Jump to content

Black Is King: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Undid revision 971952773 by Bgkc4444 (talk) The text here mentions that the reviews were positive, but that some people felt a certain type of way - namely actual Africans
Line 229: Line 229:


Dominic Patten of ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' wrote that with ''Black Is King'', "you have a cultural dominance almost unknown nowadays", with the film being "the conformation of its creator and star as the cultural Queen of our time."<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 31, 2020|title=Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Review: Queen Bey's Disney+ Visual Album Is Modern Mythology In Action|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/beyonce-black-is-king-review-disney-lion-king-pharrell-williams-lupita-nyongo-naomi-campbell-bob-iger-streaming-1203000545/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'', Hayley Maitland opined that Beyoncé is "shifting the zeitgeist" with ''Black Is King'', adding that "the project feels especially timely in light of recent devastating events and the resurgence of [[Black Lives Matter]]."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Beyoncé’s 'Black Is King' Has Arrived|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/beyonce-black-is-king|access-date=2020-07-31|website=British Vogue|language=en-GB}}</ref> Matt Donnelly of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote that "Beyoncé is pushing the boundaries of what many have come to expect from the Disney machine" with ''Black Is King'' being "the boldest brand statement ever from Disney" and "the most direct confrontation of a timely societal discussion around racism that Disney Plus has seen."<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{cite tweet|user=MattDonnelly|author=Matt Donnelly|number=1288520657026703361|date=29 July 2020|title=#BlackIsKing is poised to possibly be the boldest brand statement ever from Disney. Industry insiders told me the new film from Beyonce signals that Disney Plus is willing to get "elastic" to win the streaming wars -- and stay in business with the Queen.}}</ref>
Dominic Patten of ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' wrote that with ''Black Is King'', "you have a cultural dominance almost unknown nowadays", with the film being "the conformation of its creator and star as the cultural Queen of our time."<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 31, 2020|title=Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Review: Queen Bey's Disney+ Visual Album Is Modern Mythology In Action|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/beyonce-black-is-king-review-disney-lion-king-pharrell-williams-lupita-nyongo-naomi-campbell-bob-iger-streaming-1203000545/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'', Hayley Maitland opined that Beyoncé is "shifting the zeitgeist" with ''Black Is King'', adding that "the project feels especially timely in light of recent devastating events and the resurgence of [[Black Lives Matter]]."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Beyoncé’s 'Black Is King' Has Arrived|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/beyonce-black-is-king|access-date=2020-07-31|website=British Vogue|language=en-GB}}</ref> Matt Donnelly of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote that "Beyoncé is pushing the boundaries of what many have come to expect from the Disney machine" with ''Black Is King'' being "the boldest brand statement ever from Disney" and "the most direct confrontation of a timely societal discussion around racism that Disney Plus has seen."<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{cite tweet|user=MattDonnelly|author=Matt Donnelly|number=1288520657026703361|date=29 July 2020|title=#BlackIsKing is poised to possibly be the boldest brand statement ever from Disney. Industry insiders told me the new film from Beyonce signals that Disney Plus is willing to get "elastic" to win the streaming wars -- and stay in business with the Queen.}}</ref>

[[NPR]] was also positive in two separate reviews, although one called into question "[Beautiful as it is], how does it aid Black people to associate blackness with wealth and riches many of us will never attain in this life?"<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2020/08/04/898881279/beyonce-black-is-king-review-searches?t=1596927129704 Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Is A Sumptuous Search For Divine Identity]</ref>, while the other one presented was critical of the use of animal prints, mentioning that it's "perpetuating stereotypical representations of Africans".<ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/08/07/899421948/opinion-we-are-africans-heres-our-view-of-beyonc-s-black-is-king?t=1596926987511 Opinion: We Are Africans. Here's Our View Of Beyoncé's 'Black Is King']</ref> ''[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]'' also praised the film, but mentioned that it "ignores real needs on the ground, where armed conflict, rights abuses, sickness, and water shortages plague many".<ref>[https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/beyonce-black-is-king-disney-movie-review.html Black Is King Does Everything It Needs To]</ref>


== Impact ==
== Impact ==

Revision as of 04:31, 10 August 2020

Black Is King
File:Black Is King Poster.jpeg
Official release poster
Directed by
Written by
  • Beyoncé Knowles-Carter[1]
  • Yrsa Daley-Ward[1]
  • Clover Hope[1]
  • Andrew Morrow[1]
Based on
Produced by
  • Jeremy Sullivan
  • Jimi Adesanya
  • Blitz Bazawule
  • Ben Cooper
  • Astrid Edwards
  • Durwin Julies
  • Yoli Mes
  • Dafe Oboro
  • Akin Omotoso
  • Will Whitney
  • Lauren Baker
  • Jason Baum
  • Alex Chamberlain
  • Robert Day
  • Christophe Faubert
  • Brien Justiniano
  • Rethabile Molatela Mothobi
  • Sylvia Zakhary
  • Nathan Scherrer
  • Erinn Williams
Starring
Cinematography
  • Ryan Marie Helfant
  • Santiago Gonzalez
  • Mohammaed Atta Ahmed
  • David Boanuh
  • Michael Fernandez
  • Erik Henriksson
  • Danny Hiele
  • Laura Merians
  • Nicolai Niermann
  • Kenechukwu Obiajulu
  • Malik Sayeed
  • Benoit Soler
Edited by
  • Andrew Morrow
  • Maria-Celeste Garrahan
  • Haines Hall
  • Tom Watson
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byDisney+[1]
Release date
  • July 31, 2020 (2020-07-31)
Running time
85 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Black Is King is a 2020 American musical film and visual album directed, written and executive produced by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé.[4] The film serves as a visual companion to the 2019 album The Lion King: The Gift, a tie-in album curated by Beyoncé for the 2019 remake of The Lion King.

Black Is King was released globally to stream on Disney+ on July 31, 2020, and was aired the following day across Sub-Saharan Africa on M-Net and Canal+ Afrique and across the Middle East and North Africa on OSN. The film received acclaim from critics, with praise for Beyoncé's direction, the cinematography, score, costume design, subject matter and cultural themes.

Premise

A young African king is cast out from his family into an unforgiving world.[5] He subsequently undergoes a journey "through betrayal, love and self-identity" to reclaim his throne, utilizing the guidance of his ancestors and childhood love. The story is told through the voices of present-day black artists.[6]

Cast

Column-generating template families

The templates listed here are not interchangeable. For example, using {{col-float}} with {{col-end}} instead of {{col-float-end}} would leave a <div>...</div> open, potentially harming any subsequent formatting.

Column templates
Type Family
Handles wiki
table code?†
 Responsive/
mobile suited 		Start template Column divider End template
Float "col-float" Yes Yes {{col-float}} {{col-float-break}} {{col-float-end}}
"columns-start" Yes Yes {{columns-start}} {{column}} {{columns-end}}
Columns "div col" Yes Yes {{div col}} – {{div col end}}
"columns-list" No Yes {{columns-list}} (wraps div col) – –
Flexbox "flex columns" No Yes {{flex columns}} – –
Table "col" Yes No {{col-begin}},
{{col-begin-fixed}} or
{{col-begin-small}} 		{{col-break}} or
{{col-2}} .. {{col-5}} 		{{col-end}}

† Can template handle the basic wiki markup {| | || |- |} used to create tables? If not, special templates that produce these elements (such as {{(!}}, {{!}}, {{!!}}, {{!-}}, {{!)}})—or HTML tags (<table>...</table>, <tr>...</tr>, etc.)—need to be used instead.

Special appearances

Column-generating template families

The templates listed here are not interchangeable. For example, using {{col-float}} with {{col-end}} instead of {{col-float-end}} would leave a <div>...</div> open, potentially harming any subsequent formatting.

Column templates
Type Family
Handles wiki
table code?†
 Responsive/
mobile suited 		Start template Column divider End template
Float "col-float" Yes Yes {{col-float}} {{col-float-break}} {{col-float-end}}
"columns-start" Yes Yes {{columns-start}} {{column}} {{columns-end}}
Columns "div col" Yes Yes {{div col}} – {{div col end}}
"columns-list" No Yes {{columns-list}} (wraps div col) – –
Flexbox "flex columns" No Yes {{flex columns}} – –
Table "col" Yes No {{col-begin}},
{{col-begin-fixed}} or
{{col-begin-small}} 		{{col-break}} or
{{col-2}} .. {{col-5}} 		{{col-end}}

† Can template handle the basic wiki markup {| | || |- |} used to create tables? If not, special templates that produce these elements (such as {{(!}}, {{!}}, {{!!}}, {{!-}}, {{!)}})—or HTML tags (<table>...</table>, <tr>...</tr>, etc.)—need to be used instead.

Background

On 19 July 2019, The Lion King (a photorealistic computer-animated remake of Disney's traditionally animated 1994 film of the same name) was theatrically released in the United States.[7] The same day, an accompanying tie-in album titled The Lion King: The Gift was released by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records.[8] The Gift was curated and produced by Beyoncé, who described the album as "a love letter to Africa" and recounted her determination to find "the best talent from Africa, and not just use some of the sounds and [do] my interpretation of it".[9]

Beyoncé explained that she believes The Gift "is the first soundtrack where it becomes visual in your mind".[9] Beyoncé added, "I wanted to put everyone on their own journey to link the storyline. Each song was written to reflect the film's storytelling that gives the listener a chance to imagine their own imagery, while listening to a new contemporary interpretation."[10]

On June 19, 2020, Beyoncé released the single "Black Parade", in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.[11] Raisa Bruner of Time called the song "a tour-de-force of references: to black history, to African traditions, to her own family and past" and described Beyoncé as "the queen of a generation providing guidance and assembling her listeners with black solidarity".[12]

Production

Beyoncé called the film "my passion project that I have been filming, researching and editing day and night for the past year".[13]

According to those who have worked on the film, Black Is King contains multiple chapters representing different localities, such as Nigeria and Ghana, with cast and crew of that nationality recruited to contribute and filming taking place in those countries.[14][15]

Development

In July 2019, after the release of the music video for "Spirit", Beyoncé wanted to release more visuals for The Lion King: The Gift. At first, she intended to produce small clips for some of the songs, with them shooting in her backyard. She then decided to create full-length videos for each song, and her idea later snowballed into a very large production.[16][17][18]

Beyoncé worked on the film for over a year after her work on The Lion King

When voicing the character of Nala in The Lion King (2019), Beyoncé delved into the history of the film and its story. She learnt about the story of Solomon Linda, the South African composer of the song "Mbube" who received no credit or royalties from the song being used as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in the original The Lion King. This angered Beyoncé and she left the studio pledging to create a full-length film that will tell the real story with the help of actual Africans instead of using lions and animation, and show the regalness and beauty of Africans before colonialism and slavery erased their past.[19] "Mbube", credited to Linda, is the only original The Lion King song included in Black Is King.[20] Beyoncé explained that the film was created to "celebrate the breadth and beauty of Black ancestry" and "to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to find your self-identity and build a legacy."[21]

Co-director Kwasi Fordjour described the excitement of the early development, saying "Your adrenaline starts to rush and it becomes like, 'OK, what are we going to do, how are we going to do it, where do we start?' When you get into the space where you're so interested and enthralled with creating worlds and spaces, it becomes fun, and she makes it fun."[16] To research for the film, Beyoncé described how she "spent a lot of time exploring and absorbing the lessons of past generations and the rich history of different African customs".[21] The trailer shows Beyoncé reading from the 1971 book Black Gods and Kings, written by American art-historian Robert Farris Thompson to record the art history of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria.[22][23]

The film was written by Beyoncé, poet Yrsa Daley-Ward and writer Clover Hope. The script also incorporates poetry written by Somali-British poet Warsan Shire.[24]

On June 10, 2020, it was reported that Beyoncé was securing a $100 million deal to work on three films for Disney, with a source telling The Sun "Beyoncé has become a major player for Disney and is the perfect fit for their brand".[25]

Pre-production

The cast and crew for Black Is King were recruited to "represent diversity and connectivity",[26] with Beyoncé wanting to feature "raw, new talent".[27] Those recruited to direct segments of the film include Ghanaian-Dutch filmmaker and visual artist Emmanuel Adjei,[28] who contributed to the narrative structure of the entire film,[29] Ghanaian filmmaker and visual artist Blitz the Ambassador,[30] Nigerian-British artist and director Jenn Nkiru,[31] and South African visual artist Trevor Stuurman.[32] Academy Award winner Hannah Beachler was recruited as one of the production designers.[30]

The artists featured in The Gift (such as Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale, Burna Boy, Salatiel and Wizkid) were recruited for the film, as well as special guests such as Blue Ivy, Jay-Z and Kelly Rowland.[33] The cast also features South African actors Nandi Madida and Warren Masemola,[34] and Nigerian actor Papi Ojo, for whom Black Is King is his debut film performance.[35]

Beyoncé also borrowed some of her mother Tina Knowles's art pieces for Black Is King, as revealed by her mother during a February 2020 interview with the Wall Street Journal.[36]

Costume design

The costumes in "Find Your Way Back" allude to the Dogon people, who wear kanaga masks during dama, a ceremony of mourning

Hundreds of costumes were designed for Black Is King, including 69 for Beyoncé herself.[37][38] Stylist Zerina Akers curated outfits from both global brands and young black designers for the film, saying "To be able to give [an emerging talent] the same visibility as a large corporation is invaluable... It’s not just about creating a look, it’s about how many families can benefit from that look. To see the waves this has created has been a dream."[39]

Akers spoke about how she "wanted to reference different cultures, traditions and tribes, but to have the freedom to create fantasy, for people to be able to escape into a new world".[39] This included dancers wearing kanaga masks in the "Find Your Way Back" video, with the sparkly looks being inspired by constellations; this is a reference to the Dogon people's astrological belief system and complex astronomical expertise.[40][41] The fashion in the "My Power" video was designed according to the colors of the Seven African Powers, with each singer representing a different orisha.[42] One look in the "Already" video was a 5:31 Jérôme blue Nigerian lace trench dress with an accompanying Nigerian gele, inspired by the fashion of matriarchal women at Nigerian weddings.[17] A Burberry cowprint top and skirt from the "Already" video were inspired by the Xhosa and Zulu people of South Africa, who use the hide of Nguni cattle in their shields.[43]

Hairstyling

Hairstylist Neal Farinah recalled Beyoncé saying to him one Tuesday night: "Hey, I want to talk to you. I’ve been saving this baby for a moment now, and I want to do it." After asking her what the project is, Beyoncé replied "I want to do a movie and I want you to do this masterpiece with me". She showed him pages of picture references of traditional African hairstyles that she had spent time collecting, and they remained there until almost 4am discussing the hairstyles. Beyoncé wanted the hair completed by Friday, so Farinah asked his manager to look on social media for the best black hairstylists and send them to his salon in the morning. The team spent over 16 hours a day for 6 days to create more than 40 wigs, including a 30-foot braided wig that can be seen in "Water". Farinah commented that Black Is King was a great moment to "share the piece of the pie with other Black hairstylists who don’t have this platform to show their creativity and their work."[44]

The hairstyles in Black Is King were inspired by various traditional African hairstyles, with Farinah and Beyoncé striving to offer insight into African culture with every style. Beyoncé's braid crown in "Brown Skin Girl" was inspired by the Mangbetu people of the Eastern Congo, whose Lipombo skull elongation technique represented royalty and status. A hairstyle worn in "Already" was inspired by the horned heads and lip plates of the Dinka and Mursi peoples, who wear them as symbols of prestige and honour. Another of Beyoncé's hairstyles in the same video used Bantu knots to pay respect to the Zulu people, with an ankh symbol in the center to symbolize life as in ancient Egyptian culture.[45]

Filming

Filming primarily took place in the latter half of 2019,[46] in Nigeria (including the National Arts Theatre in Lagos), the Eastern Region and Greater Accra Region of Ghana,[47] South Africa (including the Shakaland Zulu Village, the Ndebele church in Mapoch and the Ponte City Apartments in Johannesburg),[48] New York, Los Angeles (including the Beverly House), the Grand Canyon, London and Belgium.[49][48]

Post-production

Post-production took place from December 2019 at Flawless Post.[50] MeLo-X, Derek Dixie and James William Blades contributed to the score and sound design;[51] MeLo-X described working on the film on Twitter, writing "Truly an amazing and eye opening journey. @Beyonce always pushes for greatness. This is nothing less".[52]

Music

Main article: The Lion King: The Gift

Black Is King is based on the music of The Lion King: The Gift, with each song on the album receiving corresponding visuals in the film. An extended version of "Black Parade" was used for the film's credits.[53]

The film's score was composed by James William Blades, MeLo-X and Derek Dixie, while Beyoncé and Derek Dixie acted as music directors.[54] The score contains traditional African music from Smithsonian Folkways recordings; ethnomusicologist and retired associated director Atesh Sonneborn commented that the choice of songs used were notably lullabies and children's songs, with the selection showing that Beyoncé was trying "to reach back to her own sense of African heritage".[55]

On the film's release date, a deluxe edition of The Gift was released, including both the original and extended versions of "Black Parade" and a remix of "Find Your Way Back" by MeLo-X.[56]

Release

Black Is King was released globally on July 31, 2020 on Disney+.[57] A few hours prior, the music video for Already was officially released to YouTube and Instagram.[58] As Disney+ is not available in Africa, a distribution deal was made with Central and West African television channel Canal+ Afrique and South African media conglomerate MultiChoice Group's channel M-Net to screen Black Is King across Sub-Saharan Africa on August 1, 2020. For the film's premiere, the MultiChoice Group will open M-Net for all DStv customers for about 2 hours on the rest of the packages except for the Premium package.[59] As part of the deal, Black Is King was aired in countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Namibia, Cameroon, Liberia, Burundi, Senegal, Togo, Somalia, Benin, Congo, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Gabon and Cape Verde.[60] Additionally, Emirati television network OSN screened Black Is King throughout the Middle East and North Africa region.[61]

Marketing

On the night of June 27, 2020, a teaser trailer for Black Is King was posted on Beyoncé's website, the first official announcement of the film to the public. The teaser was then premiered on television a day later on June 28, to conclude the BET Awards after Beyoncé's acceptance speech for the BET Humanitarian Award.[22][62] It was then subsequently released across various platforms by Beyoncé's entertainment and management company Parkwood Entertainment in association with Disney.[63] Bob Iger, Executive Chairman of The Walt Disney Company, said he was "honored to be working with Beyoncé [on] this" upon sharing the teaser on Twitter.[64] The surprise release of the teaser caused "Twitter [to go] bonkers", according to USA Today,[22] and it subsequently received praise from fans and critics alike for its imagery and symbolism.[65][26]

An official trailer for Black Is King was released on July 19, 2020 by Beyoncé.[66] Some of the members of the cast and crew were subsequently announced.[67] The trailer was similarly praised by critics, with Jasmine Ting for Paper declaring the film "[a] colorful cinematic masterpiece" with "out-of-this-world visuals" that mix "traditional cultural elements from the African continent" with "modern-day African-American culture".[68]

Ben Sisario of The New York Times writes that the minimal marketing for Black Is King "reflects one of Beyoncé's great talents — stoking public conversation with her art, while explaining very little about it". Ohio State University associate professor Treva Lindsey adds that Beyoncé "is allowing her art to speak for itself" and "opening up space for robust conversations".[69]

Critical reception

Black Is King received positive reviews from critics, with praise for its visuals, direction, music, themes and cultural relevance.[70] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 98% based on 49 reviews, with an average rating of 8.17/10. The website's critical consensus states: "Beyoncé is King."[71] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating to reviews, the film has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[72]

Writing for Decider, Anna Menta said that Black Is King is "an undeniably breathtaking, personal, and political work of art." Describing it as "a visual masterpiece" that is "almost overwhelming", Menta praised the "neverending progression of jaw-dropping landscapes" and the "instantly iconic" costumes, adding that "every frame, outfit, and dance move has meaning."[73] In a review for the Los Angeles Times, Lorraine Ali said the film is a "pageant of sight and sound honoring the Black diaspora, weaving a collection of vibrant, profound and defiantly creative scenarios".[74] Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that Beyoncé "stuns again with the spellbinding Black Is King", which "takes the viewer on a dazzling, hyper-real ride through natural landscapes and space-age futures, while incorporating elements of black history and tradition." Nguyen added that the film transposes The Lion King "to a modern political context, turning the tale of Simba's journey towards selfhood into a bold statement about the power of black identity."[75]

Odie Henderson of RogerEbert.com described Black Is King as an "inspirational piece of art" and "a jaw-dropping visual achievement" with "stunning visuals that permeate every frame [which] arrive courtesy of a crew of spectacular cinematographers, each of whom brings a different yet cohesive look to the set pieces".[76] Marianna Cerini, writing for CNN, also praised the visuals and themes of the film, calling it "a universe of phenomenal, larger-than-life looks and sets that are as powerful and artful as the cultural messages conveyed through the music."[77] David Smyth of the Evening Standard agreed, describing the film as a "sumptuous, breathtaking celebration of ancestry."[78] Writing for NME, Jenessa Williams praised the "stirring iconography" and "impeccable" visuals, adding that "each shot is straight out of a modernist gallery, juicy pinks and oranges beaming against impossible sunsets and lush green landscapes."[79] Chanté Joseph of The Guardian declared Black Is King "a feast for the eyes, celebrating the beauty and richness of African cultures with emotion and power."[80]

Okla Jones of Consequence of Sound praised Beyoncé's direction, describing how "Beyoncé’s attention to detail is prevalent throughout the film’s nearly 90-minute duration, with each scene matching the emotional tone of the song that accompanies it".[81] Janelle Okwodu of Vogue agreed, opining that "Black Is King shows her at her most commanding", with Beyoncé's vision tying the work of her collaborators.[82] Steve Rose of The Guardian stated that "Beyoncé is emerging as a major figure in cinema", adding that "it’s safe to say that Beyoncé is... one of the most significant film-makers" on the planet.[83] Janell Hobson, writing for Ms., described how "Bey, as auteur, orchestrates the music, the videos, the fashions, the dances, and the multiple artists on her audiovisual project in a grand unifying vision".[20] Aidin Vaziri of the San Francisco Chronicle commented that the film "takes cues from the theatrical pacing of Beyoncé’s tour performances".[84] Vanessa Friedman, fashion director and chief fashion critic of The New York Times, wrote that the "overwhelming" scenes and outfits are "dazzling, but also calculated", with "all of them exist[ing] to serve the vision of one woman; to elevate the imagery of Beyoncé". Friedman continued, explaining how this concentrates "all the power in her own hands, marking the garments into tools to reinforce her message", concluding that "this project and all its trappings position its auteur, as the voice-over says in the film, as the "divine archetype"."[66] Allegra Frank of Vox described how "Beyoncé shows us through the 85-minute powerhouse of an art film" that "Africa is no singular entity... Africa is the motherland of all shades of Blackness. And through these gorgeous frames, each one an art piece of its own, she says: "Everything the light touches is our kingdom.""[85]

In a review for The Ringer, Taylor Crumpton explained that Beyoncé "lifted the veil of white supremacist thought that has dehumanized the African Diaspora". Crumpton posited that to combat white supremacy, "a global Black identity is needed,... not only through political and community organizing, but in the spiritual sense"; using this belief, the film is Beyoncé's declamation to the African diaspora to "disinvest from established power dynamics" by undertaking "the internal journey to uncover an identity and heritage lost to them from centuries of enslavement".[86] Jeremy Helligar of Variety agreed, writing that Black Is King "reminds us that Black lives didn’t begin in chains" and inspires young black people "to learn about the history of their race and the ways in which it has shaped the world".[87] Writing for Glamour, Candace McDuffie called the film "an unforgettable visual experience", describing the film as holding "a mirror to the dynamic nature of Blackness—one for all the world to see. The result is truly remarkable." McDuffie added that the film "is exactly what we need right now...[as] its meaning is much deeper than a simple retelling of a Disney movie."[88] In a review for Empire, Amon Warmann described the film as "a bold and unique offering that's brimming with Black pride" and "a powerful reminder of what Black people can aspire to be."[89] In a review for NPR, Eric Deggans said that "there's a lot of profundity" in the dialogue of the film, adding that it is clear Beyoncé put a lot of thought into the project and how it can make a significant impact.[90]

Sukriti Wahi of Elle Australia praised how the film includes non-black people of color who have experienced colorism, such as South Asian model Sheerah Ravindren, and how Beyoncé "put independent black designers from around the world front and centre".[91] Cydney Henderson of USA Today wrote that the star of the film "is the raw, untapped talent from performers around the world showcasing their rich tradition and culture, history and lineage", with the film showcasing "the often overlooked Afrobeats genre", as well as "less mainstream superstars like Wizkid and Shatta Wale while employing popular African dances like the gbese, gwara and zanku."[92]

Dominic Patten of Deadline wrote that with Black Is King, "you have a cultural dominance almost unknown nowadays", with the film being "the conformation of its creator and star as the cultural Queen of our time."[93] Writing for Vogue, Hayley Maitland opined that Beyoncé is "shifting the zeitgeist" with Black Is King, adding that "the project feels especially timely in light of recent devastating events and the resurgence of Black Lives Matter."[94] Matt Donnelly of Variety wrote that "Beyoncé is pushing the boundaries of what many have come to expect from the Disney machine" with Black Is King being "the boldest brand statement ever from Disney" and "the most direct confrontation of a timely societal discussion around racism that Disney Plus has seen."[5][95]

NPR was also positive in two separate reviews, although one called into question "[Beautiful as it is], how does it aid Black people to associate blackness with wealth and riches many of us will never attain in this life?"[96], while the other one presented was critical of the use of animal prints, mentioning that it's "perpetuating stereotypical representations of Africans".[97] Vulture also praised the film, but mentioned that it "ignores real needs on the ground, where armed conflict, rights abuses, sickness, and water shortages plague many".[98]

Impact

At The Walt Disney Company Q3 2020 earnings call, CEO Bob Chapek announced that Disney+ reached its five-year subscriber goal in eight months, crediting films such as Black Is King for an increase of approximately 3 million subscribers.[99] Chapek described how Black Is King is "being widely celebrated for its diverse cast, stunning artistry and inspiring interpretation of the Black experience", adding that it clearly shows "the power of the Disney+ platform for premiering world-class content".[100]

The Marine Serre moon print bodysuit that is featured in Black Is King became "the most popular design of 2020", with the brand seeing a 426% increase in searches in the 48 hours after the film’s release. Steff Yotka of Vogue wrote that "Black Is King was the digital fashion event of the summer, upstaging official fashion weeks by aligning garments with history, celebrity, purpose, and unparalleled beauty."[101]

A TikTok and social media trend titled "#MyPowerChallenge" was created after the film's release, whereby participants recreate the dance from the "My Power" video in Black Is King.[102] One video by 6-year-old Grey Skye Evans went viral on Instagram.[103][104]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k DeFore, John (July 31, 2020). "'Black Is King': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Spangler, Todd (June 28, 2020). "Beyoncé Visual Album 'Black Is King' Coming to Disney Plus". Variety. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  3. ^ Moreau, Jordan (July 19, 2020). "Beyoncé Releases Trailer for 'Black Is King' Visual Album on Disney Plus (Watch)". Variety. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. ^ ALI, LORRAINE (1 August 2020). "Review: Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' reimagines 'The Lion King' as abstract tribute to Black power, beauty and wisdom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b Donnelly, Matt (2020-07-29). "What Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Means for Disney Plus". Variety. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  6. ^ Mendez, Michele. "Here's Everything You Need To Know About Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Visual Album". Elite Daily. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  7. ^ S, Ian; well (2019-07-10). "Lion King remake: Everything you need to know". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  8. ^ Entertainment, Parkwood. "Beyoncé Produces And Performs On Multi-Artist Album "The Lion King: The Gift"". PR Newswire. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  9. ^ a b America, Good Morning. "Beyoncé explains how she created a new music genre for 'The Lion King' album". Good Morning America. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  10. ^ Strauss, Matthew. "Listen to Beyoncé's Song "Spirit" From New Lion King Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  11. ^ "Beyoncé releases surprise new song, Black Parade, on Juneteenth". The Guardian. June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Best New Songs of June 2020". Time. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  13. ^ "Queen Bey Teases Her Next Visual Album 'Black Is King'". British Vogue. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  14. ^ @JoshuaKissi (29 June 2020). "#BlackIsKing ~ I was tapped to contribute and direct the Ghana portion of the film there was nothing like contributing to this vision through narratives on the ground in my home country. This wouldn't be possible without my on the ground Ghana team!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "A N T I on Instagram: "Black Is King, a film by @beyonce.⁣ Super pumped to have played our part on the Nigerian chapter of this film 🧡 alongside amazing…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  16. ^ a b "Beyoncé's Co-Director Spills on the Making of 'Black Is King'". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  17. ^ a b Pisano, Louis (2020-08-05). "Beyoncé's Stylist Breaks Down the Fashion in Black Is King". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  18. ^ Ani, Ivie (2020-08-09). "How 'Black Is King' Co-Director Kwasi Fordjour Brought Africa Worldwide". Medium. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  19. ^ Knowles-Lawson, Tina (August 4, 2020). "Race in America: A Conversation with Beverly Johnson and Tina Knowles-Lawson". Washington Post Live (Interview). Interviewed by Karen Attiah. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ a b "Oshun Energy in Beyoncé's "Black is King" - Ms. Magazine". msmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  21. ^ a b Weaver, Hilary (2020-06-29). "Beyoncé Surprise-Dropped a Trailer for Her New Visual Album, 'Black Is King'". ELLE. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  22. ^ a b c Willis, Kim. "Beyoncé unveils longer trailer for visual album 'Black Is King' and Twitter goes bonkers". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  23. ^ "Yale University :: Department of the History of Art". web.archive.org. 2015-10-20. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  24. ^ Thompson, Rachel. "Beyoncé drops breathtaking 'Black Is King' visual album with cameos from all the family". Mashable. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  25. ^ "Beyonce in talks for $100million deal to work on three Disney movies including Black Panther 2". The Independent. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  26. ^ a b Weisenstein, Kara. "Everything we know about Beyoncé's secret project inspired by 'The Lion King'". Mic. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  27. ^ Castillo, Jessica. "Beyoncé Debuts Final "Black Is King" Teaser". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  28. ^ "Emmanuel Adjei on Instagram: "it fills my heart with joy to present BLACK IS KING 👑 7.31 @disneyplus 💫 @beyonce - it takes a huge amount of strength, persuasion,…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  29. ^ Adjei, Emmanuel Adjei (2020-08-01). "@emmanueladjei_ shared a photo on Instagram: "from the very first moment i was brought on this journey, i was embraced by the most inspiring and loving team of talented, creatives, some…" • Aug 1, 2020 at 12:25pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-08-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ a b Desta, Yohana. "Beyoncé "Felt Overwhelmed" Making New Visual Album, Black Is King". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  31. ^ "Jenn NKIRU on Instagram: "#BLACKISKING"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  32. ^ "Trevor Stuurman humbled to be a part of Beyoncé's 'Black is King'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  33. ^ "Beyoncé Unveils Trailer For New Film 'BLACK IS KING'". Idolator. 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  34. ^ Coetzee, Nikita. "WATCH | The trailer for Beyoncé's new visual album is here and it features a few SA stars". News24. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  35. ^ "Papi's Here ★ on Instagram: "Black is King 🤴🏿 7• 31• 2020 ( First Debut movie with @beyonce ) 🤯❤️ God is good at all times 🙏🏿"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  36. ^ Florsheim, Lane (February 10, 2020). "Tina Knowles-Lawson on Lending Art to Her Daughter Beyoncé". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  37. ^ Dazed (2020-08-06). "How Zerina Akers created Black is King's fashion fantasy". Dazed. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  38. ^ Singer, Melissa (2020-08-08). "Black is King: Is Beyonce fashion's ultimate influencer?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  39. ^ a b ""Beyoncé Is A Phenomenal Mentor:" Stylist Zerina Akers On The Visually Explosive 'Black Is King'". British Vogue. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  40. ^ Crumpton, Taylor (2020-08-07). "How Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Honors the Black Experience". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  41. ^ Yap, Angelique Jackson,Audrey Cleo; Jackson, Angelique; Yap, Audrey Cleo (2020-08-04). "A Quick Cultural Guide to Beyoncé's 'Black Is King'". Variety. Retrieved 2020-08-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ Crumpton, Taylor (2020-08-07). "How Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Honors the Black Experience". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  43. ^ "A Fashion Historian Unpacks the Symbolism of Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Costumes". Time. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  44. ^ Wilson, Julee (2020-08-05). "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Hairstylists Made 40+ Wigs in Just 6 Days". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  45. ^ "How Beyoncé's Long-Time Hairstylist Created The Head-Turning Hair Of 'Black Is King'". British Vogue. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  46. ^ "Bear Bulb on Instagram: "Black is King!!! I'm super excited to see this is finally coming out. I have been sitting on this for a long time. We started working on…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  47. ^ Blair, Olivia (2020-08-04). "Beyoncé's Producer Shares Her Experience Of Working On 'Black Is King'". ELLE. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  48. ^ a b "Where was Black Is King filmed? The House and all the Filming Locations of Beyonce's Movie". Atlas of Wonders. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  49. ^ "Beyonce's Black Is King is an ode to Black people and the diaspora in all its glory". The Independent. 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  50. ^ "Flawless Post (@flawlesspostproduction) posted on Instagram • Jun 29, 2020 at 10:21pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  51. ^ @MeLoXTRA (1 July 2020). "My son Marlo been helping me with all my production and film scores for the past 3 months. You know I had to have him add elements to a Disney film. DUUUHHH! @Beyonce #blackisking scored by MELO-X - Derek Dixie & James Williams Blades" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  52. ^ @MeLoXTRA (1 July 2020). "#blackisking I worked on the music score & sound design for this film. Truly an amazing and eye opening journey. @Beyonce always pushes for greatness. This is nothing less. I put alot of downloads and energy into my compositions. Can't wait for yall to experience this" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  53. ^ Bloom, Madison. "Beyoncé Shares New Visual Album Black Is King". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  54. ^ Grierson, Tim. "'Black Is King': Review". Screen. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  55. ^ Adams, Sam (2020-08-05). "How Black Is King Got Its African Lullabies". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  56. ^ Class, DJ First (2020-07-31). "Beyonce unleashes new album 'The Lion King: The Gift (Deluxe)'". REVOLT. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  57. ^ "Beyoncé Visual Album 'Black Is King' Coming to Disney Plus". Variety. June 28, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  58. ^ "Beyoncé Drops Vibrant 'Already' Video Ahead of 'Black Is King' Visual Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  59. ^ "Black is King comes to M-Net". M-Net - Black is King comes to M-Net. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  60. ^ "DEETS: M-Net is bringing Beyonce's visual album Black Is King to Africa". www.glamour.co.za. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  61. ^ "Beyoncé is dropping a new visual album that celebrates black culture. Here's how to watch it". Grazia Middle East. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  62. ^ "Beyoncé Recognized for Humanitarian Work at BET Awards: 'Please Continue to Be the Change'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  63. ^ "Beyonce to Release 'Black Is King' Visual Album on Disney+". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  64. ^ @RobertIger (29 June 2020). "Honored to be working with @Beyonce this!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  65. ^ Bakshi, Pema. "Beyonce Releases Trailer For New Visual Album 'Black Is King'". ELLE. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  66. ^ a b Farago, Jason; Friedman, Vanessa; Kourlas, Gia; Morris, Wesley; Pareles, Jon; Tillet, Salamishah (2020-07-31). "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King': Let's Discuss". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  67. ^ "Beyonce's 'Black Is King': Naomi Campbell and More Star in New Trailer". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  68. ^ "The Official Trailer for 'Black Is King' Is Here". PAPER. 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  69. ^ Sisario, Ben (2020-07-30). "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Is No Secret, but Still Comes With Mystery". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  70. ^ "Black Is King First Reviews: Queen Bey Drops A Masterpiece". Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  71. ^ "Black Is King (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  72. ^ "Black Is King Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  73. ^ "'Black Is King' Review: Beyoncé's Tribute to African Culture Is a Visual Masterpiece". Decider. 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  74. ^ "Review: Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' reimagines 'The Lion King' as abstract tribute to Black power, beauty and wisdom". Los Angeles Times. 2020-08-01. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  75. ^ Nguyen, Giselle Au-Nhien (2020-07-31). "Beyonce's Black Is King is a sumptuous visual feast". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  76. ^ Henderson, Odie. "Black Is King movie review & film summary (2020) | Roger Ebert". https://www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2020-08-02. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  77. ^ CNN, Marianna Cerini. "'Black Is King': Beyoncé's visual album is a feast of fashion and symbolism". CNN. Retrieved 2020-07-31. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  78. ^ "Beyoncé Black is King review: A sumptuous, breathtaking celebration of ancestry". Evening Standard. July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  79. ^ "Beyoncé' – 'Black Is King' visual album: the NME review". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  80. ^ "Black Is King review – Beyoncé's love song to the black diaspora". The Guardian. July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  81. ^ "Beyoncé's Black Is King Seeks to Change The Way We See Ourselves: Review". Consequence of Sound. 2020-08-01. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  82. ^ Okwodu, Janelle. "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Is the Afrocentric Fashion Moment We've Been Waiting For". Vogue. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  83. ^ "Hold up: It's time to start taking Beyoncé's filmmaking seriously". the Guardian. 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  84. ^ July 31, Aidin Vaziri; August 1, 2020Updated:; 2020; Am, 11:37. "Review: Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' on Disney Plus is an opulent celebration of the Black experience". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved 2020-08-02. {{cite web}}: |last3= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  85. ^ Frank, Allegra (2020-07-31). "Black Is King is Beyoncé's stunning ode to African glory". Vox. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  86. ^ Crumpton, Taylor (2020-08-04). "Beyoncé, the African Diaspora, and the Baptism of 'Black Is King'". The Ringer. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  87. ^ Helligar, Jeremy; Helligar, Jeremy (2020-07-31). "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King': Visual Album Review". Variety. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  88. ^ McDuffie, Candace. "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Is Exactly What We Need Right Now". Glamour. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  89. ^ "Black Is King". Empire. 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  90. ^ "Review: Beyoncé's Visual Album, 'Black Is King'". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  91. ^ Wahi, Sukriti. "7 Takeaways From Beyoncé's Stunning New Visual Album 'Black Is King'". ELLE. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  92. ^ Henderson, Cydney. "'Black is King': Beyoncé dedicates celebration of Black beauty, retelling of 'Lion King' to son". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  93. ^ "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Review: Queen Bey's Disney+ Visual Album Is Modern Mythology In Action". Deadline Hollywood. July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  94. ^ "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Has Arrived". British Vogue. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  95. ^ Matt Donnelly [@MattDonnelly] (29 July 2020). "#BlackIsKing is poised to possibly be the boldest brand statement ever from Disney. Industry insiders told me the new film from Beyonce signals that Disney Plus is willing to get "elastic" to win the streaming wars -- and stay in business with the Queen" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  96. ^ Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Is A Sumptuous Search For Divine Identity
  97. ^ Opinion: We Are Africans. Here's Our View Of Beyoncé's 'Black Is King'
  98. ^ Black Is King Does Everything It Needs To
  99. ^ Newsdesk, Laughing Place Disney (2020-08-04). "Disney+ Now Has 60.5 Million Subscribers Worldwide Exceeding Expectations". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  100. ^ "Edited Transcript of DIS.N earnings conference call or presentation 4-Aug-20 8:30pm GMT". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  101. ^ Yotka, Steff. "With a Beyoncé Boost, Marine Serre's Moon Print Becomes the Most Popular Design of 2020". Vogue. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  102. ^ Haylock, Zoe (2020-08-03). "It Took the Beyhive Less Than 24 Hours to Learn the 'My Power' Choreography". Vulture. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  103. ^ News, A. B. C. "6-year-old fiercely channels Beyonce's 'Black Is King' dance routine". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-08-05. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  104. ^ Moroney, Murphy (2020-08-04). "This Little Girl Has Mastered Beyoncé's "My Power" Dance From Black Is King, and Just Wow". POPSUGAR UK Parenting. Retrieved 2020-08-05.

External links

Template:Disney+ Films

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Is_King&oldid=972099761"