Textual Analysis of Michael Jacksons “Thriller” (1982)By Eleaner Lester

Link to Andrew Goodwin's Theory:There is a clear relationship between the lyrics and visuals within the music video. For example, when Michael Jackson sings “You feel the cold hand and wonder if you'll ever see the sun” he takes on the physicality of a zombie and places his hands on his girlfriend’s back…

Furthermore, another example is when he sings “You hear the door slam and realize there's nowhere left to run”. In this occasion he swings around like the hinge of a door and adopts a pose where his arm is raised to metaphorically communicate a barrier, therefore symbolizing a door.

Also, the lyrical content of “Thriller” contains various references to supernatural beings (night creatures such as zombies, werewolves etc.). These lyrical references have a literal presence in the music video…

“Night creatures call and the dead start to walk in their masquerade”

“They're out to get you; there's demons closing in onEvery side”

‘”Cause I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try”

The ‘notion of looking’ is clearly shown within the “Thriller” music video, as the preliminary events in the music video do not actually occur within the "reality" of the music video but exist only as part of a horror movie which is being viewed by a cinema audience that includes the two protagonists (Michael Jackson and his on-screen girlfriend).

“Thriller” bears many intertextual references to the codes and conventions of the ‘horror genre’. Sound effects such as wolves howling, footsteps, doors creaking etc. as well as the inclusion of supernatural beings such as werewolves and zombies are examples of typical codes and conventions of horror films which “Thriller” includes.

Furthermore, more intertextual references are shown through the presence of classic horror movie posters such as “An American Werewolf in London”

Michael Jackson hired John Landis (the director of ‘An American Werewolf in London’) to direct “Thriller” and as a result the transformation of Jackson’s character (in the horror movie that he’s watching beforehand) shows similarities to that of David’s character in “An American Werewolf in London”.

Genre Characteristics:• In this music video ‘Thriller’ follows the genre characteristics of ‘pop’ music as it

exhibits many stereotypical aspects of a pop video that the audience can associate with. For example, dance chorography is demonstrated in this video which tells people that it’s a ‘pop’ video which people can dance along to. Many pop artists use this in their music video’s as it is more entertaining and enjoyable for the audience to watch. However, in this video Michael has created his own, unique dance routine which has become so successful that it is recognized worldwide.

Narrative:Looking at the five stages of narrative, Thriller also lends itself to this structure.

1. Beginning = Michael Jackson and girlfriend watching film in the cinema / walking her home.

2. Disruption = Zombies rising Michael Jackson and girlfriend being surrounded.

3. Recognition of disruption = Girlfriend realising Michael Jackson has become a zombie.

4. Attempt to solve disruption = Girlfriend runs home.

5. Resolution = Girlfriend realises it was a dream, however Michael Jackson could still be a zombie.

Furthermore Strauss’ theory, who highlighted binary opposites such as good vs evil, is shown in Thriller also contains mostly the opposites of good vs evil, good being Michael Jackson and the girlfriend and evil being the zombies, and life vs death.

Mise-en-scene:• Low key lighting is used in order to create a mysterious

atmosphere and to build up suspense.

• The colour red is also used frequently throughout the music video, which can be associated with rage and blood, both of which are typical horror conventions.

• The costumes worn by the characters within the music video represents the typical conventions of the horror genre, for example torn clothes, that are dark and old.

• Facial expressions are also used, such as Jackson’s girlfriend screaming, from this we can tell that she is terrified. It allows us, the audience, to see their emotions.

• In terms of positioning, Michael and his girlfriend and shown surrounded by zombies, this shows them as being powerless and alone. This represents the idea that in murders the killers are the dominant characters, in this instance it’s the zombies.

Camera Work:• There close-ups throughout the video of Michael Jacksons face and his girlfriend’s, it

makes it feel more frightening as it gets across the emotion of both of the characters. We can see that Michaels girlfriend is extremely scared of him when he becomes a zombie.

• There is also an Establishing shot and pan which establishes the 1950’s scene, which is already dark and sinister. This further emphasises the themes of ‘Horror’.

• There is a two-shot of Michael and his girlfriend in a car, it helps to establish a relationship between the two of them. Michael is shown as the main focus in the two-shot and this helps to identify him as the main character,

Editing:• There are lots of close-up cuts of the conversations that take place between Michael and his

girlfriend, this then cuts to the scene of his transformation into a were-wolf type character.

• There is also a zoom shot used to show the zombies emerging from their tombs in the graveyard, this is done to draw focus to them.

• Throughout the video there are not many cuts to the beat, but more of Michael Jackson and the zombies dancing to the beat. It hasn’t got many cuts to the beat because it has been created to be more like a movie not like a music video.

Sound:• In the song, sound effects such as a creaking door, thunder, creaking floor, dogs howling

and strong winds can be heard. This effects emphasise the horror genre of the music video.

• The sounds effects that appear in the song are also emphasised in the music video through the use of mise-en-scene. We can see the noises being made e.g. The sound of the coffin when its being opened.

• In the music video Michaels girlfriend is screaming uncontrollably and begins to run away from him. The non-diegetic sound, such as the background music, really enforces the fact that she is terrified as the music has a typical ‘horror film’ sound and pace to it.