Wanna Be Startin' Somethin': Michael Jackson and the MTV Color Barrier

Conclusion

Michael Jackson’s star image is predicated on his assumption of the burden of mending the relations between races. Far from the frivolous exploits of groups like Van Halen and Def Leppard, Jackson’s videos are engaged in a complex dialogue on race and the mutability of identity. His albums and videos came at a time of transition for the music industry, as attention strayed from albums to singles and music videos added a whole new semiotic dimension to music celebrity. In his attempt to embody the struggle of post-Civil Rights Era blacks and other marginalized communities, Jackson reached great heights. But he also fell to some incredible lows, tragically embodying the specific price of black stardom.

 

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