Exam Question - Music Videos

Why did the producer represent people, issues and events in this way? What choices did they make and why?

Beyonce Formation / Unseen text (This is America Childish Gambino)

Knee Jerk Reaction:

New Orleans crisis
Women represented in subversive and powerful nature
Post colonialism - Paul Gilroy, hierarchies of power still exist today
Hyperrealism, Beyonce's 'angelic image created which in reality does not exist
Binary, Black vs White, Rich vs Poor, through costume/setting
Intertextuality, newspaper cover of Martin. L King reflecting issues of racism in America 

Gun/Gang violence in America
Racism, ethnic minority representation, reference to black gospel pride 
Police brutality
Chaotic scenes 

Key Words
Symbolic Annihilation
Stereotypes
Mise-en-scene of police and authority
Rebellion
Suggestions of Violence and Oppression
Video VHS effect - symbolic intertextual reference to police brutality captured on dashcams
Shots of hurricane Katrina, racial conflict representation
Bell Hooks - feminism is for everyone - Formation - power, unity, strength of black women
Intimidating mode-of-address

EVIDENCE:
Positions Beyonce as a strong, independent, black woman.
Wide variety of african american representation challenging symbolic annihilation theory
She wears costumes of white high class 1920's New Orleans people, creating binary and therefore meaning through black vs white, rich vs poor. 


DEFINITION, ARGUMENT, CONTEXT:
Representation is where a group, issue or event is RE presented or 'shown again' by the producer. By using media language to represent certain groups, the producer can both reinforce and challenge hegemonic norms. Representation can be used to challenge hegemony and stereotype, offering a subversive critique of dominant ideologies. Music videos are a medium in which this can be explored. The issue of ethnicity and how/why different groups are represented, often dominates this industry. I am going to ague that both videos both challenge the representation of African-Americans in modern day America. I will explore this through Beyonce's Formation, released as a single from her 2016 album Lemonade, following the crisis in New Orleans which won a grammy for best music video, and This is America by Childish Gambino, which has over 500 million views on Youtube. 

The symbolism of the Antebellum era shown by the costume the producer has chosen demonstrates Beyonces manipulation and ownership of black slavery narrative. Beyonce is placed in a position of power, through the representation with in the mise-en-scene, for example, where a mid shot shows her laying on top of a sinking police car, additionally, shots where she stands in front of groups of black men and women, creating a sense of unity within the ethnic community. This polysemic meaning