
Beyoncé stormed onto the entertainment scene in the early 1990s from the three girl soul group Destiny’s Child. She excelled and turned into an entertainment force performing in videos, singing, and becoming a fashion icon. She was born in Houston, Texas in the early 1980s. Beyoncé’s music video, “Formation,” is one of the most politically controversial works she has done. When the video came out for the first time in the beginning of February 2016 it went viral. The video takes place in New Orleans which is heavily populated with African Americans. The video shows scenes of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and is a huge black lives matter advocate. One can see a lot of symbolism in scenes of African American culture, beauty, and the discrimination that still takes place. 

Hurricane Katrina was a devastating storm that happened on August 23, 2005. The effects of storm destroyed many homes and killed more than 1800 people. Beyoncé represents the Cajun and southern people by showing their clothing and food. The video starts with one of the more memorable scenes in “Formation;” Beyoncé lays on top of a police car in the middle of the water surrounded by the aftermath of Katrina. This scene has a lot of symbolism in it from the police car to the flooded water in New Orleans. The city is very poor and houses still have not been rebuilt. Beyoncé shows that she is not surrendering to the law and the circumstances. The police car represents the law and establishment that she is against. This part of the scene shows what people did not really see on the news after the storm, and where New Orleans is now. It has been ten years since the hurricane happened, but New Orleans is still suffering, and Beyoncé wants to show people to never forget about what happened. At the end of this scene the police car sinks with Beyoncé on it. The police car that sinks is symbolism how many of the lives that were lost in Katrina that could have been saved. This could also stand for how the police system is becoming corrupt. 

Beyoncé recognizes racism and struggles between police officers and the African American community. There are many images that show this, but none more evident then the scene where an African American boy is dancing in front of a bunch of white police officers. This scene reflects a lot of what is happening in the United States today. The audience see’s white people for the first time. This shows how Beyoncé wants people to know that there is still racism in the world. This scene has a lot of symbolism because there are so many stories of white police officers killing young black kids. The police officers are holding up their hands, and surrendering to this African American boy. The boy represents innocence, and could show how at some point there is going to have to be a stop to discrimination. Beyoncé is using the camera angle to show the vulnerability of the boy. This scene uses an over-the-shoulder shot with the little boy shown in the immediate foreground and the police officers further away looking at the boy. As the video progresses there is a white wall with writing saying “stop shooting us” in all black letters. The symbolism of this is, not only the colors of the letters representing the colors of skin, but also the violence that is taking place in New Orleans and throughout our country.  

Beyoncé made this video as a tribute to black lives especially black women. This video points out different stereotypes of black people including wigs and a reference to hot sauce in a women’s purse. There is a scene of three women at a wig store that Beyoncé shows because of the importance hair is to black women. Hair has historically been known as a status symbol in the black community. Throughout the video there is a scene of many African American women getting into “Formation” and dancing in a dried pool. This is a really powerful image and recognizes the dancing culture of African American women. The “Formation” is showing an arrangement of women very similar to the way slaves were lined up in a market place. This scene shows how powerful black women can be. Beyoncé’s daughter, Ivy, is confidently showing off her afro in a scene. This is showing how proud Beyoncé is of her culture. There is also a scene of Beyoncé in a black dress with African American men wearing black behind her. This symbolizes how women are becoming more relevant in society. She is very confident in this scene and the men look like they are almost serving her. This scene is shot with a bug’s-eye view showing Beyoncé from above. This shot shows Beyoncé as more superior and intimidating. This scene points out slavery because of how they are placed in front of a plantation. Beyoncé ends up flicking off the camera as a way of showing how far African Americans have come from the times they have been oppressed. 

Throughout this video one see’s the old and new south. The audience see’s the beautiful plantations and the poverty in the slums. Beyoncé shows her political views and how black lives matter. Beyoncé is reminding us of all the suffering and loss that happened in New Orleans ten years ago.  The video shows how people have forgotten what happened and have to become aware. Beyoncé’s uses this video to show how police officers are abusing their authority. This is shown in many clips, and is representing what is happening in society today. Black women are represented throughout the video as very strong and unified. They are coming together against social injustice, and proud of their heritage. Beyoncé is an icon and has a huge voice for the African American community. She artistically expressed the political situations in America today, and is trying to make people aware of the injustices so that it can be changed. 
