Visual Motifs are iconic elements placed within a visual piece of work (movie, picture, painting, etc..) that form the author’s main idea. Beyonce’s “Formation” music video contains a visual motif that coincides with her stance on current events. “Formation”, debuted during the super bowl, within her lyrics Beyonce creates a motif that encapsulates despair between black culture and society, the black lives matter movement, and police brutality. Subtly within her music video, Beyonce creates a visual motif within several visual statements. These visual elements are not immediately clear to the naked eye but images of the police, the color black, “stop shooting us” and direct messages to police clearly frame her message within the video. Beyonce’s music video is a platform to her political agenda, and is shown through several images.

At the beginning of the video, Beyonce is filmed on a sinking “New Orleans” police car, surrounded by water and submerged houses. Beyonce is framed not only to be completely helpless but, drowning as she takes the police down with her. While Beyonce is filmed with the police car, a long shot portrays her standing on top of the car. Based on her issues with police brutality in the past, this is a clear message from Beyonce demonstrating her displeasure with the police.  Furthermore, as this scene is shown throughout out the video, the car continues to sink. The message of the car sinking communicates to the viewer, this is clearly stating that the trust in the police is sinking. To Beyonce, Police trust is directly correlating with the increase in police brutality, part of Beyonce’s message. It is clear that Beyonce is demonstrating her displeasure with the police and the despair of black culture.

Furthermore, Another scene that contributes to Beyonce’s visual motif, is one of a little boy, dressed in all black, standing in front of police in full riot gear(3:38). The establishing shot portrays the little boy, in a bugs-eye view, making the boy look bigger than the police. Next, the boy puts his hands up, the police do as well and the camera pans back to the bugs eye view. This scene has several elements that refer to the motif. The first being the color black, the color black is commonly worn by protestors upset with police brutality, within the black lives matter movement. Next, the actions of the little boy, suggests that nobody is scared of the police and that anyone is willing to challenge them. Finally, the action of moving the hands up. The “hands up don’t shoot” message is commonly facilitated by protestors of police brutality and the black lives matter movement. The message is challenging the police, and showing their equality. By including this action, the author can contribute to the visual motif by referencing to police brutality, again. 

Finally, the last image to contribute to visual motif is a message on the wall. For a brief moment nearing the end of the video, the camera makes an extreme close up to a message “Stop Shooting us”. Since this shot came directly after the interaction with the police, “stop shooting us” is a clear message to the police.  This message is more than just writing on a wall, it is vividly clear that Beyonce is making a bold statement to not only the New Orleans Police Department, but police across America.

Although Beyonce’s song “Formation” is not directly about her overarching theme of the music video, Beyonce’s visual motif is conveyed through her several conspicuous messages throughout her video. During the scene of the police car, while considering the fact that Beyonce is also not from Lousiana, why would she stand on a police car? If she clearly wanted to remember the destruction of Katrina, Beyonce should show victims and their families, failed dams, destroyed homes and buildings. Instead, while the car sinks lower and lower, Beyonce sings and dances on top of the car, creating a visualization of power over the police. Also, it is important to notice Beyonce’s body movements. Beyonce seems to move powerfully, as she squats and stares into the camera, Beyonce paints an image of strength and courage. It is almost like she is directly speaking to the police, portraying an attitude of instigation. It is clear that Beyonce uses this action to contribute to her visual motif police brutality and despair within the black community.  Furthermore, in the second scene, there are several symbolic instances within the scene that compile to portray Beyonce’s motif. First, the little boy is dressed in all black. The signature all black outfit is commonly worn by Black Lives Matter protestors, by dressing the little boy in all black, Beyonce is connecting to the people supporting her message. Secondly, after the shot is established, the camera pans to a medium shot with the boy in the foreground and the police officers in the background. As the boy puts his hands up, the police officers follow. Beyonce purposely includes this scene to convey her message against police brutality and to connect with the “hands up, do not shoot” movement. By dressing police in full gear, and including a small boy, she is implying that she is not scared of the police and neither should her supporters. Lastly, for a brief moment, the camera pans to an extreme close up stating “stop shooting us”. This is an extremely literal message directed at police officers around the country after recent events. Beyonce includes this message not only to back up her visual motif, but to clear any doubts the viewer may have about her message. To me the scene of the little boy and the message “stop shooting us” is the most important element of her visual motif. By using several different types of camera shots, symbolic messages and literal text Beyonce’s motif is now clearly stated to the viewer. 

The sinking police car, visualization of the “hands up don’t shoot movement” and the message “stop shooting us” are all elements Beyonce used to create her visual motif. By using these subtle and bold elements, Beyonce was able to convincingly convey the visual motif of her disagreements with police brutality, and her support on the Black Lives Matter Movement. 

Beyonce’s message is powerful but subtle, but she is able to convey her political agenda extremely well.