Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Idea for the 2nd Essay

For my second essay I will still be writing about singer, Beyonce's alter ego, Sasha Fierce, but I think instead of using the character for my artifact, I will be using Beyonce's double disc album entitled I Am...Sasha Fierce. The method that I will use to analyze this artifact will be Fantasy-Theme criticism. In an interview with Billboard magazine, Knowles described the two sides to the album. She describes one one side (I am..) as being more traditional R&B songs and ballads such as the songs, "Halo", "If I Were a Boy", and "Broken-Hearted Girl." The other disc (Sasha Fierce) included in the album is described as more mainstream tunes like "Sweet Dreams", "Video Phone", and "Single Ladies". Like my previous blog, I'd like to talk about the fictional character that Beyonce calls her alter ego, but in order to explain it more in depth, I will focus my paper on the character as well as the album I Am...Sasha Fierce because that is where the character Sasha Fierce came from.
In my paper, I will discuss the Symbolic Convergence Theory and how it relates to Beyonce's album. In addition to the Symbolic Convergence Theory, I will also discuss the three types of fantasy themes: setting themes, character themes, and action themes in the album. I feel comfortable enough with my artifact to write an entire paper on it. I know the background of the album and all of the songs. Here is a track list for I Am...Sasha Fierce

Beyonce Disc
1. “If I Were a Boy” (Toby Gad and Beyoncé Knowles)
2. “Halo” (Ryan Tedder and Beyoncé Knowles)
3. “Disappear” (Amanda Ghost, Dave McCracken, Ian Dench, and Beyoncé Knowles)
4. “Broken-Hearted Girl” (Stargate and Beyoncé Knowles)
5. “Ave Maria” (Stargate and Beyoncé Knowles)
6. “Smash Into You” (C. “Tricky” Stewart, Terius “The-Dream” Nash, and Beyoncé Knowles)
7. “Satellites” (Amanda Ghost, Dave McCracken, Ian Dench, and Beyoncé Knowles)
8. “That’s Why You’re Beautiful” (Andrew Hey and Beyoncé Knowles)

Sasha Disc
1. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” (C. “Tricky” Stewart, Terius “The-Dream” Nash, and Beyoncé Knowles)
2. “Radio” (Jim Jonsin, D-Town, Rico Love, and Beyoncé Knowles)
3. “Diva” (Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford, Sean Garrett, and Beyoncé Knowles)
4. “Sweet Dreams” (Jim Jonsin, Wayne Wilkins, Rico Love, and Beyoncé Knowles)
5. “Video Phone” (Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford, Sean Garrett, and Beyoncé Knowles)
6. “Hello” (REO and Beyoncé Knowles)
7. “Ego” (Elvis “BlacElvis” Williams, Harold Lilly, and Beyoncé Knowles)
8. “Scared of Lonely” (Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins)
9. “Why Don’t You Love Me?” (Beyoncé Knowles, Solange Knowles, and Bama Boyz

Sunday, April 4, 2010


Diva – Beyonce Music Code

Fantasy Theme Criticism: Sasha Fierce





American R&B singer Beyonce Knowles released her third solo studio album in November 2008 entitled I am ... Sasha Fierce. Knowles explained the character Sasha Fierce as being the character that she becomes on stage and in some of her more upbeat, sexy songs. Beyonce describes herself as being a very shy, personal woman, but her alter ego, Sasha Fierce allows her to let loose and be a totally different person. In fact, Sasha Fierce is the more outspoken, agressive, and fun. There is a distinct difference between the two and the difference is evident in the way they she sings and dances in her concerts.

Settings: The I Am...Sasha Fierce album, music videos, concerts

Character: Beyonce, Sasha Fierce

Action Theme: dancing, agressiveness