Michael Jackson - Billie Jean blog tasks
Media Magazine reading: Billie Jean, birth of an icon
Go to our Media Magazine archive and read the case study on Billie Jean - birth of an icon (MM62 - page 20). Answer the following questions:
1) What was the budget for Billie Jean? How did this compare with later Michael Jackson videos?
The budget was $50,000, which was 6 times less than 'Beat It', which went into production 5 weeks later with a budget of $300,000. Thriller was much bigger with $2mill to spend.
2) Why was the video rejected by MTV?
It didn't suit their 'middle America' audience, meaning because Michael Jackson was black. The president of the record label then threatened to take all their music videos off MTV, which afterwards MTV backed off and allowed the video to be played.
3) Applying Goodwin's theory of music video, how does Billie Jean reflect the genre characteristics of pop music video?
The music video seems to have more of a film genre connection, as music videos were not common. It has a 1950s Hollywood musical genre setting with the city in the background and it being a fake film set like Wizard of Oz and other 40/50s musicals. Also it has a strong film-noir connection, the detectives costume, the femme fetal(which we don't see, which matches with the mystery element of the genre) , and also it's in black and white at the start. But for modern day comparisons it feature lip-syncing and performance and narrative.
4) How do the visuals reflect the lyrics in Billie Jean?
The lyrics are in sync with the visual effects. When he mentions 'eyes were like mine', there is a still image of his eyes for a few seconds. Also the song is about Billie Jean and the pictures of the women in the Billboard changes increasing the mystery element of now knowing who Billie Jean(also the Film Noir aspect of mystery and unsolved cases).
5) Why does the video feature fewer close-up shots than in most pop videos?
The main element the video focus' on is the performance. Michael Jackson's dancing is the focal point of the whole video. Also this music video was based on film conventions such as long shot in film noir and 50s musicals which also focused on the conventions of performance and showing the setting more as opposed to close-ups of the stars during the dancing.
6) What intertextual references can be found in the video?
The detective is a reference to Film Noir, the setting is a reference to the conventions of a 40/50s musical.
7) How does the video use the notion of looking as a recurring motif?
He is seen through a picture in a Polaroid camera. The motif seems to be pictures within pictures. He is also seen through windows.
8) What representations can be found in the video?
Representations of him being a Messiah like figure. Everything he touches turns into gold, the homeless man with one penny is turned into a showman. There is an ongoing theme of being from the streets, there is an urban setting of dark alleyways and supernatural elements.
Close-textual analysis of the music video
1) How is mise-en-scene used to create intertextuality - reference to other media products or genres? E.g. colour/black and white; light/lighting.
setting
- intertextual reference to the 'Golden Age' of musicals (1950s)
- theme of voyeurism (spying) - film noir e.g. mysterious feel, empty streets
- has references to Baudrillard's hyper reality
New Equilibrium: the detective is caught and Michael Jackson escapes without leaving a trace
Binary opposition between fierce vs cute was shown within Michael Jackson. I think the use of the tyger was a great way of showing this because he was well known for being an exotic animal lover. The homeless man is also a good example of representing rich and poor
4) What is the significance of the freeze-frames and split-screen visual effects?
- romance genre
- musicals feel was shown through: high key lighting, vibrant clothing
The freeze frames match the lyrics and the narrative. The 'eyes were like mine' lyrics had a still image of his eyes. It creates this sense of reflection of what message the video is trying to come across.
5) What meanings could the recurring motif of 'pictures-within-pictures' create for the audience?
Maybe that's why the detective is following him. He needs proof that Michael Jackson exists, the pictures in the shop provides further evidence that he doesn't exist, it builds the narrative.
6) Does the video reinforce or subvert theories of race and ethnicity - such as Gilroy's diaspora or Hall's black characterisations in American media?
It reinforces Hall's representation of being the performer. Also the diasporic identity crisis comes through quite strongly. The only interaction Michael has is with the homeless man. Homeless people are regarded as not having a place in society so the identity crisis link does appear here. Also the fact that Michael Jacksons performance is on the outskirts of the city, could also mean that he doesn't belong there, there is no semblance of acknowledgement that he exists.
7) Does this video reflect Steve Neale's genre theory of 'repetition and difference'? Does it reflect other music videos or does it innovate?
Performance plays a big part in modern music videos, the repetition aspect connects. But also the difference is 'absolutely essential(Steven Neale)', the visual effects and still images are something that isn't used in a pop song, its a lot more quick paced.
8) Analyse the video using postmodern theory (e.g. Baudrillard's hyper-reality; Strinati's five definitions of postmodernism). How does the 'picture-in-picture' recurring motif create a postmodern reading?
Pastiche is showcased in this video. He is imitating film Noir and 50s musicals. Using pastiche proves Baurillard's point that the copy is viewed as reality than the original, this video created a pavement for other artists to use the conventions in this video like performance as a convention in their video - Daniel Chandler's conventions of context. The picture motif imitates the art and pop culture styles used in media texts.
Extension reading: Michael Jackson
Read this fascinating Guardian feature on Michael Jackson and race - building on our recent work on music video, genre, theory and representations of race and ethnicity.
Another Guardian feature - How Billie Jean changed the world - explores the cultural influence of the song and video.
Go to our Media Magazine archive and read the case study on Billie Jean - birth of an icon (MM62 - page 20). Answer the following questions:
1) What was the budget for Billie Jean? How did this compare with later Michael Jackson videos?
The budget was $50,000, which was 6 times less than 'Beat It', which went into production 5 weeks later with a budget of $300,000. Thriller was much bigger with $2mill to spend.
2) Why was the video rejected by MTV?
It didn't suit their 'middle America' audience, meaning because Michael Jackson was black. The president of the record label then threatened to take all their music videos off MTV, which afterwards MTV backed off and allowed the video to be played.
3) Applying Goodwin's theory of music video, how does Billie Jean reflect the genre characteristics of pop music video?
The music video seems to have more of a film genre connection, as music videos were not common. It has a 1950s Hollywood musical genre setting with the city in the background and it being a fake film set like Wizard of Oz and other 40/50s musicals. Also it has a strong film-noir connection, the detectives costume, the femme fetal(which we don't see, which matches with the mystery element of the genre) , and also it's in black and white at the start. But for modern day comparisons it feature lip-syncing and performance and narrative.
4) How do the visuals reflect the lyrics in Billie Jean?
The lyrics are in sync with the visual effects. When he mentions 'eyes were like mine', there is a still image of his eyes for a few seconds. Also the song is about Billie Jean and the pictures of the women in the Billboard changes increasing the mystery element of now knowing who Billie Jean(also the Film Noir aspect of mystery and unsolved cases).
5) Why does the video feature fewer close-up shots than in most pop videos?
The main element the video focus' on is the performance. Michael Jackson's dancing is the focal point of the whole video. Also this music video was based on film conventions such as long shot in film noir and 50s musicals which also focused on the conventions of performance and showing the setting more as opposed to close-ups of the stars during the dancing.
6) What intertextual references can be found in the video?
The detective is a reference to Film Noir, the setting is a reference to the conventions of a 40/50s musical.
7) How does the video use the notion of looking as a recurring motif?
He is seen through a picture in a Polaroid camera. The motif seems to be pictures within pictures. He is also seen through windows.
8) What representations can be found in the video?
Representations of him being a Messiah like figure. Everything he touches turns into gold, the homeless man with one penny is turned into a showman. There is an ongoing theme of being from the streets, there is an urban setting of dark alleyways and supernatural elements.
Close-textual analysis of the music video
1) How is mise-en-scene used to create intertextuality - reference to other media products or genres? E.g. colour/black and white; light/lighting.
setting
- intertextual reference to the 'Golden Age' of musicals (1950s)
- theme of voyeurism (spying) - film noir e.g. mysterious feel, empty streets
- has references to Baudrillard's hyper reality
lighting
- use of low-key lighting
- chiarascuro - extremes of light and dark
black and white colour
- only colour available in the 1950s which makes reference to the past
actors performace/placement
- had a smaller budget which lead to fewer actors.
- the production only had $50,000 to pay for props, equipment and location as well as paying the actors
costume and props
- the detective is smoking which suggests hes the villain
- the detective is wearing a long grey trench coat which can also suggest that he's a villain
- the detective is smoking which suggests hes the villain
- the detective is wearing a long grey trench coat which can also suggest that he's a villain
2) How does the video use narrative theory of equilibrium?
Equilibrium: Michael Jackson being chased by the detective
Disequilibrium: the detective nearly captured a photograph of MJ in th house through the bed room window
3) How are characters used to create narrative through binary opposition?
4) What is the significance of the freeze-frames and split-screen visual effects?
Picture 1: spy
- crime drama
- elements of mystery
- film noir - use of low-key lighting
Picture 2: MJ dancing
- musicals feel was shown through: high key lighting, vibrant clothing
The freeze frames match the lyrics and the narrative. The 'eyes were like mine' lyrics had a still image of his eyes. It creates this sense of reflection of what message the video is trying to come across.
5) What meanings could the recurring motif of 'pictures-within-pictures' create for the audience?
Maybe that's why the detective is following him. He needs proof that Michael Jackson exists, the pictures in the shop provides further evidence that he doesn't exist, it builds the narrative.
6) Does the video reinforce or subvert theories of race and ethnicity - such as Gilroy's diaspora or Hall's black characterisations in American media?
It reinforces Hall's representation of being the performer. Also the diasporic identity crisis comes through quite strongly. The only interaction Michael has is with the homeless man. Homeless people are regarded as not having a place in society so the identity crisis link does appear here. Also the fact that Michael Jacksons performance is on the outskirts of the city, could also mean that he doesn't belong there, there is no semblance of acknowledgement that he exists.
7) Does this video reflect Steve Neale's genre theory of 'repetition and difference'? Does it reflect other music videos or does it innovate?
Performance plays a big part in modern music videos, the repetition aspect connects. But also the difference is 'absolutely essential(Steven Neale)', the visual effects and still images are something that isn't used in a pop song, its a lot more quick paced.
8) Analyse the video using postmodern theory (e.g. Baudrillard's hyper-reality; Strinati's five definitions of postmodernism). How does the 'picture-in-picture' recurring motif create a postmodern reading?
Pastiche is showcased in this video. He is imitating film Noir and 50s musicals. Using pastiche proves Baurillard's point that the copy is viewed as reality than the original, this video created a pavement for other artists to use the conventions in this video like performance as a convention in their video - Daniel Chandler's conventions of context. The picture motif imitates the art and pop culture styles used in media texts.
Extension reading: Michael Jackson
Read this fascinating Guardian feature on Michael Jackson and race - building on our recent work on music video, genre, theory and representations of race and ethnicity.
Another Guardian feature - How Billie Jean changed the world - explores the cultural influence of the song and video.
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