Music is a really interesting way for everything from emotions to announcements to be conveyed. I have always enjoyed music in a two fold way in that it can simply be something playing in the background that is nice to listen to, or it can hold immense power if you really give it the chance. Beyonce’s “Formation”, and the entirety of Lemonade, fall into the category of power. Through her music, Beyonce is able to address issues of social justice and race relations while further the creation of her brand as an artist. I think that because Beyonce was already immensely famous by the time she released this album, she had wiggle room for there to be backlash. It is likely much easier for her as an established Artist to use her craft as a way to get across a message than it would be for someone who is first trying to break into the scene of music. Nevertheless, artists always take risks when they put more than a fun beat into their music. Using such a publicized thing to get across standpoints on different issues can mean putting yourself out there for criticism and dislike from the public. However, I think as the reading mentioned, Beyonce has created her own brand and ascetic. This was first done through her music, but then everything from endorsements, to products, to performances, to social media have been used to shape her image. The facework that Beyonce does to maintain her brand is really interesting as it al conveys a deeper message. This reminded me of the idea of close reading and how in a way, we can either closely listen to or simply skim a song. Lyrics are like the message from an author and can have a lot to say about the artist and the culture of the time.