Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

1. What representations are shown?
Homeless man, police

2. What's the narrative?


3. How is Michael Jackson seen?
He gives money to a homeless man

The Billie Jean video was one of the first music videos by a black artist that aired regularly.

Billie Jean represents groupies he and his brothers encountered while part of the Jackson 5.

Representations of Ethnicity:
Alvarado (1987) identified four main types
1. The humorous, providing comic relief
2. The exotic; other cultures presented as unusual and exotic in their traditions and ways of living
3. The pitied; objects of pity and vulnerability
4. The dangerous; criminal, gangster and usually coupled with a binary opposition such as the respectable white character

- The reporter could represent Michael Jackson being hounded by the press
- They also represent a repressed community that is monitored and controlled by the press
- How does Michael Jackson demonstrate control over the situation?
- What could the cat turning into the tiger represent?
- What does the tiger print material represent?
- Billie Jean came out in 1982 but can be linked to life beyond the year of its production. Can you make any associations to modern day society?

Michael Jackson as a young black male can be seen in a negative light:
- He has been accused of doing something - creating a scandal - why he is being chased by the press
- Being deceitful - telling people to keep quiet
- Disappearing when the reporter tries to catch up with him

How is ethnicity and star image shown through mise-en-scene?

Setting
Props
Facial expressions
Hair and make up
Lighting and colour
Costumes
Positioning

Analyse how the Billie Jean music video by Michael Jackson uses stereotypes to represent a varying representation of ethnicity.

The Billie Jean music video uses stereotypes to represent a varying representation of ethnicity through the use of locations, costumes and props.

The 'detective' in the music video could represent the paparazzi affecting Michael Jackson's social life. Michael Jackson subverts stereotypes of being a young black male. This is seen in the music video by the clothes he wears and his behaviour - he gives money to the homeless. High-key lighting is used to present Michael Jackson in a positive light.

The video was groundbreaking at the time because it was the first time MTV put a young black male artist on its playlist.

In conclusion, the Billie Jean music video uses different techniques to subvert stereotypes and represent a varying representation of ethnicity.

Introduction
(The music video 'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson from 1982 highlights a number of positive and negative representations of ethnicity. It draws upon a number of ethnic stereotypes including ... within the video.)

Social, Historical and Cultural
(Billie Jean was released by Jackson in 1982, at the time ... The video was groundbreaking because ... It holds a clear narrative considering ... Which links to ...)

Mise-en-scene and Media Language
(The media langauge of the video highlights a number of stereotypes used, for example as Michael Jackson walks down the street the paving slabs light up. This has connotations of ... It is also seen through the use of camera when ... Stereotypes are evident in the use of costume when ...)

Conclusion
(Back up your points and remind the examiner how ethnicity is shown through the use of stereotypes.)