The music video “Formation” by Beyonce has a variety of different visual motifs. The visual motif I decided to look into is the use of the colors red, white and blue throughout this video. These are the colors that represent the United States but they may have a deeper meaning in relation to the African American community and the discussions surrounding Black Lives Matter within America at the moment. The scenes I’ve chosen to analyze use these colors in a way that could give them a deeper meaning. The use of red often reflects anger or hatred, blue is used to show grief and sadness and white could be a symbol of surrender or a truce like a white flag. The use of this surrender color could transfer back to the Black Lives Matter discussion in relation to the use of “hands up, don’t shoot”. All of these factors relate back to America but also show that Beyonce is making an effort to stand up for what she and many other people believe in. 

The first scene I want to draw attention to is from 2:16 of Beyonce’s music video “Formation.” In this scene, one can see Beyonce laying halfway out of a car window and her hair flowing behind her. Her arms are stretched out by her sides completely and her eyes are closed and she looks very peaceful. Her hair is braided into many small braids and it is a light brown color. Beyonce is wearing all white in this scene, including a white long sleeve top and a large fluffy white jacket that is a focal point of this shot because it is in the center and is so large. The car that Beyonce is hanging out of is a light blue and it looks to be older. This car is also convertible. Beyonce’s makeup is also done fully and she has shiny red eyeshadow on. This scene is being shot from above, kind of a bird’s eye view. 

I believe this scene is used as a way to show peace and happiness which is what Beyonce wants between everyone. She seems very free and like she is enjoying being herself. Beyonce’s hair in this scene is different from other scenes as well which I think plays a role in showing that she does not want to conform to what society wants her to look like. There is also the use of the colors red, white and blue in this scene and I think it is a way to show the freedom that should be experienced within America. 

The second scene I am using to is from Beyonce’s video “Formation” is at the time 0:28. In this scene Beyonce is found sitting on top of a sinking New Orleans Police Department car. This car is being submerged underneath flood water from Hurricane Katrina. This is in the foreground while in the background one can see houses being flooded as well as another car. In this scene Beyonce looks more casual than she does in the other scene especially by her hair. In the previous scene her hair was completely done while in this one is looks like it is just tied back into a pony tail or a bun, as though she is not trying as hard to look good. Beyonce is wearing a red and white striped jumpsuit and black shoes. On top of the police car one can see the blue, white and red flashing lights. This scene is being shot from a distance, as a way to include the water in the background of the still shot. 

The importance of this scene is the body language given off by Beyonce. The fact that she is sitting on top of a police car while it is sinking shows how she feels about law enforcement and I think that directly relates to the use of these colors. The colors on top of the police car are red white and blue which are common colors used within law enforcement but I think it is intentionally used in this scene to show the anger and grief Beyonce and others are feeling towards America and other Americans. I think Beyonce wears her hair in a laid back fashion in this scene to show that she won’t change into what some Americans think she should. The argument involving hair is a topic relevant but that is not as extreme as other things going on within the Black Lives Matter community at the moment, so it keeps the video light. The use of these two colors on the police car could be a way to show that the grief and anger brought on to these people may be brought on by law enforcement, or they may see it that way. These two colors are significant because one could infer that the use of blue and red show anger, hatred, tension, sadness, and grief as a way of showing the feelings of these people affected.  

The third scene I am going to describe from Beyonce’s music video “Formation” is at the time 1:47. In this scene it shows an African American male standing in a gym wearing a basketball uniform. The colors of the uniform the man is wearing are red, white and blue. The man in this scene also has an afro. This is important because the lyrics being sung during this time are “I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros”. The scene directly before this one shows other basketball players all wearing the same uniform as though they are on the same team.

The use of this scene is important because it shows an African American man with his natural haircut wearing the colors of the United States. The importance of the natural hair relates to the lyrics Beyonce uses because she is advocating for African Americans to be natural and not conform to what society wants from them. In the Purdue Owl: Color Theory Presentation it discusses that often times colors are often associated with feelings or moods. The colors used in this scene may relate back to that as a way to prove or show that America can’t change how African Americans wear their hair. The use of the scene with the different basketball players could be a way for Beyonce to show that the people in the Black Lives Matter community are trying to stick together and be a team throughout everything that is happening. 

These two scenes do a good job of showing that red, white and blue do represent the United States of America but also that is could mean something more. These colors are shown throughout these scenes to get the point across that there is anger and grief within the African American community in America right now. These colors are important because they represent America as well as the feelings of those in America. I think Beyonce is trying to stress the importance of the issues going on throughout America these days and I think she does this by the use of the three colors red, white, and blue. 

 
