Beyoncé Know(le)s Be(y)st

                                                                                                                                         Alexa DiFilippo

                                                                                                                                            April 10, 2016

                                                                                                                  Advanced Mass Comm Theory

                                                                                                                                                         Blog 2

                                      

                                               Beyoncé Know(le)s Be(y)st

                                                   Formation by Beyoncé

Almost everyone I know has once in his or her life (whether they admit it or not) has belted out lyrics to a Beyoncé song. Whether the song being, "Diva", “Crazy in Love”, "Drunk in Love", "Partition", "7/11" or the all time classic, "Single Ladies" mostly everyone knows who Beyoncé is. Beyoncé is one of the most influential individuals in the world along with being a mother, wife, an excellent performer (I am clearly a member of the Beyhive) and promoter of empowering girls and women of any race around the world to be strong and to stay true to you. Do people really know who Beyoncé is or what she stands for? This latest song Beyoncé has released called, "Formation" has a different message than her usual hit songs have. The song has a strong personal and political statement, which is not usually her signature style. She showcased her new song and the messages behind it at this years Super Bowl with a phenomenal and memorable performance that had many people buzzing around the Beyhive and Queen Bey herself. This song blends an insight on her personal characteristics and life along being proud of her heritage, sticking it to all of her haters with her success and pointing out the injustices African Americans have had done to them and the past and present in the music video. She captures the essence of African Americans struggles in her lyrics while illustrating past and present African American issues through the music video, With this song and music video, Beyoncé is stating that it is time for a change in this country.

Formation: The act of forming or creating something. So, what is Beyoncé trying to create here with this song? She starts the song off with addressing the rumors and the haters:

Y'all haters corny with that Illuminati mess

                        Paparazzi catch my fly and my cocky fresh

I'm so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress (stylin')

I'm so possessive so I rock his Roc necklaces

Beyoncé is calling out all of her haters and is showing them she does not care what you have to say about her and all of your rumors because she is secure with herself. There has been a rumor for many years that she is apart of the Illuminati but here she shuts all of that down. She knows the truth and that is what matters to her. According to Richard Dyer in, The Role of Stereotypes, he states that, “Stereotypes as a form of ‘ordering’ the mass of complex and inchoate data that we receive from the world are only a particular form – to do with the representation and categorization of persons – of the wider process by which an human society, and individuals within it, make sense of that society through generalities, patternings and ‘typifications’” (Dyer, page 207) Beyoncé does not want to be a “stereotypical” famous woman who let’s the lies go unnoticed or not spoken about in the media. Many stars do not address rumors but leave it up to the all powerful Queen Bey to sting them away. She also speaks about her husband and explaining she is possessive of him, not the other way around. In the media and in our society, it is sometimes explained that the man is the breadwinner. He brings all the money in and he is the powerful one. However, Beyoncé makes it known that she brings in her OWN money and she hold her own power (you go Bey):

I might get your song played on the radio station, cause I slay

You just might be a black Bill Gates in the making, cause I slay

I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making

           

Here, Queen Bey shuts down that stereotype and saying she can be the next black Bill Gates, not a man but a woman is capable of making and doing as much as a man can do. I think this is a positive message to send out because it is illustrating that she does not need a man to make money and neither does anyone else. You make your own money by working hard at Beyoncé puts it: 

                       

 I see it, I want it, I stunt, yellow-bone it

 I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it

She is broadcasting to the listener that she has a dream and if she wants it, she goes after it, works hard until it is achieved. The word “quit” is definitely not in Beyoncé’s vocabulary! Lastly, Beyoncé wants everyone to know that yes she has made it and is successful but do not be fooled, she knows where she came from and is proud of it:

           

My daddy Alabama, Momma Louisiana

You mix that Negro with that Creole make a Texas bama

I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros

I like my Negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils

Earned all this money but they never take the country out me

I got a hot sauce in my bag, swag

This portion is my favorite part of the song because she not only combines her parents, her child, her race and where she is from but she’s got hot sauce in her bag!

                       

When the word, “American” is brought up, what comes to mind? For some, the words “free” and “ignorant” (sadly) might come to mind but when I hear that word, I think of two words, melting pot. The United States is a melting pot of individuals from all over the world wanting to make a better life for their family; that is what the American dream is all about. Right? Lets rewind hundred of years back and focus on one specific life changing event, slavery. White slave owners enslaved African Americans for many years and though slavery ended many years ago, the ripple affect it had is still affecting Americans today. A tragic story that had countless people across the nation up and arms was the murder of Trayvon Martin. According to CBSnews.com, “February 26, 2012- George Zimmerman shoots Trayvon Martin while the 17-year old is walking back from a convenience store in Sanford, Fla., where he purchased a pack of Skittles candy and iced tea. Zimmerman tells police he killed the teen in self-defense after a scuffle.” Trayvon was a black male shot by a neighborhood watcher (Zimmerman). After this incident got out to the masses, people started protesting. Martin’s sad death kick started a movement that is now one of the most talked about movements up to date, the Black Lives Matter movement. According to blacklivesmatter.com “Black Lives Mater is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.” The music video ends with a young African American boy dancing then stopping with his hands in the air in front of what appears to look like an all white male swat team and then the words “Stop shooting us” in black appear on a wall. This is symbolic and referencing the Trayvon Martin shooting and many other incidents of racism and shooting this country has seen.

So you might now know the answer to what Beyoncé is trying to create. She is creating a different picture of herself that might have never been known while trying to create awareness of the change that needs to occur regarding African Americans lives. Beyoncé is a proud black woman from Texas that wants to aid her people in everyway she can and by releasing this song and music video, she paints a sad yet truthful image of what African Americans have suffered all throughout the years. I think this song has an amazing message behind it. Beyoncé not only is empowering African Americans to stay true and strong but showcasing issues they sadly face sometimes in this country. I believe this is an important message to send to the masses because innocent people are treated differently or losing their lives over the color of their skin not just African Americans but many people of all different races, colors and gender. I think it is time to create a different world for the generations after us but it all has to start with the cooperation of everyone, coming together and forming a united stand against the odds that face not just one of us, but all of us.

Works Cited:

Formation by Beyoncé music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9E7GWx61w

Formation by Beyoncé lyrics:

http://www.metrolyrics.com/formation-lyrics-beyonce.html

Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

Garza, Alicia, Opal Tometi, and Patrisse Cullors. "HerstoryBlack Lives Matter." Black Lives Matter RSS2. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

Dahl, Julia. "Trayvon Martin Shooting: A Timeline of Events." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 12 July 2013. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

Dyer, Richard “The Role of Stereotypes” page 207