome by the flooding. The water is almost reaching the open windows of the police car. There are eight homes behind her that have been ruined by the flooding as well. The water is reaching half way on the front door on all of the homes shown in this scene. The sun is not out, the sky is very gloomy and dull with very few clouds. There are around ten telephone poles in the background behind the homes. There is a stop sign that has been knocked over and half of the red octagonal figure is underneath the water. There are a total of four cars that are in the scene and they have been flooded and the water is reaching the windows. The scene displays the effect that Hurricane Katrina had on a neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. 

The effect of Hurricane Katrina caused many people in the city of New Orleans to blame law enforcement for the amount of damage that was done. Many people lost their homes, lost family members, and their entire lives flipped upside down. In this scene Beyoncé is trying to demonstrate the theme that the police and citizens are struggling in their relationship. Many people believe that the law enforcement did not do enough to help out New Orleans, and that they waited until it was too late to act. Beyoncé is representing that Katrina was a tragedy but we cannot blame all of law enforcement for this incident. Due to the fact that a portion of people failed, does not mean that we can blame all police officers. Many officers risk their lives every single day for our protection. We cannot forget that just because a portion of law enforcement did not make the right decision on one specific day. The police car being half underwater demonstrates that the police failed; and were not there when the people of New Orleans needed them the most. This scene is meant to show how the police and citizens have had many problems, but we must work together to try to rebuild our relationship. As civilians we must trust those in charge, and the police must work harder to make sure something like this does not happen again. 

The second scene is at 4:23 shows an African American child wearing a hoodie holding his hands up surrendering the police officers. In response, there are ten officers who have their hands up as well, returning the sing of peace. The police officers are in riot gear, which tells the viewer that they believed they could be in potential danger. There is a police car with the red and blue lights shinning. The sky is changing color, it seems to be around sunset. The camera shot is an over the shoulder shot, showing the back of the childs hoodie and the police officers facing the scene, and all of them have water reaching the windows. There are two trees in the background behind the police car that are losing leaves. 

This scene represents how some civilians are trying to surrender to the police, and that people still believe in our justice system. The police are not the enemy, they are just the opposite. Beyoncé is trying to tell the world that we have forgotten that the police work to protect the civilians of the United States. She is telling us that sometimes the police fail at their job, and they can make the wrong decision. We are only human, and we will make mistakes sometimes. We cannot let a few mistakes ruin a relationship that has been ongoing for hundreds of years. Beyoncé is demonstrating how we must get in formation and start to trust the police again as a society. Many people fear the police, and do not trust the police with their lives. The police have been working to protect America for many years, and just because the past couple years they have made mistakes, does not mean that we can diminish all that they stand for. Having a child standing with his hands out surrendering shows that he forgives the police for messing up, and he just wants to have peace. The police want to gain our trust back, and this image of ten officers with their hands up represents just that. The overall theme that the relationship between the police and society is in a decline is prevalent throughout this video. Beyoncé is showing how society needs to change their perception about how they view the police, and the police must also step up and protect our citizens better than they have been lately. 

The theme that the relationship between the police and civilians of the United States has been declining is demonstrated during the video. Beyoncé demonstrates that both sides must come together, and put these issues aside. Throughout history law enforcement has saved us from an abundance of potential threats, and we cannot let a couple mistakes change our entire perception on law enforcement. Beyoncé wants us all to come together in formation and start to piece back together the relationship that has been going on for many years. This relationship is what protects our country, and enables us to feel safe in our homes. 
