Michael Jackson, a part of the Jackson 5 for about 20 years before branching off on his own, he is the “King of Pop” whose career ended too soon. Throughout his career, Michael made elaborate music videos wanting them to be like “short films” rather than simple clips. Influenced by musical films, he wanted to emulate the theatricality of different performers. His videos had plots, character development, and intricate, iconic dance routines that people are impressed with to this day. Many of these “short films” are about 10 minutes long, sometimes more. We watched some music videos of Michaels to see what he was trying to display, this is what we found out.

Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” music video (1983) is a cinematic narrative that portrays MJ as a peacemaker between rival Los Angeles street gangs. It shows the gangs about to have a knife fight, and Michael comes in and he uses professional dancers and real gang members to create the story of unifying them through dance and end the fight in a truce. Explaining how being united is better than violence.

Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” music video (1988) is resembling a 1930s themed gangster film. It is widely known for Michael’s 45 degree lean featured in the video. The video is explaining a violent crime that happened and Michael is the “smooth criminal”. He is engaged in a dramatic shootout with mobsters and it ends with him escaping the club as they break out into a celebratory dance number.

To conclude this research, Michael Jackson’s career will forever be remembered and celebrated. He wanted every song and video to have a message and let people know about real world problems today and how they can be solved with music. To this day people are moved by his music and take his lessons he was trying to teach into their everyday lives. He was and will always be the King of Pop!