Beyonce's 'Formation' Is A Visual Anthem

http://www.npr.org/2016/02/08/466036710/beyonces-formation-is-a-visual-anthem

Beyoncé has dropped a new song but also a provocative video for "Formation" that has rocked the country. This video has sparked support and criticism from many.

In an on-air report for All Things Considered, NPR's Mandalit del Barco highlights reactions to the video. The thoughts from filmmaker and writer Dream Hampton, who has a long-standing professional relationship with, Jay Z. Hampton states that "Formation is about a black future [where] we are imagining ourselves having power and magic," she says, "and I think it's beautiful." Hampton says that Beyoncé is promoting a narrative shift in the music industry that could make a difference, “What artists can do is provide narrative shifts...what’s happening is that there's been this slumber — particularly unfortunately amongst black artists — for a long time, and now they're realizing that they can't not reflect back what their very audience is showing them.”

She concluded by saying that Formation is “a visual anthem in every way. And that's been beautiful to see. And it's been beautiful to see other artists kind of wake up around this and realize that this isn't going to cost them to put this kind of messaging forward; that it's actually going to benefit them.”