Task 5 - (Research - Michael Jackson's 'Scream')

At $7,000,000 Michael & Janet Jackson's hit single Scream is the most expensive music video promo ever made. The representation of gender and sexuality is apparent through the different elements of Mise-en-scène, including camera angle & position, costume & make up. This representation of gender can be in many different forms, including making both male and females look equal, or making the female or male look more dominant and vulnerable than the other.

The representation of gender and sexuality is conveyed through Mise-en-scène. The occurs through many different elements. The first is costume. Costume helps to represent gender and sexuality in different ways. For example, in the music video of Scream, Michael & Janet are dressed very alike, though reasonably odd looking (futuristic clothes). This represents them as equal, as both male and female dressing up very alike. The effect on the audience is that they are likely to think that Michael and Janet are a team, in outer space on a spaceship, both taking an equal part in duties on the ship.

The second element is camera angle & position. There are many worms eye shots used in the video promo on both Michael & Janet Jackson. This is to show dominance and importance of both of the characters, which makes Janet come across as manly and independent. An example of this is at around 2:02 in the video, Janet is sitting in a chair looking down at the camera in front of her singing down into it. This shows proves her independence and dominance to the audience, and helps to show understanding that male and female are equal in the music video. Also, there are other shots taken, for example a shot hanging from the roof upside down is used many times in the video. This shot is used to show difference, difference between reality and what can happen in space. With this kind of camera shot included in the video, the audience will be able to loose their sense of reality and be drawn into the music video – it makes the video more believable. Also, there is a shot at around 1:02 in which the camera is turning round along with Michael Jackson, as if they were in a space ship and floating around. This is used to capture the idea that Michael is In space. The main idea of this is to make the video more believable to the viewers, it gives an effect that the audience actually believes could happen in outer space. This helps to represent gender in a way in which equality is apparent. This happens due to the fact that there is both a male and a female in outer space.

The last element of Mise-en-scène that will be linked to the representation of gender and sexuality is make up. Make up is used in music videos, primarily to sell the artist. It is also used to create effects that are used to make the music video more believable. In Scream, make up is used on both Michael and Janet Jackson to give the effect that they are in outer space and are on a space ship. For example, throughout the video, Michael & Janet both have crazy messed up hair, and have very little make up. This gives the audience reason to believe the video and get into it, because after all, how many astronauts would wear make up? Also, the messy hair adds to the effect, this shows that they have no need to make themselves look presentable, as nobody else is around. This also represents gender due to the fact that both Michael and Janet are very alike in the way they dress, and the way they act. Giving an effect to the audience that they are again, both equals.

In conclusion, these elements of Mise-en-scène show both Michael and Janet Jackson as equal in the music video industry even though their gender is different. The elements are used in music videos primarily to make them more believable to the audience, and help sell the artist and their records. Most of the time this is the case and it is sure to say that if this is done correctly, then the artist is going to be making a substantial profit from their music video.