Conversation 2 Ketevan Chochishvili

The messages/ themes Beyonce wants to express through the song and video are not only racism and police brutality but also, the Lgbt community, sexism, black pride, black empowerment, female empowerment, and Hurricane Katrina remembering’s.I did see her intention and the main motive behind the song right away. The reason why Beyonce was able to deliver the message so clearly and strongly was not only the lyrics of the song but the video as well. Matsuoka played a huge role in that. She managed to deliver the video not only in a couple of weeks but, also managed to underline all the important references in the clip itself. Starting from the choreography and the places and ending with the paintings. for example, when she mentions pools she is dancing inside a huge pool that placement was not by mistake. In the old times, black and white people had separate pools and black people were not allowed to touch the water on the other side, if they did the pool would be drained. She is also seen dancing in the plantation house referencing slavery. Her standing on top of a sinking police car signifies her protest against police brutality.

She uses multiple types of emotive language. when she says “I’m a star, I go hard” that is an example of positive emotive language she is complimenting and praising herself but she also uses negative emotive language, an example of that can be”I twirl on them, haters”.She uses sarcasm”albino alligators” as well which references to people who discriminate and are racist towards people in the black community.

I believe this song and video became controversial because she underlined very controversial and important topics and many people have very different and strong opinions on these specific subjects.