When Beyoncé’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 Beyoncé was capitalizing upon the aftermath of a natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina, to earn a profit. By analyzing the video, the conclusion that Beyoncé was using the video as a message can be drawn. One of the messages Beyoncé shares is the idea of the empowerment of black women. In the music video, “Formation”, Beyoncé 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 a southern Antebellum 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 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 Beyoncé 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. 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 era that Beyoncé is attempting to project. There are other Antebellum scenes where the women, specifically Beyoncé, are dressed in what would have been considered day wear during the 19th century. In frame 3:07, you can see Beyoncé 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 points to the Antebellum era as the time period for these scenes. However, to get more specific, it is most likely the Antebellum in New Orleans. The tie to New Orleans can be inferred by looking at the types of buildings and the more southern style that seems to have both French and Spanish influences. The setting of New Orleans for the Antebellum era would bring forth a duality in this city once compared to the modern post Katrina New Orleans. 

The Antebellum era is usually dated between the War of 1812 and before the Civil War. During this time in the 1800s, slavery was still very present in the United States of America and especially prevalent in the south and in the city of New Orleans. The 13th amendment had not yet been issued to release African Americans from slavery, so if you were an African American living in the Antebellum era, most likely you were a slave. With this background knowledge being known, the existence of blacks wearing high class southern Antebellum clothing is an anachronism. Not only are these black women wearing high class Antebellum clothes, but they are lounging in a parlor in positions that display confidence and dominance. The women appear to be reveling in their situation. Beyoncé uses this anachronistic act of supremacy to make a statement about the empowerment of African American women. By placing black women in a position of power in a time where they would have traditionally been the lowest of the social caste, she shows that even in times of slavery, black women could be empowered. This juxtaposition of black women in a high class setting demonstrates that even social oppression in its most severe form could not hinder the perseverance of a determined African American woman. 

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 era. These images allow the viewer to differentiate between the two time periods, while also act as prominent props to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  

During this post Hurricane Katrina era, many African Americans living in New Orleans were suffering financially. The hurricane had devastated many residents living in New Orleans, but more so impoverished black communities. Homes and possessions were destroyed and gone overnight. Those who came from lower income areas literally lost everything. A higher percentage of the people affected by the hurricane from lower income neighborhoods were African American. Therefore, the majority of the people decimated by Hurricane Katrina were African Americans. By featuring strong black women displaying confidence and dancing in a setting that was representative of all the destruction, Beyoncé uses that situation to show how African Americans can rise above and beyond their circumstances. In this instance, Beyoncé once again demonstrates how powerful black women can overcome their situation and be empowered. 

By closely following the Antebellum images with images from modern post Hurricane Katrina, of strong black women dancing and singing in the ghetto, Beyoncé 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 Antebellum times, African American women were supposed to have little power, yet Beyoncé 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 southern Antebellum era and the modern post Hurricane Katrina era, 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 Beyoncé’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. 
