Dear Students–Week 1 ends at midnight tonight and Week 2 begins today (there is always this one-day overlap between the corresponding weeks). Please be sure to submit your assignments for Week 1 (Flip introduction, Conversation 1, Quiz 1 and the Reflection) by tonight. If you need an extension (perhaps you joined the class within the last few days or you simply need more time), please reach out. I am happy to be flexible. And I want everyone to start the class with an A. I will start grading your work later this week. And while I won’t be able to comment on each individual post, be assured that I do read them all and will provide feedback to the class as a whole.
In Week 2, we dive into critical thinking content: language. There is a PowerPoint in which you will learn about different functions of language, about emotive language and rhetorical devices. Next, you will watch two videos and analyze the language you hear. Quiz 2 is also based on those videos and your ability to apply what you learned in the lesson. Then, you will listen to a Beyonce song, several times, ideally, and read a related article, all of which will be the basis for Post 2. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
Prof. Barnes
One thought on “Welcome to Week 2”
I notice Beyonce’s song “Formation,” shows her own expressions for love and power as to show women how they can be confident and believe to be stronger as in feeling proud. Her message shows her expression from her personal perspective to what black people had been through and the hard times that they as well had to doubt as with racism, abuse, judgements, etc.
The messages could be similar to my initial reaction as feeling the continuation of how things were supposed to really change but still happens for years and in generations from past to present.
Matsoukas helped Beyonce convey those messages/ themes as “being both vulnerable and political” and in “very loud and New York”.
The role in playing this song is showing “the historical impact of slavery on black love, and what it has done to the black family”.
Why do you think the song and video became controversial
I think the song and video became controversial because it shows the interactions along with the reality she has been through as the perspective shows the side which she was always born with.