This video of Michael Jackson was way ahead of his time, that general public could not even comprehend. Also, this video is also a good example of cultural appreciation. Nowadays we see artists getting accused of cultural appropriation cuz they put on other culture on themselves that they do not relate at all. Look at MJ on this video he was wearing his casual but iconic outfit of his and yet he showed other cultures perfectly.
The difference is Michael Jackson didnt disrespect the people they are influenced by with passive-aggressive racism toward them (K-Pop), but he had various cultures dancing with him. He did tributes to their dance styles in the scenes with him, and obviously the video was pro-multiculturalism.
@@mayganphynix8267 Well, its like we never know kind of situation since caucasian people never been successful to highlight world culture without appropriating them.
Great explanation. Only thing I disagree here - it says that MJ was changing skin tone - he had vitiligo, a pigmentation disorder, so he could not do much about it, he was not trying to whiten his skin
Exactly, I learned about his vitiligo disorder in my graduate endocrinology class. Ignorance really is powerful, it can lead and in many cases has led to prejudice. Always check your prejudices (conscious and unconscious, yes we all have them) and learn their roots (from where they came from). P.S I also learned of how he died (one of the contributing factors); it has to do with sleep. It shows the importance of having repeated cycles of all 4 stages of sleep. There is a whole case study about it.
Masterpiece of pop music and contemporary art as well. Undervalued of course. If you want to be a capitalist in the global world "it don't matter if you're black or white." Michael said it brilliantly. Thanks for your channel and greetings from South America✨🙏✨
Thank you very much! I've been striving to upload new videos on a regual basis and I will hopefully make more elaborate video essays on a range of topics dealing with music from January onwards.
Michael wanted Janet’s producers to work with him on Dangerous… and they declined out if respect for their relationship with Janet. Michael ended up borrowing elements of Janet’s music video catalog for the Black or White video, the breaking glass, the black panther, the hand gestures she did in pleasure principle. The race aspect of Black or White is also very Rhythm Nation 2.0
It was about what the black panther represents. And the breaking of windows is a way of destroying racism in a way creates anger and pain/hurt. ITS ART!!!
Dangerous by Michael Jackson is one of his least talked about albums. I honestly call it his coming-of-age album. By that time, Michael Jackson finally found his footing as an artist. Bad cemented that, but Dangerous is where we see a Michael in a way we haven’t before. My first interpretation of the Black or White video was about the obvious appearance of Michael; how people kept saying he wanted to be white due to his battle with vitiligo. I was wrong and came to realization that there really isn’t a “correct” answer to one’s art especially with Michael Jackson since it can be looked at from different perspectives. I do believe the underlying message has to do with race relations. All in all, Black or White is a beautifully shot video with precision, and it’s one of Michael’s best videos.
I actually think you are correct in saying that his own racial ambiguity is connected to the song and the video (I slightly touched upon it in the video essay) but it's true that the music video (especially the first part) has a "patchorky" character that makes it quite difficult to decypher but I think it's part of the point. I think he had a lot to tell about race relations when he wrote the song, hence the idea to condense it all into a very fast-paced video. He uses familiar symbols in an ambiguous way (e.g. the statue of liberty) and leaves room for interpretation while hinting at the topic of race with more or less obvious elements (e.g. The Black Panther) because he's cognisant of the fact that, as a black artist reaching a mainstream (i.e. white) audience, he could not address racism too overtly. But I believe that Black or White connects his own lived experience as a black artist "stretching" the boundaries of race with racial issues in America. And it's that connection that makes the video so brilliant and powerful.
I don't know how anyone couldnt see the anti-racism/pro-multicultural themes in the video and lyrics. Its only controversal to those suits and tabloids in the media who do not get the concept of that. The same people who tried to make MTV just a station for white people. (Which they even said before in the 70s) "If you're thinkin' 'bout bein' my brotha/baby, it don't matter if you're black or white." Instead ironically everyone was focused on his skin color. Until we knew what Vitiligo was, and him having Lupis which also affects your skin color.
Dang, that was a powerful, thorough, and well thought out video. Very insightful. To me, this video is what the Beyoncé formation video convey to us today. I remember how white people were pissed when formation came out. But this also shows the genius and vision of MJ and how much of a pioneer he is. Because there is nothing that these artists are doing today in terms of creativity and artistry that this man hasn’t done or at least started during his career. Again, thank you for this great analysis
This was an incredible breakdown and analysis. Comprehensive, well researched and all the while maintaining there is no single way to interpret art as it's subjective. Wonderful video, well done.
What even... How can a channel be this good? I am addicted to your videos, your voice sounds so glamorous and satisfying. The content is very well researched and discussed.
I was just a little kid when this video premiered and i remember being so confused with the panther dance. I was a big Michael jackson fan as a kid too. I didn't get it. Til today. After curiosity got me and i wondered what was the message in the second part of the video. Thanks for this.
The panther dance is so strange and mysterious, that I did the same thing. I was like there has to be so much meaning in this. This is the best video I found on it by far, and it went into the entire video too.
Yes! Me too! I love Michael Jackson since I was 4 or 5 yrs old when I would watch numerous times a VHS recording of an MJ TV special. I would hide behind the couch, every time the panther would appear, with my head peeking out 👀. I didn't understand the meaning behind the panther dance until today. He is great for using his platform to shed light on these important issues that are still relevant today. The message is clear, we have to apply it and continually check our conscious &/or unconscious prejudice because we have been exposed to it through the media/others.
This is such a well done, thorough, thoughtful breakdown. Thank you for this. I would LOVE to see a video like this about the Bad short film if you'd be up for that.
This was a great explanation. I remember sitting down in front of the TV and my aunt's house watching this with my family on Fox. We couldn't wait and we were excited for it to air. We thought the dance portion was amazing, but was kinda not into the actual video. It was never my favorite song in the album, but the message is clear.
Doing some research for a written piece and I am surprised you don't bring up the many many references to the Black Panther Party in this video, blatant in the final section.
In France we're about to vote in one week for our next president. Extreme right has never been so close to pass. That's crazy that 30 years later, some people still don't understand the beauty of diversity in our world. We need art and messages like MJ's ones, and obviously we also need fellows like you to explain them to us. Big Luv and Respect to All ❤💯✊💯❤
Black panther can also represent Jesus Christ . The dance part in the end looks to me he was surrendering to the lord . There’s a lot of threes the father, son and Holy Spirit . The water means baptizism and falling to your needs means surrendering to God. He became reborn .
Michael was a prophet. A true artist in every sense. His art will continue to be deconstructed, studied & interpreted as history unfolds. This is the true sign that he was sent by God. Totally misunderstood & rejected in his time in earth. It is only when viewed in retrospect that the prophetic nature of his messages & themes are revealed. All true artists speak to the times. They are in many ways "scribes" and "foretellers." Historically, prophets were often scrutinized and even murdered for the truth they delivered from God during their time in this realm. Pay attention.
I don’t think there’s no “white audience” at all (that’s a generalization, not always bad/not always good), but “sensible” audiences that gets offended by this kind of protest,
22:20 lol most people don’t think like this. Especially in the 90s. The 90s were the best race relations have ever been in the USA (not saying it was anywhere near perfect). Back then not every single thing was considered racist. Social Media and clickbait media have sent race relations in the USA back 50 years and it is such a shame. As for the over policing in the black communities you need to research the origins of where that came from. It was the leaders from black communities that were protesting in the streets demanding more police be put into their areas . They believed that the police should go where the crime tends to happen and that would get rid of the crime all together. They labeled the police department as racist for NOT caring about their communities and just allowing them to decay. We have recently seen police departments return to under policing those areas and the unprecedented rise in crime has been the result. It’s so easy for people in Germany or wherever you are from to preach about what is right or wrong when you don’t live here and have no idea what it’s like to live around criminals with illegal guns that have no fear of prison or the police because they know they no longer have the resources to do anything
nonsense....the rodney king beating...the LAPD(one of the most corrupt police departments in the USA) going full hog on black people....race relations were crap then crap before and continue to be crap..There are still lynchings in the streets except certain members of society are openly justifying it. People who say racism is not really a thing has never experienced it or is being deliberately obtuse.
This video of Michael Jackson was way ahead of his time, that general public could not even comprehend. Also, this video is also a good example of cultural appreciation. Nowadays we see artists getting accused of cultural appropriation cuz they put on other culture on themselves that they do not relate at all. Look at MJ on this video he was wearing his casual but iconic outfit of his and yet he showed other cultures perfectly.
It's a thing that they chose not to accept no matter how hard you're trying to get a message across it's sad
The difference is Michael Jackson didnt disrespect the people they are influenced by with passive-aggressive racism toward them (K-Pop), but he had various cultures dancing with him. He did tributes to their dance styles in the scenes with him, and obviously the video was pro-multiculturalism.
He was also a person of color. I feel like if a Caucasian person did something like this it wouldn't come across that way 😳🙃
@@mayganphynix8267 Well, its like we never know kind of situation since caucasian people never been successful to highlight world culture without appropriating them.
@@zyoteesunuwar4825 it's always going to have a knee jerk reaction coming from white people. which I get it.
This was such a well though out video essay. I knew the video was about race related topics but this just made view it differently.
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate it!
Great explanation. Only thing I disagree here - it says that MJ was changing skin tone - he had vitiligo, a pigmentation disorder, so he could not do much about it, he was not trying to whiten his skin
Exactly, I learned about his vitiligo disorder in my graduate endocrinology class. Ignorance really is powerful, it can lead and in many cases has led to prejudice. Always check your prejudices (conscious and unconscious, yes we all have them) and learn their roots (from where they came from).
P.S I also learned of how he died (one of the contributing factors); it has to do with sleep. It shows the importance of having repeated cycles of all 4 stages of sleep. There is a whole case study about it.
Masterpiece of pop music and contemporary art as well. Undervalued of course. If you want to be a capitalist in the global world "it don't matter if you're black or white." Michael said it brilliantly.
Thanks for your channel and greetings from South America✨🙏✨
Thank you very much for your words of encouragement!
My goodness what a breakdown...I can say without a shadow of a doubt this breakdown was phenomenal
This is such a well constructed video essay. I’ve loved all your videos can’t wait to see what you do next.
Same!
Thank you very much! I've been striving to upload new videos on a regual basis and I will hopefully make more elaborate video essays on a range of topics dealing with music from January onwards.
@@the_groove Please would you also make a video essay about Alejandro - Lady Gaga?
Michael wanted Janet’s producers to work with him on Dangerous… and they declined out if respect for their relationship with Janet. Michael ended up borrowing elements of Janet’s music video catalog for the Black or White video, the breaking glass, the black panther, the hand gestures she did in pleasure principle. The race aspect of Black or White is also very Rhythm Nation 2.0
It was about what the black panther represents. And the breaking of windows is a way of destroying racism in a way creates anger and pain/hurt. ITS ART!!!
So masterful, definitely coming back to this. Taking notes on when I do my music video treatments. MJ and his team are a genius.
Dangerous by Michael Jackson is one of his least talked about albums. I honestly call it his coming-of-age album. By that time, Michael Jackson finally found his footing as an artist. Bad cemented that, but Dangerous is where we see a Michael in a way we haven’t before.
My first interpretation of the Black or White video was about the obvious appearance of Michael; how people kept saying he wanted to be white due to his battle with vitiligo. I was wrong and came to realization that there really isn’t a “correct” answer to one’s art especially with Michael Jackson since it can be looked at from different perspectives. I do believe the underlying message has to do with race relations.
All in all, Black or White is a beautifully shot video with precision, and it’s one of Michael’s best videos.
I actually think you are correct in saying that his own racial ambiguity is connected to the song and the video (I slightly touched upon it in the video essay) but it's true that the music video (especially the first part) has a "patchorky" character that makes it quite difficult to decypher but I think it's part of the point. I think he had a lot to tell about race relations when he wrote the song, hence the idea to condense it all into a very fast-paced video. He uses familiar symbols in an ambiguous way (e.g. the statue of liberty) and leaves room for interpretation while hinting at the topic of race with more or less obvious elements (e.g. The Black Panther) because he's cognisant of the fact that, as a black artist reaching a mainstream (i.e. white) audience, he could not address racism too overtly. But I believe that Black or White connects his own lived experience as a black artist "stretching" the boundaries of race with racial issues in America. And it's that connection that makes the video so brilliant and powerful.
I don't know how anyone couldnt see the anti-racism/pro-multicultural themes in the video and lyrics. Its only controversal to those suits and tabloids in the media who do not get the concept of that. The same people who tried to make MTV just a station for white people. (Which they even said before in the 70s)
"If you're thinkin' 'bout bein' my brotha/baby, it don't matter if you're black or white." Instead ironically everyone was focused on his skin color. Until we knew what Vitiligo was, and him having Lupis which also affects your skin color.
Dang, that was a powerful, thorough, and well thought out video. Very insightful. To me, this video is what the Beyoncé formation video convey to us today. I remember how white people were pissed when formation came out. But this also shows the genius and vision of MJ and how much of a pioneer he is. Because there is nothing that these artists are doing today in terms of creativity and artistry that this man hasn’t done or at least started during his career.
Again, thank you for this great analysis
I completely agree! Well said.
This was an incredible breakdown and analysis. Comprehensive, well researched and all the while maintaining there is no single way to interpret art as it's subjective. Wonderful video, well done.
What even... How can a channel be this good? I am addicted to your videos, your voice sounds so glamorous and satisfying. The content is very well researched and discussed.
Thank you very much!
I was just a little kid when this video premiered and i remember being so confused with the panther dance. I was a big Michael jackson fan as a kid too. I didn't get it. Til today. After curiosity got me and i wondered what was the message in the second part of the video. Thanks for this.
The panther dance is so strange and mysterious, that I did the same thing. I was like there has to be so much meaning in this. This is the best video I found on it by far, and it went into the entire video too.
Yes! Me too! I love Michael Jackson since I was 4 or 5 yrs old when I would watch numerous times a VHS recording of an MJ TV special. I would hide behind the couch, every time the panther would appear, with my head peeking out 👀. I didn't understand the meaning behind the panther dance until today. He is great for using his platform to shed light on these important issues that are still relevant today. The message is clear, we have to apply it and continually check our conscious &/or unconscious prejudice because we have been exposed to it through the media/others.
I Remember Watching The Premiere Of 'Black Or White".... I Was 7 Years Old.... I Loved It And Still To This Day
Black or White was a masterpiece. Creative, varied, intense and what we need right now. Great essay mate!
You deserve so much more views and subscribers
To me it's always obviously been about race relations. Cant believe others didnt see that
This was fckn amazing. Keep it up maan
This is such a well done, thorough, thoughtful breakdown. Thank you for this. I would LOVE to see a video like this about the Bad short film if you'd be up for that.
Amazing how American culture created MJ for the world and now the best it has to offer is Kanye, Jay Z etc. what a drop off
Excellent Analysis as always 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Thank you!
How in the world does such an amazing video essay about the world’s biggest star have only 4k views???
This was a great explanation. I remember sitting down in front of the TV and my aunt's house watching this with my family on Fox. We couldn't wait and we were excited for it to air. We thought the dance portion was amazing, but was kinda not into the actual video. It was never my favorite song in the album, but the message is clear.
Brilliant Video, well done.
Thank you!
Such a wonderful video essay
Thank you so much for watching!
Doing some research for a written piece and I am surprised you don't bring up the many many references to the Black Panther Party in this video, blatant in the final section.
Incredible breakdown. thank you!
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate it!
@@the_groove no problem! your videos are incredibly introspective and well researched. I've learned so much. keep up the great work!
In France we're about to vote in one week for our next president. Extreme right has never been so close to pass. That's crazy that 30 years later, some people still don't understand the beauty of diversity in our world. We need art and messages like MJ's ones, and obviously we also need fellows like you to explain them to us. Big Luv and Respect to All ❤💯✊💯❤
The reason the “extreme right” is winning is because of the extreme rise in crime due to massive Islamic immigration.
OMG I am literally so happy I found your channel
Just found this gem of a channel 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽❤❤❤
Another impressive video 👏🏾👏🏾
So informative🔥👌🏿 - Thoroughly enjoyed watching this😊 • 🇿🇦
Black panther can also represent Jesus Christ . The dance part in the end looks to me he was surrendering to the lord . There’s a lot of threes the father, son and Holy Spirit . The water means baptizism and falling to your needs means surrendering to God. He became reborn .
So awesome and interesting. Thank U for this breakdown!
This is beautiful. Just wow.
Great analyse
Thank you for the information on this video
*Omg* I’ve never thought about how this video would motivate latinos in some way that hard
Michael was a prophet. A true artist in every sense. His art will continue to be deconstructed, studied & interpreted as history unfolds. This is the true sign that he was sent by God. Totally misunderstood & rejected in his time in earth. It is only when viewed in retrospect that the prophetic nature of his messages & themes are revealed. All true artists speak to the times. They are in many ways "scribes" and "foretellers."
Historically, prophets were often scrutinized and even murdered for the truth they delivered from God during their time in this realm. Pay attention.
I don’t think there’s no “white audience” at all (that’s a generalization, not always bad/not always good), but “sensible” audiences that gets offended by this kind of protest,
🙌🙌🙌👏👏👏💯
22:20 lol most people don’t think like this. Especially in the 90s. The 90s were the best race relations have ever been in the USA (not saying it was anywhere near perfect). Back then not every single thing was considered racist. Social Media and clickbait media have sent race relations in the USA back 50 years and it is such a shame. As for the over policing in the black communities you need to research the origins of where that came from. It was the leaders from black communities that were protesting in the streets demanding more police be put into their areas . They believed that the police should go where the crime tends to happen and that would get rid of the crime all together. They labeled the police department as racist for NOT caring about their communities and just allowing them to decay. We have recently seen police departments return to under policing those areas and the unprecedented rise in crime has been the result. It’s so easy for people in Germany or wherever you are from to preach about what is right or wrong when you don’t live here and have no idea what it’s like to live around criminals with illegal guns that have no fear of prison or the police because they know they no longer have the resources to do anything
nonsense....the rodney king beating...the LAPD(one of the most corrupt police departments in the USA) going full hog on black people....race relations were crap then crap before and continue to be crap..There are still lynchings in the streets except certain members of society are openly justifying it. People who say racism is not really a thing has never experienced it or is being deliberately obtuse.