Beyoncé says early in “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” that she is excited for everyone to see the show and the process. She has taken to rarely giving interviews, so understanding her process is a desire of mine, especially as I teach courses on her art. “Renaissance” shows Beyoncé’s control over her creative product and freed her from having to prove herself within society. The film showcases the balance between her onstage and backstage work during her world tour, making it unique among other concert films. Beyoncé directed, wrote, and produced the film, creating one of the decade’s most memorable cinematic musical experiences. It delves deeper into her creative process by showing moments of tension and stress during her performances and the pressures she faces managing her production team. With “Renaissance,” Beyoncé shares that every aspect of her creative process was her own and that it has always been a fight to communicate as a Black woman. The film also shows that motherhood and management are challenges she faces. Through the film, Beyoncé showcases the Black queer ballroom culture and the people and places that have inspired her work. By sharing her creative process, her artistry proves to be authentic, and, by the film’s end, she declares that she feels free.
The Case for Beyoncé as an Auteur: Redefining Creativity in Music and Film
