Before you start the assignment, please be sure you’ve read the lecture notes on Beauty norms and race as well as the article White Privilege and Male Privilege by Peggy McIntosh if you are unfamiliar with this piece (Google the article).

Please see discussion rubric for guidance and be sure to read ALL directions. Discussion policies are also listed in the syllabus. Respond to at least one other student’s post in a meaningful way. I’d prefer you respond to someone who disagrees with you, but either way is fine.

No direct quotes UNLESS you are quoting from the Beyonce video (you should feel free to quote Beyonce regularly as you go about your day, every day).

1. Before you start the assignment, please be sure you’ve read the lecture notes on Beauty norms and race as well as the article White Privilege and Male Privilege by Peggy McIntosh if you are unfamiliar with this piece (Google the article).

2. Watch the Beyonce Formation video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDZJPJV__bQ (explicit lyric warning…kids out of the room, unless you’re fine with that sort of thing because whatevs). There are also “cleaner” versions of the video that you can Google.

3. I want you to do an IN-DEPTH analysis of the video. Watch it a few times (even though you’ve probably seen it a million times already). The more in-depth your response, the better your grade will be. Do not use direct quotes from any sources in your analysis. As always, use your own words. YOUR voice is important here. Feel free to provide your opinions here as well. The focus here is hair, White hegemony, beauty norms (especially hair), the intersection of race and gender, etc.

4. Connect your analysis of the Beyonce video with the article “Black Women, Beauty, and Hair…” that’s on your syllabus and the lecture notes I posted on hegemonic beauty standards (Content). You need an IN-DEPTH discussion of that article as well so that your analysis of the Beyonce video is properly contextualized. Again, feel free to express your opinions.

PER USUAL, FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR CLASSMATES ON GROUPME. I’m sure I can chime in and help as well.

5. (Optional but funny) Watch this video, which was created by SNL as a follow-up to the Formation video and the backlash it faced (about 3 minutes long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ociMBfkDG1w

*You don’t need to write about this video, but it’s an important illustration of White hegemony/privilege*

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