Billie Jean - Michael Jackson Flashcards
Who wrote BJ?
Michael Jackson
What was MJ known like for around 7 years?
Luminous, powerful and influential star in the music business
When did the song get released?
1983
What was the song like in history?
One of the most revolutionary songs
What do the lyrics tell us?
The story of a paranoid being stalked by a woman who claims he has impregnanted her
What did this transform MTV into?
A cultural institution that society paid large attention to
What did the use of lighting and colour emphasise?
His social status
How did it emphasise his social status?
Everything lights up and the switch from black and white to colour
What did the editing shots focus on?
MJs celebrity persona
What was the motion of looking in the music video?
Taking photos - private detectives and paparazzi following him
What does the camerawork include
Multiple types of shots from eye level - focuses attention on him
What does MJ’s costume represent?
Celebrity persona
What does the police being white show?
The stereotype of people represented in power and media
How does MJ challenge stereotypes as a person of colour?
By not being associated in crime showing people of colour can be successful
How is MJ still represented and stereotyped as a deviant character?
By him being followed by detectives and police
