The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies | ISSN: 2452-0497
Dynamic, Influential, Inclusive, Cultural, Explorative, Unique
In 1993, a horde of Californian ‘police and prosecutors spent millions of dollars to create a case whose foundation never existed’.1 Their fruitless efforts were to incriminate Michael Jackson, a black artist who was the most commercially successful in the world. Jackson, who was in Russia on his
Abstract: In this first ever episode of Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, Karin and Elizabeth discuss Michael Jackson’s 1991 Black or White short film, directed by John Landis, who was also the director of the Thriller short film. The discussion of Jackson’s ‘Panther Dance’, also known as the Read More …
“Reeves’s powerful dance reminds us that Jackson achieved more than irresistible, superbly marketable tracks, or even magnificent music. His work also remains politically potent. One reason for that is Jackson’s insistence on responsibility and empathy — who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their need? Another is his work’s constantly reiterated invitation: Come and dance with me. We busy shoppers declined to dance and the loss was ours; but Dimitri Reeves and his neighbors chose, more wisely, to dance with Michael Jackson: to turn it way up, take it to others, refuse self-consciousness and judgement, and rejoice.”
With the permission of esteemed academic, Professor Michele Wallace, we are able to publish this culturally and historically relevant article, written and published in 1989 at the height of Jackson’s post-