Textual Analysis: Thriller by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' music video is one of the most iconic of its time. Although iconic, it also subverts and adheres to Goodwin's Music Video Theory from the written piece called ''Dancing In The Distraction Factory''. Michael Jackson's ''Thriller'' music video, released in 1982, shows aspects of this theory along with a iconic change to the way music videos had been produced.

At the beginning of the music video, Michael Jackson leaves the movie theatre along with another female character. Although the female character is not dressed provocatively or explicitly, the female character is still shown in a way that creates voyeuristic treatment of the female body. The female is not shown to be obsessively linked to Michael Jackson in a desirable manner, but is presented as rather flirtatious towards him. For example, as the lyrics are introduced, the female is shown to walk in a way that accentuates certain parts of her body. The female is seen to almost strut rather than casually walk, which instantly draws the eye towards her in a non-sexual way, but does show her as being attractive and desirable. She is also shown to be rather vulnerable which may also create a specific view on how she should be perceived.


Also, in the opening of the music video, the lyrics and the visuals are shown to have a relationship. The lyrics state, ''you see a sight that almost stops your heart''. Simultaneously to this, Michael Jackson mirrors the lyrics by continuing to clutch his heart almost as if it is stopping, as stated by the lyrics. This is also shown when the lyrics state, ''But all the while you hear the creature creepin' up behind'' as Michael Jackson grabs the female characters shoulders and acts as if he is a zombie, almost foreshadowing what is about to happen within the music video. This adheres to Goodwin's Music Video Theory as he clearly states that a relationship will be shown in most music videos between the visuals and the lyrics, either illustrative or contradicting. By doing this, Michael Jackson is clearly adhering to the conventions of most music videos despite his iconic change of direction within his choice of video for the song, ''Thriller''.

Michael Jackson himself is also particularly focussed on within the music video. This may be due to the demands of the record label and their need to sell and promote the artist within the video for their song. Goodwin suggests that this use of close ups and motifs will be used throughout their work, is down to the record label and is most often used within the genre of music videos. Michael Jackson in the thriller music video is subject to many close ups, both with others creating a background and of him alone. He is also shown to have his own dance sections which continued to become and iconic motif that Jackson continued throughout his work. These dance routines often showed Michael Jackson as the front man which would have been massively beneficial for the record label to promote him and show him as an individual. This massively adheres to Goodwin's theory.

The music video also references a film/ movie theatre showing intertextuality. The music video starts with a film, including Michael Jackson himself, that is being shown in a movie theatre. This reference to another media text, although the media text is fictional, helps the audience to relate and understand the music video due to its relablitity. For example, cinemas are a wide spread hobby for many people, by including a cinema in the music video, the record label are suggesting that Michael Jackson is a normal person like you and I.