1. Michael Jackson
Richard Dyer's Star Theory
"A star is an image not a real person that is constructed (as any other aspect of fiction is) out of a
range of materials (e.g. advertising, magazines etc. as well as films [music])."
Michael Jackson was born in 1958 and started his musical career early as a member of the Jackson 5
at the tender age of ten preforming with his brothers and with his father coaching them. He led a
hugely successful career with songs such as ‘Thriller’, ‘Beat it’, ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Black or White’ and
‘Scream’ with his sister Janet Jackson. However Michael life was constantly full of lows to ruin the
highs such as physical and mental abuse from his father as a child, huge debts, being accused of child
sexual abuse, bad parenting and being constantly watched and followed by the media. Sadly Michael
Jackson passed away on the 25th
June 2009 from a Cardiac arrest. His death brought the world to
tears and shocked billions across the globe. However his music still lives on today and is still loved
and cherished by his loving fans.
Parodies of Michael’s music, style and personality are all over the internet and T.V. A lot of these
have been negative such as in Eminem’s music video ‘Rock star’ where he dresses as Michael
wearing a bright red sparkly outfit with black curly hair, sunglasses and pale white skin. In one scene
he is shown sitting on a large bed with children jumping on the bed around him referring to the few
cases and rumours where Michael Jackson was accused of sexually assaulting a child.
Another parody is seen in the T.V series South Park where Michael has been cartoonized and is
shown to be shooting himself in the genitalia making high pitched singing noises.
Lastly Michael Jacksons music video for ‘Beat it’ was made into parody called ‘Eat it’ by comedy
music artist "Weird Al" Yankovic. Apparently when "Weird Al" Yankovic went to Michael to ask for
permission to create the parody Michael found it extremely amusing and couldn’t see anything
wrong with him creating the music video. The video involved "Weird Al" Yankovic changing some of
the lyrics in the song to ‘Eat it’ rather than ‘Beat it’ and showed him dressed as Michael eating
various foods and recreating the original music video but with some twists such as when he kisses
the woman the head of the dummy falls off.
Sadly most parodies of Michael Jackson are negative but there are few which do make the audience
laugh and stay respectful to Michael.
Timeline
29th
August 1958 – Michael Jackson is born.
1968 – Michael Jackson and his brothers (Jackson 5) are signed to Motown Records.
1970 – Michael and his brothers top the charts with ‘ABC’, ‘I’ll be there’ and ‘I want you back’.
Michael is just 11 at the time.
1971 – Michael goes solo at the age of 13 with his album ‘Got to be there’.
1978 – Michael Jackson stars in the film ‘The Wiz’ with Quincy Jones as the director. He later helps
Michael with some of his best known albums.
1979 – Michael releases his album ‘Off the wall’ which stays in the top 10 for 8 months and has four
hit number ones.
1982 - ‘Thriller’ is released gaining a place in the Guinness book of world records in 1985 for best-
selling album of all time and the album has seven hits such as ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Beat it’.
1983 – Michael releases his dance move ‘The moon walk’ which will become one of his most famous
and impressive dance moves to this day.
1987 – ‘Bad’ is released with hit songs such as ‘Dirty Diana’, ‘Bad’ and ‘Man in the mirror’.
1993 – Michael receives his ‘Living Legend Award’.
2000 – ‘Thriller goes Platinum again!’
2001 – Michael is inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame.

2. 2009 – Michael announces his comeback tour selling millions of tickets and exciting fans once again.
25th
June 2009 – Michael Jackson is pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital.
Michael Jacksons target audience would be huge music fans. People who enjoyed passionate songs
with meaning, big dazzling shows, amazing dance moves and also loved him for his looks in his
earlier years.
His music video for ‘Thriller’ really did capture is audience’s attention with dance moves such as the
‘Moon Walk’ playing a huge role in drawing his audience in. The carefully choreographed scene
where Michael has turned into a zombie and is seen dancing a fantastic dance with other Zombies
has been replicated and admired by millions. The video also seemed like a miniature film with
Michael taking his ‘girlfriend’ out and then they are suddenly attacked by Zombies and run for their
lives starting the song ‘Thriller’ and its iconic dance and storyline. Michaels bright red jacket also
pulls his fashion loving audience in with its smooth leather and huge shoulder pads which many
people today would still recognise as a ‘Michael Jackson outfit’.
Smooth Criminals music video really did excite Michael Jackson fans with his famous and seemingly
impossible ‘lean’ dance move. The video is set in a dim, very cool and shady club for the rich and
mysterious. Michael comes in looking extremely cool dressed in white and throwing out dance
moves and spine chilling lyrics with a fast tempo and slightly angry song appealing to his fans who
love to see his dark cool side. The theatrics of the video would also grab his audience’s attention for
those who love to watch a show with the video having dim lighting, mist, smoke machines and
superb dancing throughout.
Unfortunately I believe the true Michael was a very loving individual who became overwhelmed with
the stardom and the end product of his success. He had had multiple surgery procedures to change
his looks such as the controversial change in skin colour from dark brown to shocking white,
rhinoplasty, cheek bone implants, eyebrows lifted and much more all to make him feel better about
himself and fit in with his ever changing and chaotic world. He was changed by the stardom and
turned into something unrecognisable.
He had been coached and pressured by his father to become a start very early on in life wearing
bright sparkly outfits and to constantly preform and impress others whilst never being allowed what
he truly wanted which was a loving childhood. Michael was made into a performer to please his ever
growing fan base. He may have enjoyed dancing and singing but the pressure was immense and it
soon took its toll on Michael leading to his shocking and devastating death in 2009.