Music Video: Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
1) What was the budget for Billie Jean? How did this compare with later Michael Jackson videos?
The budget was "$50,000" and compared to other music video's of his, this is tiny, for example the Thriller budget was "$2million".
2) Why was the video rejected by MTV?
Because it was the wrong genre of music, which was the first reason presented by MTV, but others believe it's due to the fact that there's never been a black man on MTV before him.
3) Applying Goodwin's theory of music video, how does Billie Jean reflect the genre characteristics of pop music video?
The video, and lyrics link very closely to each other giving the audience a better understanding of the song. Along with this the movements of MJ go along with the song's beat, and the editing also follows the lyrics, for example at 2:25 there's a cut of just his eye's as the rest of the background fades out which is significant to the lyrics as that's what MJ is referring to.
4) How do the visuals reflect the lyrics in Billie Jean?
The music video will correspond to the lyrics in particular moments.5) Why does the video feature fewer close-up shots than in most pop videos?
The music video was heavily inspired by film noir therefore it didn't utilise close ups, also the main focus of the music video was MJ's dancing.
6) What intertextual references can be found in the video?
The detective, he's presented in a very film noir fashion, whereas MJ is shown wearing more 80's styled clothing, which contrasts with the detective's outfit.
7) How does the video use the notion of looking as a recurring motif?
The detective is constantly finding new ways to observe MJ, whether it is by following him, or attempting to take Polaroid pictures of him. this can be a reference to the media and how they're trying to document his life but he's not letting it happen.8) What representations can be found in the video?
MJ is represented as almost "god-like" due to everything he touches turning to gold.
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.
2) How does the video use narrative theory of equilibrium?
5) What meanings could the recurring motif of 'pictures-within-pictures' create for the audience?
The pictures never include MJ, it can be a reference to the fact that he doesn't want to be involved with an controversy.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 subverts Gilroy's diaspora as MJ takes on the film noir genre and makes it his own which can be seen as him embracing the American culture and becoming a part of it.
7) Does this video reflect Steve Neale's genre theory of 'repetition and difference'? Does it reflect other music videos or does it innovate?
The music video has key conventions of music videos but differentiates itself through it's use of film noir key conventions such as the lighting.
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?
It shows that
The use of pastiche in the way the music video takes inspiration from film noir creates a post modern reading where two genre's are mixed together to from a new one.
The budget was "$50,000" and compared to other music video's of his, this is tiny, for example the Thriller budget was "$2million".
2) Why was the video rejected by MTV?
Because it was the wrong genre of music, which was the first reason presented by MTV, but others believe it's due to the fact that there's never been a black man on MTV before him.
3) Applying Goodwin's theory of music video, how does Billie Jean reflect the genre characteristics of pop music video?
The video, and lyrics link very closely to each other giving the audience a better understanding of the song. Along with this the movements of MJ go along with the song's beat, and the editing also follows the lyrics, for example at 2:25 there's a cut of just his eye's as the rest of the background fades out which is significant to the lyrics as that's what MJ is referring to.
4) How do the visuals reflect the lyrics in Billie Jean?
The music video will correspond to the lyrics in particular moments.5) Why does the video feature fewer close-up shots than in most pop videos?
The music video was heavily inspired by film noir therefore it didn't utilise close ups, also the main focus of the music video was MJ's dancing.
6) What intertextual references can be found in the video?
The detective, he's presented in a very film noir fashion, whereas MJ is shown wearing more 80's styled clothing, which contrasts with the detective's outfit.
7) How does the video use the notion of looking as a recurring motif?
The detective is constantly finding new ways to observe MJ, whether it is by following him, or attempting to take Polaroid pictures of him. this can be a reference to the media and how they're trying to document his life but he's not letting it happen.8) What representations can be found in the video?
MJ is represented as almost "god-like" due to everything he touches turning to gold.
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.
Again, this video is very film noir inspired by it's heavy use of low-key lighting (despite the video being overall pretty brightly coloured), the video also uses black and white in key moments.
2) How does the video use narrative theory of equilibrium?
The video begins with MJ being followed around by this detective, as the video progresses MJ is continuously losing the detective until eventually he's arrested.
4) What is the significance of the freeze-frames and split-screen visual effects?
3) How are characters used to create narrative through binary opposition?
The lit up floors, within an urban neighbourhood with rubbish on the ground. Also the contrast between MJ and the poor man, but it's quickly reverted.
4) What is the significance of the freeze-frames and split-screen visual effects?
These freeze frames closely link to lyrics.
5) What meanings could the recurring motif of 'pictures-within-pictures' create for the audience?
The pictures never include MJ, it can be a reference to the fact that he doesn't want to be involved with an controversy.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 subverts Gilroy's diaspora as MJ takes on the film noir genre and makes it his own which can be seen as him embracing the American culture and becoming a part of it.
7) Does this video reflect Steve Neale's genre theory of 'repetition and difference'? Does it reflect other music videos or does it innovate?
The music video has key conventions of music videos but differentiates itself through it's use of film noir key conventions such as the lighting.
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?
It shows that
The use of pastiche in the way the music video takes inspiration from film noir creates a post modern reading where two genre's are mixed together to from a new one.
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