Summary
Discuss the following questions:
1. What messages/ themes did Beyonce want to express through the song and video?
In this song, Beyoncé expressly pays homage to her race.
2. Are those messages/ themes similar to your initial reaction to the song and video?
Since this song was released in 2016, it has always been an icon for me. I greatly respect and admire people who stand up for their race and fight for their voice.
3. How did Matsoukas help Beyonce convey those messages/ themes?
Melina Matsoukas presents powerful images of African-American history. In the video, the protagonists are not represented as enslaved people. In reality, Matkosouka sought to show the historical impact that this culture has experienced.
4. Find at least 2 examples of emotive language or rhetorical devices? What role do they play in the song?
Beyonce uses the following rhetorical devices to remember in this song that achieving economic independence and liberty is important. Her race is not a slave. Black people also have rights and can get as far as they want.
"I'm so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress." In this sentence, Beyonce uses alliteration, the occurrence of the same sound.
"I see it, I want it. I stunt, yellow bone it. I dream it. I work hard." She uses Anaphora since she repeats a word at the beginning of successive phrases
5. Why do you think the song and video became controversial?
If you don't pay proper attention to this video and song, it can be misinterpreted because it can be seen as a revelation to the police or authorities, but what Beyonce wanted to do was send a message that African-American women are strong and capable.
