textual analysis

1. Iconic music video
Textual analysis
Michael Jackson- The way you make me feel
Brooke Pollock

2. At 0.14 we see a close up of Michael Jackson,
who is the artist in this music video,
throughout the music video we see lots of
close ups of him, this is done to add emphasis
on the fact he is the focal point of the
According to Goodwin's theory, he
emphasises the need from the record label to
include close ups to further show the artist is
the focal point of the video, like in the above
screengrab from ‘Michael Jackson’s The Way
You Make Me Feel’.
The mise-en-scene includes dark lighting and a dull ally way, which has connotations of darkness
in the classical canon typically represent a force of nature, evil, ignorance, and despair, which help
denote the scene, linking these with the upbeat and contrasting gloomy chords from the pop
song ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ the producer has used portrays to the audience the type of
song and look they are achieving. This fits in with Goodwins ‘Conventions of a music video’ where
he suggests the visuals often have an amplifying and illustrative relationship to the music.

3. Throughout the music video a variety are diegetic
sounds are presented. At 1 minute 30 seconds the
‘Woo’ is presented which is an iconic sound and
features in a numerous amount of Michael
Jackson’s work. In my opinion the use of this
throughout a variety of his music videos is to
enforce Michaels presence, and to instantly
connect the sound with Michael when it is
presented.
At 1.30 in the music video we are able to clearly see backlighting, this is placed behind the subject,
being Michael Jackson the artist, to illuminate him and create separation between the subject and
the background, but also create depth between actors, as we can quite clearly see Michael Jackson is
the focal point of this shot and the other actor is blurred out in the distance, this represents the
importance of both their characters which are in major contrast with one another.

4. At 1.11 mise-en-scene is broadly presented as we are able to see Michael Jackson in his typical style of
black high trousers and white socks, this look is present amid most of Michaels work, from this we can
see he has created a visual style which generates a personality trait within his productions for the
viewers to connect with. Linking back to Goodwin’s convention Michael performing his signature dance
moves throughout his productions fits into the elements of Goodwin’s theory of music videos, with the
emphasis being of artists signature style and movements that are present throughout more than one
production.
A long shot is being used at 1.11 which provides
emphasis on the location is generally used as a
scene-setting, establishing shot.
The long shot provides an extended view of the
scene around the characters, denoting that it is
important for the audience to acknowledge their
whereabouts as it plays a key role in the music
video. It is also being used to the audience is
taking into consideration how the characters are
stood denoting their relationship between one
another at this point

5. Straight away in the music video at 0.3 seconds
we can see a mid shot of a female, which
focusses mainly on her body, this denotes to
the audience that in this music video women
are seen as objects in the males eye which is a
stereotypical view. Music producers use
stereotypes as they are easy ways to get their
point across as many people recognise them
straight away. In this scene the female is
parading around, however has little purpose as
yet, this is shown by the mid shot focussing on
her body.
The actress is wearing a short black dress which is where the music directors have used mise-en-
scene to portray her as being something for the male characters to look at. Her jewellery presents
her as coming from a lower class background, making the males dominate over her.
Her black dress symbolises dullness which is what she feels being dominated by all the male
characters who just pander over who looks. As she carries on walking it then transitions into a long
shot where we just see her silhouette, however her face cant be seen which shows the lack of
importance towards her character.

6. Straight away in the music video at 0.3 seconds
we can see a mid shot of a female, which
focusses mainly on her body, this denotes to
the audience that in this music video women
are seen as objects in the males eye which is a
stereotypical view. Music producers use
stereotypes as they are easy ways to get their
point across as many people recognise them
straight away. In this scene the female is
parading around, however has little purpose as
yet, this is shown by the mid shot focussing on
her body.
The actress is wearing a short black dress which is where the music directors have used mise-en-
scene to portray her as being something for the male characters to look at. Her jewellery presents
her as coming from a lower class background, making the males dominate over her.
Her black dress symbolises dullness which is what she feels being dominated by all the male
characters who just pander over who looks. As she carries on walking it then transitions into a long
shot where we just see her silhouette, however her face cant be seen which shows the lack of
importance towards her character.