To many, Beyonce is considered one of the greatest performers of all time. In addition to
exceptional vocals, choreography, stage design, and stage presence, Beyonce’s performances are
often infused with social commentary and empowering messages to fans and especially women
and people of color. At the same time, many just don’t understand why Beyonce receives the
praise she does. You will often hear her name alongside the word “overrated”. I often argue that
when someone is rich, talented, and happy, there is no such thing as “overrated”.
Here’s the chance to challenge or agree with one or many of the assertions made about
Beyonce’s music and performance. Film reviews can be found on various publication platforms
and are written in various styles. Your review can be fun/funny but it must adhere to the genre by
being more than a rant, rave, or simple recap. This means you must do more than write about
how amazing/horrible she is and/or everything that happened from start to finish.
Your task is to watch “Homecoming”, a concert film about American singer Beyonce and her
2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival performance. Your film review should consider
the commentary, performance, and music within the film. Our theme this week is “Celebrity
Influence and Race”. In this review, consider how influential race is for Beyonce’s artistry. Does
she feel a sense of responsibility to black people and black culture? Should she? Some black
scholar feminists are concerned that Beyonce isn’t authentically black enough? Is this true for
you? How does the documentary support your conclusion?
A successful writing project 2 will:
● Entice the reader to view or avoid the film
● Make a thoughtful connection between the film, the performance, and Beyonce’s impact
on performance culture, race, gender, and/or feminism.
● Consider our ongoing debate about artists’ responsibility to their race and their fanbase
● Use descriptive language to provide imagery
● Include some background on Beyonce, Coachella, and *hint* HBCU homecomings
● Adhere to genres conventions
● Provide practical information about the film (directors, length, release date, platform
availability)
● Support all its claims about the film with specific detail
OUR GAPS:
Genre: A Review (a critical appraisal of a book, play, movie, exhibition, restaurant, etc.)
Audience:_______________________________ (People who have seen it or people who have
not seen it)
Purpose: To critique the film with other viewers or to persuade or discourage people from
viewing it.
