When Beyonce’s “Formation” video was first released, it caused a lot of controversy. Some people supported the video for furthering the black lives matter movement that has had a strong resurgence in today’s culture. Others criticized the video because they believed Beyonce was capitalizing upon the aftermath of a natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina, to earn a profit. By analyzing the video, the conclusion that Beyonce was using the video as a message can be drawn. One of the messages Beyonce shares is the idea of the empowerment of black women. In the music video, “Formation”, Beyonce uses a variety of time periods to depict how African American women could be strong and independent regardless of their era and its situation. In the video, this is witnessed in both her showcasing of black women in an Antebellum South era and black women in a modern post Hurricane Katrina era. These two most prevalent time periods are quickly switched to and from throughout the video. By creating a quick transition between the two repeatedly, it causes the greatly varying eras to seem less different and helps the video to flow better overall. 

It can be assumed that it is an Antebellum South era that is depicted by analyzing the women’s costumes and the setting of the scene during certain parts of the video. For example, during 2:18-2:24 of the video, you have Beyonce and a group of women in what appears to be an old fashioned sitting room. Simply by examining the attire of the women, it is plain to see they are not supposed to be from a modern era. The drop shoulder sleeves, low necklines, voluminous skirts, bodices, brimmed hats, and fans are all indicators of high class evening dress from the Antebellum South. After that you can analyze the setting of the room. The wooden furniture, velvet couch, bookshelves, lamps, candles, paintings on the walls, and olden styled patterned wallpaper all agree with what would have been proper decorations for a wealthy manor from an Antebellum time period. By just analyzing this specific scene, it is clearly proven that it is the Antebellum South that Beyonce is attempting to project. There are other Antebellum South scenes where the women, specifically Beyonce, are dressed in what would have been considered day wear during the 19th century. In frame 3:07, you can see Beyonce wearing a black, high necked, long sleeved dress with an abundant skirt that exactly fits the Antebellum description of high society day wear. The clothes, in addition to the setting clearly point to the Antebellum South as the time period for these scenes. However, to get more specific, it is most likely Antebellum South in New Orleans, which would bring forth a duality in this city once compared to the modern post Katrina New Orleans. 

A more modern, post Hurricane Katrina era can be determined by evaluating the dress of the women when they are not styled to look straight out of the 19th century, as well as analyzing the setting they are in at these times. The clothes and setting shown in frames 2:35-2:44, is an example of the modern era demonstrated in the video. Specifically in that section of the video, the women are shown wearing clothing that can be considered more promiscuous due to the short length of the shorts and the low cut necklines of the shirts. The shirts worn are primarily in the style of crop top shirt, which bares the midriff. There is also a great deal of denim fabric present, which tends to be a more modern choice of fabric. During other modern portions of the video, you can see people adorned with fur coats, frock dresses, short shorts, hoodies, jumpsuits, and loose fitting clothing, all of which is more period bound to our modern era rather than any other time period. You can analyze the different settings of the parking lots, empty swimming pools, and unpopulated shopping centers to assume that these are post Katrina settings due to the fact that these types of places were empty after the natural disaster and the fact that these types of locations did not exist back in the 19th century. There are also indicators, such as cop cars, flooded houses, paved streets, convenience stores, crawfish in a styrofoam container, and telephone poles, that would not have existed back in the Antebellum South. These images allow the viewer to differentiate between the two time periods, while also act as prominent props to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  

By closely following the Antebellum South images with images from modern post Hurricane Katrina, of strong black women dancing and singing in the ghetto, Beyonce shows how African American women can still have power and dominance no matter what time period and era. This leads into the motif of African American women being able to conquer their situations and succeed despite whatever tribulation of their era. She uses the extremely differing eras to show that black women continue to evolve and strive even when their circumstances are against them. In the Antebellum Southern times, African American women were supposed to have little power, yet Beyonce showed them as strong women in high society, therefore making a statement that black women could overcome instances of them being oppressed in society. In the modern setting, the women could be said to be oppressed by their financial situation in the wake of the natural disaster that crumbled New Orleans. However, they overcome their situation by dancing and therefore being happy and free nonetheless. In both the Antebellum South and the modern post Hurricane Katrina eras, the women express an air of confidence that is contagious. This contagious idea that black women are allowed to be empowered was the message behind Beyonce’s entire video. The motif of black women overcoming their situations throughout the ages can influence the way that one may perceive the title of the song. With this in mind, Formation can be understood to possibly mean the formation of unity between strong, independent women despite their unfortunate circumstances. 
