music videos - Billie Jean
Billie Jean - exam Qs
Q: Analyse how the Billie Jean music video by Michael Jackson uses stereotypes to represent a varying representation of ethnicity. [10 marks]
Include:
- analysis of stereotyping in the video, considering media language elements specific to music videos (e.g. lighting, setting, locations, costumes, props, makeup) and sound
- links to social, historical and cultural references
- accurate analysis of how the Billie Jean music video uses stereotypes to represent a variety of images of ethnicity, which provides logical connections and a good line of reasoning
Plan
- intro
- social, historical and cultural
- mise-en-scene and media lang (camera, editing, 3+ mise-en-scene)
- conc
Point (ethnicity- positive/negative)
Evidence (media language / mise-en-scene)
Technical land / code / theory (context)
Evaluate (link)
In my essay, I will be analysing the ways in which the Billie Jean music video (1982), by Michael Jackson, uses stereotypes to represent a varying representation of ethnicity, through the use of media language, specific to music videos and social, historical and cultural references. A range of both positive and negative representations of ethnicity can be seen to be used within the music video, as according to Alvarado's four identified types (1987). Minority ethnic groups, within the video, can be represented as exotic, as young white girls looking longingly at Jackson and the detective follows him, suggesting that he is a mysterious and out-of-the-ordinary man, with his ethnicity as a contributing factor; pitied but subverted, as Jackson can be seen to flip a coin into a homeless man's cup and then the homeless man undergoes a life transformation, due to Jackson's generosity, which subverses the stereotype of young black males being pities (evident in many charity advertisements, for example); and dangerous, as the nosy female neighbour can be seen calling, what the audience can presume to be, the detectives, as they respond immediately, suggesting that Jackson, as a young black male in Florida, has a cautious eye on him, due to the unjustified stereotype of dangerous black males, which is a negative stereotype that was particularly dominant at the time of the music video.
References to social, historical and cultural references can be made through the use of the reporter, specifically when there is a mid shot of the lamp post dividing the screen in half, with the reporter on one side and Jackson on the other, which could suggest a binary opposite between the two worlds: the star image (Richard Dyers), where the 'Midas Touch'-inspired effect of the floor lighting up every time Jackson steps on it, even when he isn't visual, shows his lasting impact, even after he died, which can be see as true today as he is still highly spoken about and commended; created around the fame and aspirations Jackson provides the audience with something to look up to, whilst still remaining humble with a sense of reliability, such as by sneaking around to broken down hotels, which would usually be associated with those of a lower class to Jackson. This could relate to how Jackson is constantly being hounded by the press, for example, with attention to his skin colour change, and is within a repressed community that is constantly being monitored and controlled by the press.
Mise-en-scene and media language techniques are evident in the video for representing ethnicity and stereotypes. For example, props are used, like the newspaper, which relates to the idea of setting a scene for a scandle, as if the press almost expect Jackson to do something which is looked down upon by thew public and even if he doesn't, they will use what little evidence they do have, to represent Jackson, as a young black male within the music industry, in a negative light. Facial expressions are used when Jackson can be seen to be strangely both deep in thought and tired and fed up, suggesting his internal conflict, perhaps with regards to whether her should give his attention to these "Billie Jeans", like his brothers do, or if he should stay away from all women as they wrongly accuse him of carrying their babies for the attention of the press, which in this case is wanted for the purpose of fame.
To conclude, the Billie Jean music video uses stereotypes to present a variety of representations of ethnicity, such as exotic, subverse pitied and dangerous, through media language mise-en-scene techniques, such as facial expressions, positioning and props, whilst linking to the social, historical and cultural context of the time. Arguably most importantly, this being how society at the time viewed young black males, like Jackson and how the press continuously presented him in a negative and controversial light as he didn't fit the stereotypical mould of a young white, all-American, conforming male musician.
Sentence starters (for each para, stick to this structure / make clear link to media language point then context point) (expand on points and link it all)
Q: Analyse how the Billie Jean music video by Michael Jackson uses stereotypes to represent a varying representation of ethnicity. [10 marks]
Include:
- analysis of stereotyping in the video, considering media language elements specific to music videos (e.g. lighting, setting, locations, costumes, props, makeup) and sound
- links to social, historical and cultural references
- accurate analysis of how the Billie Jean music video uses stereotypes to represent a variety of images of ethnicity, which provides logical connections and a good line of reasoning
Plan
- intro
- social, historical and cultural
- mise-en-scene and media lang (camera, editing, 3+ mise-en-scene)
- conc
Point (ethnicity- positive/negative)
Evidence (media language / mise-en-scene)
Technical land / code / theory (context)
Evaluate (link)
In my essay, I will be analysing the ways in which the Billie Jean music video (1982), by Michael Jackson, uses stereotypes to represent a varying representation of ethnicity, through the use of media language, specific to music videos and social, historical and cultural references. A range of both positive and negative representations of ethnicity can be seen to be used within the music video, as according to Alvarado's four identified types (1987). Minority ethnic groups, within the video, can be represented as exotic, as young white girls looking longingly at Jackson and the detective follows him, suggesting that he is a mysterious and out-of-the-ordinary man, with his ethnicity as a contributing factor; pitied but subverted, as Jackson can be seen to flip a coin into a homeless man's cup and then the homeless man undergoes a life transformation, due to Jackson's generosity, which subverses the stereotype of young black males being pities (evident in many charity advertisements, for example); and dangerous, as the nosy female neighbour can be seen calling, what the audience can presume to be, the detectives, as they respond immediately, suggesting that Jackson, as a young black male in Florida, has a cautious eye on him, due to the unjustified stereotype of dangerous black males, which is a negative stereotype that was particularly dominant at the time of the music video.
References to social, historical and cultural references can be made through the use of the reporter, specifically when there is a mid shot of the lamp post dividing the screen in half, with the reporter on one side and Jackson on the other, which could suggest a binary opposite between the two worlds: the star image (Richard Dyers), where the 'Midas Touch'-inspired effect of the floor lighting up every time Jackson steps on it, even when he isn't visual, shows his lasting impact, even after he died, which can be see as true today as he is still highly spoken about and commended; created around the fame and aspirations Jackson provides the audience with something to look up to, whilst still remaining humble with a sense of reliability, such as by sneaking around to broken down hotels, which would usually be associated with those of a lower class to Jackson. This could relate to how Jackson is constantly being hounded by the press, for example, with attention to his skin colour change, and is within a repressed community that is constantly being monitored and controlled by the press.
Mise-en-scene and media language techniques are evident in the video for representing ethnicity and stereotypes. For example, props are used, like the newspaper, which relates to the idea of setting a scene for a scandle, as if the press almost expect Jackson to do something which is looked down upon by thew public and even if he doesn't, they will use what little evidence they do have, to represent Jackson, as a young black male within the music industry, in a negative light. Facial expressions are used when Jackson can be seen to be strangely both deep in thought and tired and fed up, suggesting his internal conflict, perhaps with regards to whether her should give his attention to these "Billie Jeans", like his brothers do, or if he should stay away from all women as they wrongly accuse him of carrying their babies for the attention of the press, which in this case is wanted for the purpose of fame.
To conclude, the Billie Jean music video uses stereotypes to present a variety of representations of ethnicity, such as exotic, subverse pitied and dangerous, through media language mise-en-scene techniques, such as facial expressions, positioning and props, whilst linking to the social, historical and cultural context of the time. Arguably most importantly, this being how society at the time viewed young black males, like Jackson and how the press continuously presented him in a negative and controversial light as he didn't fit the stereotypical mould of a young white, all-American, conforming male musician.
Sentence starters (for each para, stick to this structure / make clear link to media language point then context point) (expand on points and link it all)
- introduction - The music video 'Billie Jean', by Michael Jackson, from 1982, highlights a number of positive and negative representations of ethnicity. It drawns 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 ... (focus on this structure) :(
- mise-en-scene & media language - The media language of the video highlights a number of steortypes used, for example, as Michael Jackson walks down the street, the paving lights up. This has connotations of ... It is also seen through the use of camera when ... Stereotypes are evident in the use of costume when ... (camera, editing, 3+ mise-en-scene elements) (write about ethnicity in this para) :l
- conclusion - back up points and remind examiner how ethnicity is shown through the use of stereotypes :)
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