Billie Jean

1. Billie Jean Social and Cultural contexts (plus historical for AS)

2. LQ: In what ways is the video to Billie Jean significant ? Lesson Aims • To understand the social and cultural contexts behind the video • To see whether the ideas of Goodwin and Vernallis could be applied in analysis • To think about intertextual references • To consider different representations in the video • To write up your notes onto the research blog

3. The video Let’s start by watching the music video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y (we will watch it again) Any comments ? What did you think the narrative of the video was ?

4. Social and Cultural Contexts Now read the Guardian article from 2007 (written 2 years before the death of Michael Jackson) and answer these questions: • When was Billie Jean released ? (for a bonus point, when was the album – Thriller- from which the single came, released ?) • How long, according to the article, was Michael Jackson the most famous person in the world ? What started this off ? (Historical Context) • What were 2 reasons why the music video was groundbreaking ? (MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION - Social and Cultural contexts) (read Wikipedia on the Billie Jean music video) • What was different about this video to other videos at the time ? (Cultural context) • How long was the single at number 1 in the UK ? • Why might it seem difficult to understand the success and fuss around the music video in 2018? (Historical Context)

5. How typical is Billie Jean of music video We will watch the video again and in pairs take notes – 1 looking at the ideas of Goodwin and 1 looking at the ideas of Vernallis Goodwin Vernallis Narrative – video is a visual response to narrative that may be disjointed and contain repetition Editing – edits draw attention to themselves, jump cuts, base track, rhythmic changes in pace of editing Camera – most common are either at front or side with a low angle to one side. Camera often moves. • Relationship between visuals and lyrics • Editing to beat • Typical Michael Jackson imagery (Brand) • Multiple Close ups • Active women ? • Intertextual references • Narrator and Performer

6. Intertextual references There are a some quite interesting intertextual references • What film style is the video meant to represent – how can you tell ? - But does the pink/purple hue suggest another genre – what would back this up? (What does the cat at the end of the video look like ?) What is another film genre reference – why does Michael Jackson wear those shoes ? What film does the lighted pavement remind you of ? 2. “I’m not like other boys”. Michael Jackson, the brand, was trying to reposition himself as a distinct and unique pop star. The quote is from a line from the ‘Thriller’ video. Some people were unhappy with this, as Jackson’s nose changed shape and his skin became lighter, it seemed as though he was trying to move away from his black heritage (that had made him a star in the first place) What evidence can you see in this video that Jackson is “not like other boys” ?

7. Representation in Billie Jean • Thinking about what we have just been discussing about intertextual references, describe 3 ways that Michael Jackson is represented in Billie Jean music video and use specific references from the music video to back this up. Do you think there are any other significant representations other than genre ? • How are the press represented ? Be specific. Could this say something about Michael Jackson ? • How are women represented ? Apart from the older informant we don’t see any women yet the song is titled as though it was about a woman – so how do you thing women feature in this video

8. The Blog Write up your thoughts and notes onto your blog