Summary
Honestly, this is my first time listening to Beyonce's song Formation closely and paying attention to everything she sings and the story in the video. She sends a strong message in her video and lyrics. She expresses police brutality, black empowerment, and unity. No, my initial reaction to the song was not like the actual message being sent. Even with an amazing accomplishment in her career, I was not expecting Beyonce to use more of her platform to send a deep message. Matsoukas helped Beyonce convey the themes and messages of the song using imagery, symbolism, and references to black history and culture. Beyonce constantly uses repetition by using “I slay” emphasizing power and strength. This emotive language and rhetorical devices play a role in the song by adding emotion to Beyonce's message and reinforcing the themes of black empowerment and resistance. Through these devices, she can convey her message in a more powerful way.
