Conversation #2: Language

Summary

In the music video of Beyonce’s song, “Formation”, the general message she was trying to push out was female and black empowerment. She also wanted the message to show the injustice of black history from slavery to police brutality. When I had first watched the music video I noticed the general message she was trying to show us but didn’t really pay attention to sank to show how they haven’t showed up for the people. One of the example of rhetorical device that Beyonce uses in her song “Formation”, she says, “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”. This shows an example of hyperbole because Bill gates is one of the richest people in the world and she uses it to exaggerate that she is in the making to be rich just like him. I also believe that part of the lyric also has sarcasm since she says “I just might be a black Bill Gates”. Another example is when Beyonce says, “slay trick, or you get eliminated”, that is an example of sarcasm and euphemism because she doesn’t really mean that she will eliminate you but eliminated is also some what nicer term than kill. These statement play a role in the song to show the girl power and also the power that Beyonce has. I believe the song became controversial because a filmmaker accused Beyonce of profiting from mainstreaming blackness tragedy and also she had backlash from people trying to say ‘Formation’ was anti-police. I do believe the people who was against her music video, took Beyonce’s message over the head because there is a difference between being anti-police and against police brutality.