The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife

by Elizabeth Amisu, Joseph Vogel (Foreword by), Karin Merx (Foreword by)

Overview

An essential companion to Michael Jackson's music, films, and books, this work offers 21 original, academic essays on all things Jackson—from film, music, and dance to fashion, culture, and literature.
• Takes a sophisticated, academic approach to understanding Jackson's art and life, providing insights into his entire body of work from a perspective never before available outside of music/culture journals• Concentrates on aspects of Jackson's art that have not previously been researched, such as his use of costumes and clothing, his poetry, and his function as an auteur• Includes a section focused on Jackson's posthumous work and representation• Connects with the study of literature, especially early modern English writings and, perhaps surprisingly, the works of William Shakespeare

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440838644
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/26/2016
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.50(h) x 1.15(d)

About the Author

Elizabeth Amisu holds a Master of Arts in early modern English literature from King's College London, in conjunction with the British Library.

Table of Contents

Foreword Joseph Vogel, PhD xi

Foreword Karin Merx xv

Acknowledgments xvii

Michael Jackson: A Selected Chronology xix

Part I Art as Life 1

Chapter 1 Introduction: Reading, Writing, and Rewriting Michael Jackson 3

Chapter 2 A Critical Survey of Michael Jackson Studies 9

Chapter 3 On Michael Jackson's Dancing the Dream 19

Chapter 4 Narrative in Michael Jackson's Bad 31

Chapter 5 Identity and Identification in Michael Jackson's Dangerous 41

Chapter 6 "Liberace Has Gone to War": Undressing Michael Jackson's Fashion 49

Chapter 7 "Instrument of Nature": The Voice of Michael Jackson 59

Part II Life as Art 67

Chapter 8 Thoughts on Michael Jackson's Transformations 69

Chapter 9 "Throwing Stones to Hide Your Hands": The Mortal Persona of Michael Jackson 77

Chapter 10 Recontextualizing Michael Jackson's Blackness 87

Chapter 11 History and Michael Jackson's Autobiographical Potency 95

Chapter 12 Michael Jackson and Children Revisited 105

Chapter 13 "Faith, Hope, and Love": The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson 113

Chapter 14 From Crown to Cross: The Poisoned Chalice of Thriller's Success 119

Part III Art beyond Life 125

Chapter 15 Horcruxes: Michael (Split Seven Ways) Jackson 127

Chapter 16 "Through the Looking Glass": Notes on Michael Jackson and Andy Warhol 141

Chapter 17 Invincible: Michael Jackson's Lost Late Album 147

Chapter 18 Michael Jackson's Obituaries and the Shakespearean Tragic Hero 155

Chapter 19 Moonwalkers: Michael Jackson's Unique Fandom 159

Chapter 20 The Power of the Editor and Michael Jackson's Posthumous Releases 179

Chapter 21 Epilogue: Three Dangerous Philosophies Articles 189

21.1 "The Isle Is Full of Noises": Revisiting the Peter Pan of Pop 189

21.2 Crack Music: Michael Jackson's Invincible 192

21.3 "Heard It on the Grapevine": Are We Losing Michael Jackson All Over Again? 195

Appendices

A.1 From Object to Subject: A Critical Survey on the Representation of Blackness in the Early Modern Period 199

A.2 "With All His Beauteous Race": High-Status Blacks in The Masque of Blackness and The Merchant of Venice 207

A.2.1 Niger, a High-Status Black Character in The Masque of Blackness 212

A.2.2 Morocco, a High-Status Black Character in The Merchant of Venice 219

A.2.3 Gender and the Depictions of Niger and Morocco 223

A.2.4 Conclusion 230

Notes 235

Bibliography 289

Index 341