1.5 - Research of Michael Jacksons "Scream"

At $7,000,000 Scream is the most expensive music video ever made. The song was released in the May of 1995 after allegations were made of child sexual abuse against Michael Jackson 2 years previous. The song was seen as an aggressive song and Michaels way of hitting back at his critics from 1993.

Michael isn't the only music genius to appear in this nearly 5 minute video, he performs along with his sister Janet. The whole of the video is filmed in a spaceship, this seems to be an odd concept for a music video however usually spaceships are related to being isolated in space away from everyone else which may represent how Michael was feeling due to all the events that had occurred two years before.

The costume that both artists are wearing tells us a lot about them and aids with the understanding of the video. One of the biggest representations that is shown through the costumes regards gender. Both Michael and his sister are wearing very similar if not the same costume in many of the scenes shown in this video, black leather trousers, a black jumper with very odd spikes and black boots, by both superstars wearing the same could show the equality of the sexes and how both are equal to each other, however it could also represent a few other things, i believe the outfits are rather feminine for a man to be wearing therefore people may take the representation of Michaels outfit as that he is comfortable with his sexuality, so much so he believes he can wear womens clothes and feel comfortable and confident doing so. However i believe by Michael wearing the same clothes as his sister shows a more feminine side of Michael which is what many people have believed for years.

However the similarity in costume changes through the video as Janet is pictured in a gold bikini top, Michael isn't pictured in the same outfit however he is shown in a the same material but just a long sleeved top, again the material is very feminine as the top is tight. This video may have been a way for Michael to show the real him after all the allegations made in 1993 and decided he will show that he is in touch with his feminine side and that he is comfortable.

Like i have already said the location of the video which is on a spaceship may be showing that Michael wants to be alone due to all of the events that have taken place, it is beleived that the different sets on the spaceship were trying to show the different sides of Michael and his sister. Throughout the video we see a huge comparison of black and white put together, the majority of the spaceship is white, the walls, the floor and the ceiling, this is then compared to the dark clothing and make-up that Michael and Janet Jackson both have on. White represents calm and peace however this is a huge contradiction to the emotions both the Jackson siblings are portraying throughout the video, aswell as the lyrics of the song.

The make-up throughout the video is very obvious however it isn't seen as the usual make-up for a music video, Janets make-up is very dark around the eyes maybe representing her anger shown throughout the video which has been said isn't usually her in her own music videos. Michaels face is very pure and plain, the dark make-up obviously ties in with her gender as it is women who wear make-up with a few exceptions however it is unusual that Michael hasn't got any make-up on even though at the early stages of the video he is wearing womens clothes. In the individual head shots of Michael he could be mistake for the woman as he is the one with the long curly hair compared to Janet who has short hair which could be seen as yet another exception when it comes to gender as usually men are those with short hair.

The lyrics of the song could be linked to the allegations of the child sex abuse with the constant repeating of "Stop pressuring me" and with having his sister perform with him may show weakness in Michael as part of the male race as he needs support from his sister as usually it's men who support women however it could also be represented that his sister is supporting him because she believes he is innocent. The lyrics throughout the song suggest how Michael is going to come back strong and prove the allegations are just allegations and that they aren't true.