In 2024, how do you think the 'The Way You Make Me Feel' MV holds up?

SilverFiner

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To start, I must admit that I am a proud feminist. I read feminist literature, try to support women in the arts, donate to organizations for women's health and protection (I like to put my money where my mouth is), advocate for equality... etc. I have also experienced (and still do) sexual harassment in the workplace and the streets. Not more than any other woman, it has not been traumatizing in any way, but it had certainly made me aware of these issues.

I was going through MJ's short films and felt sick watching TWYMMF. I kept thinking 'Replace MJ by any other man, and this video is my worst nightmare.' Even with MJ, it looks gruesome. I dislike the setting; empty, dirty and dark streets in the middle of the night, the lewd gestures and insinuations, the way MJ's character pursues the woman even after she has expressed her disinterest in him... etc. I know Tatiana's character is enjoying the experience and seems to play hard-to-get. However, it still makes me uncomfortable. I have seen the playing hard-to-get excuse used by men to justify awful behaviors towards women who were just being polite to them.

There is also the possibility that I am being overly puritanical, clutching my pearls over something that is not so terrible. I know perpetuating rape culture was not MJ's intent, I just wish it could have been a little less gauche in the way it depicted an unpleasant experience (aka catcalling) many individuals go through.

What do you think of it? I am making this thread to have your opinions and maybe form a new one myself.
 
Question
When did you become a fan? When was the first time you saw this video? Do you have an emotional attachment to the video. Did you first watch this video when Michael was alive or did you only see it for the first time when Michael was dead.

I find threads like this odd, like you are pushing an agenda, trying to align Michael with the me too movement, trying to align Michael with the current way of thinking.

I think it is wrong to only see things by 2024 viewpoint without understanding the context.

And no Im not going to fall into the trap you are baiting, Im not going to give my thoughts about the video.
 
Question
When did you become a fan? When was the first time you saw this video? Do you have an emotional attachment to the video. Did you first watch this video when Michael was alive or did you only see it for the first time when Michael was dead.

I became a fan after his death. 2015, 2016. I have not been exposed to that video prior to that.
I don't really have an emotional attachment to the video.

find threads like this odd, like you are pushing an agenda, trying to align Michael with the me too movement, trying to align Michael with the current way of thinking.

According to Wikipedia (not the best source, but at least, you know it's not my opinion), "#MeToo is a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment and rape culture, in which people publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment." As someone who hangs out in the feminist circles, I can tell you the current way of thinking has evolved since 2018 and the MeToo movement. I don't try to detail it here, but I don't think I am trying to align Michael -- although I am not discussing HIM, I am discussing the music video specifically, I happen to like the song -- with the current way of thinking. I cannot. What is in the past cannot be changed, but we can examinate it through a new lens.

I only wanted to know what others thought about it. This is me asking a community of fellow fans what they think. My opinion is my opinion, I am searching for nuance because my readings have shaped my vision of the world in certain way, and it's important to challenge your perspective. I am not trying to tell people what to say or what to think. This is why the main question is 'In 2024, how do you think the video holds up?'
 
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@SilverFiner

i’m going to try to lure in @staywild23 to discuss this topic with you. She is eloquent and cool so she will post a nice reply. She is much better with words than I am 😀

There is a longer version of the video which might help change your perspective on it.
 
I was not offended by the video when I first saw it long before Michael's death and I still am not offended in 2024. Michael's intention was just to flirt with the girl, so that's how the video should be interpreted. It shouldn't be interpreted beyond the artist's intent, this is just a video, not real life. If Michael had done this in real life, then we could talk about harassment. But trying to remove from movies what in real life would be considered bad behaviour would just be ridiculous. We couldn't even have villains anymore! Michael is just playing a character in his videos, as an actor, so he doesn't need to be a "good guy" all the time. He can even turn into a werewolf and eat his date if he wants to!
 
I agree with the person above, it wasn´t MJ´s intention for the video to be seen as harassment. The intention was just for him to flirt with the girl and that´s that
 
It's a fair point. I think we shouldn't be offended by this topic. Times change, and our view on this subject has changed as well. For the better, I think. I used to enjoy this video, and I still do, but some bits haven't aged well. Some parts are funny, like the scene where both Tatiana and Michael crawl through the car, and Tatiana is clearly having fun. That looks like a flirt. But in some other shots, Tatiana looks more distressed, and is trying to get away. I think the director could have done a better job in keeping the chase fun. Especially Tatiana's character isn't consistent. She changes abruptly from flirt to victim. She wasn't an experienced actor, and that shows in consistency.

What is interesting to me, is that Michael was aware of this. He changed the tone of the performance quite a bit in his tours. Look at the way he performed it during the HIStory Tour. Yes, he is chasing the girl, but she clearly has power over him, and is fooling him... it's clearly a game of two people who like each other. Michael did a lot of finetuning on this. Personally, I think Michael would have changed the tone of the short film quite a bit had he directed it himself.
 
@SilverFiner

i’m going to try to lure in @staywild23 to discuss this topic with you. She is eloquent and cool so she will post a nice reply. She is much better with words than I am 😀

There is a longer version of the video which might help change your perspective on it.

Do you have a youtube link to the extended version? I had one before and lost it.
 
@filmandmusic you successfully lured me in! Congratulations! 😆

@SilverFiner first, I feel like you're getting some harsh responses and I'm not entirely sure why. The wonderful thing about Michael having such a strong legacy is that it means his art will live on and continue to be evaluated and reevaluated with the changing contexts of culture. So, to me, it's perfectly valid to bring this up, because it really just reaffirms what we all hope is true - Michael's art lives on in new contexts, with new audiences, and will continue to provoke response. Much preferable to being forgotten I would say!

Anyway, let me dive into your message because I have so many thoughts! TWYMMF happens to be one of my favorite music videos too!

To start, I must admit that I am a proud feminist. I read feminist literature, try to support women in the arts, donate to organizations for women's health and protection (I like to put my money where my mouth is), advocate for equality... etc. I have also experienced (and still do) sexual harassment in the workplace and the streets. Not more than any other woman, it has not been traumatizing in any way, but it had certainly made me aware of these issues.
I am also a feminist! Read feminist literature, support women, and deeply understand rape culture.

In fact, I am a survivor myself.

Second in fact - I also have studied rape culture and feminism on the doctoral level and wrote a dissertation and a book about both! haha. It feels funny to bring this up here, but I do think it's valuable context, because I want you to know that when I respond to your thread I am doing so coming from a mindset that very much understands your values! And supports them too.

I was going through MJ's short films and felt sick watching TWYMMF. I kept thinking 'Replace MJ by any other man, and this video is my worst nightmare.' Even with MJ, it looks gruesome. I dislike the setting; empty, dirty and dark streets in the middle of the night, the lewd gestures and insinuations, the way MJ's character pursues the woman even after she has expressed her disinterest in him... etc.
I feel like this is all understandable and, honestly, I watch lots of reaction videos and frequently see this response from people. Not necessarily being sick, but sort of being like..."hmmm, I'm not sure about this." I think it's fair, because with today's cultural context, this video would likely not be made this way, let alone take place in a grungy place that reinforces some of those fearful elements we (stereotypically) associate with rape culture. So even though I don't personally share your view, I do understand how you arrived at it.

I know Tatiana's character is enjoying the experience and seems to play hard-to-get. However, it still makes me uncomfortable. I have seen the playing hard-to-get excuse used by men to justify awful behaviors towards women who were just being polite to them.
This is also fair. And in real life, I absolutely agree with you.

There is also the possibility that I am being overly puritanical, clutching my pearls over something that is not so terrible. I know perpetuating rape culture was not MJ's intent, I just wish it could have been a little less gauche in the way it depicted an unpleasant experience (aka catcalling) many individuals go through.

What do you think of it? I am making this thread to have your opinions and maybe form a new one myself.
So first, let me just say this - I think it's fair for you to read it however you want to. In that, not all pieces are going to work for every person. If this made you feel physically sick to watch, that's an extreme reaction, but it is your reaction, and it doesn't mean you are wrong. I am glad that you are actually wanting some other perspectives, though, because I would hate if you or anyone totally wrote off this video without at least pursuing some other takes.

So with everything I have said, let me share my view of this short film.

As f&m mentioned in his reply to you, there is a longer version of this film that shows an introduction that gives more context to the "world" this story takes place in. I do want to address that, but I'm going to focus first on the original video itself since it is what most people know and see.

In my opinion, TWYMMF exists in a world of fantasy for every person involved. Intentionally so. Let's look at the beginning...

The setting is grungy - dark streets, a little dirty, not much lighting. A classic setting for violence and fear. As the video opens we see Tatianna walking around the streets alone at night - confidently strutting, unafraid, no air of self consciousness, generally comfortable, etc. This in itself is not reality, right? No woman I can think of would confidently walk alone at night through a grungy area. But Tatianna does and she doesn't even flinch.

As she walks, we overhear some conversation. Guys giving each other shit about trying to get girls, etc. We see Michael appear and Tatianna barely even notices. She is entirely confident, unthreatened, powerful. Him popping into the street doesn't knock her off balance as it would in real life. She's free of such fear. As Michael appears, we overhear the guys talking - "what is he doing? we told him to go home." They are all preparing to watch the embarrassment of a lifetime. He is clearly not a guy they see as the one who would get her attention, especially when the others couldn't. This introduces a second layer of fantasy - a world in which the shy guy, whose not really like the other guys, can and does get the girl, simply by being himself. More on that in a bit.

After Tatianna passes him up, he of course shouts and she turns around. She's startled, obviously, but as she watches him walk toward her, she doesn't flinch. Again, no anxiety, no fear. This is where I begin to believe (in my head canon) that Tatianna and Michael know each other. They are from the same neighborhood. Maybe they even grew up together. Maybe he has been seeing her, watching her, crushing on her hard, and she's always passed him up. In reality, a total stranger yelling at you would make you flinch, but Tatianna doesn't. She stands back and looks at him as if to say, unimpressed, "well, now what?" and that is when, of course, he breaks into song.

This, to me, is where the flirtation sort of begins. She walks off, unamused, but the guys encourage him, and so she stops in her tracks and starts to pay attention. He's asserting himself as someone viable for her - trying to show her what he can offer - not only literally as he does in the song lyrics ("I'll pick you up in my car and we'll paint the town"/"I'll be workin' from nine to five, To buy you things to keep you by my side"/"I swear I'm keeping you satisfied") but as an alternative to the other guys around him.

Let me explain.

While yes, MJ follows her around a bit in these opening moments, and she seems a bit annoyed by it, he doesn't demonstrate a threat. When she walks away from him and the guys crowd around behind him, it isn't to threaten her, but to implore her "give the guy a chance, he's trying." But she's over it, right? So she takes off and sprints down the alley. And here is where the fantasy really ramps up. And you may even notice, this is where Tatianna's attitude officially changes.

The most stereotypically frightening image women have of rape is in a dark alley. I mean that is quite literally the scenario that is constantly referred to when we talk about rape. The idea of a woman running down an alley and being followed by a man, or group of men, is legitimately terrifying. But what happens here? No one follows her. MJ doesn't even step toward the alley. He stays exactly where he is. Singing, flirting, trying to entice her back. The guys stay there too, signifying there is no threat. He's not trying to stalk her, or scare her. He's flirting. He wants to seduce. He doesn't want to hurt her.

At this point, Tatianna comes back out of the alley - again, unafraid, unwavering - and only at this point does MJ approach her again. From here forward, there is a new understanding between them. This is play. This is flirtation. This is harmless. And yes, it is fantasy.
From here forward, Tatianna is a part of the game. Our expectations of the worst that could happen are subverted. MJ is not the monster and maybe those guys aren't either. Maybe in this world, the beautiful girl can be her confident hot self without the threat of violence and the guys just want to impress her. Maybe in this world, the guy no one believes in, could make her fall for him too.

For the rest of the video, MJ chases Tatianna around and we see her visibly laughing, mocking him, playing into the silliness of it all. We see her approach a group of girlfriends, who we previously didn't even know where around. This is a subtle reminder that this situation isn't necessarily what we may have thought. There are things happening off frame. There is an entire community here. And yes, they likely know each other already.

Toward the end of the video, Tatianna is taunting MJ. Leaning against her car, inviting him to come in and kiss her, but he doesn't. He teases her right back. In fact, he's not done trying to convince her to give him a chance. He performs for her - not with aggression, or force. His method works. He's friendly, he's flirting, and he even gets the guys (who made fun of him) to join in with the performance. Then, of course, Tatianna is convinced. She wants him right back. They come together in silhouette and even in that moment, all they do is hug. He doesn't even push a boundary to kiss her. There is nothing to fear. There never was.

This is a ****** fantasy lol. Let's be honest, right? This is not how this stuff plays out in real life. But in a fantasy world, wouldn't it? In a fantasy world, wouldn't a woman be able to strut through the streets at night and feel safe, and only get hit on by a guy she finds attractive, but who she never really noticed before? Who doesn't at any point make her feel unsafe but, instead, successfully seduces her? Let's be clear - the fantasy of being seduced is not the same as the reality of catcalling. And I don't think it has to be viewed as such. In my opinion, this is why we see MJ offering an alternative to being catcalled. He's not trying to look powerful, or dominant, or cool. He's just trying to win her over.

This is where I think the context of the full length short film matters. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it. While some of it may contradict some of my points, it overall reinforces what I'm saying.

In the original opening of the short film, we get a greater view of this setting. There are people all around, it is dark, feels a little dangerous. We see guys busting each other, bothering the other women on the street, being aggressive and combative. We might think of it as your traditional "toxic masculinity." Michael gets caught up in the middle of it - sort of being made fun, singled out as not fitting in, not belonging, with them telling him to just go home. He walks away sad and eventually sits on the stoop with the older man we later see give him a thumbs up in the video. As they sit together, the old man gives him a pep talk. "You're not like those guys and you don't want to be like those guys. Just be yourself." We see Michael smiling and internalizing this. "Be yourself," he whispers. Almost like it never occurred to him before this moment. Almost like he didn't know there even was an alternative to trying to "fit in." He doesn't have to be the stereotypical guy. He doesn't have to be aggressive, or combative, or toxic. He can "just be himself."

And this is where the video as we know it begins. MJ embraces being himself. He approaches the woman he has a crush on and he performs. He doesn't catcall in the way the other guys did, he doesn't get in her face, or back her into a corner. But he does put it all out there. He literally sings and dances and jumps on cars and (if he were anyone other than Michael Jackson) showed that he was willing to make a fool of himself just to win her over.

That is part of the fantasy. He isn't like the other guys. He is an alternative. And the situation doesn't have to go down like it might in reality. We can exist here, as viewers, in a suspended reality where the beautiful girl and the gorgeous guy end up happily together after some playful flirtation. Nothing scary, nothing dark. Just the pure fantasy of an alternate reality where such a thing is possible.

And, let's be honest, part of what MJ is doing here is teasing his female fans just the same. No, we don't want some random guy to follow us around or catcall us. But Michael Jackson singing to us about how beautiful we are and how he wants to please us? Girl. Kill me now. It's all I want and need in the world lol.

Phew... that was a lot!

So look, with all of this said, I completely get if your take on this video is that it's problematic. If my theory of MJ offering an alternative fantasy doesn't sit right with you, that's ok. You could question if it is harmful to pretend this is possible... if it encourages bad behavior, etc. But, in my opinion, that's putting a nefarious lens over a situation that actually represents both people in the end getting what they want. Though some of this may be problematic in reality, I'm not sure if it really helps anyone to say that a video depicting a woman visibly laughing and enjoying herself with a guy she obviously is attracted to is perpetrating rape culture. I understand the reasons why and I'm sure there's an argument for it. But wouldn't it also be nice to argue for a reality in which something like this is even possible?

I hope all of this makes sense! This ended up being 10,000x longer than I intended so I'm very sorry about that. But I did forewarn. I have A LOT to say :)
 
Whether your succeeded or not with the OP @staywild23 I enjoyed the detailed expansive response and learned more in the process.
Thanks for taking the time to read it! Also for tagging me in the thread. I will always accept an invitation to talk about this video 😍

I maaaaaaybe went a little overboard, but what can I say? 🤷‍♀️
 
Don't be so modest, f&m. You wrote a very detailed, thoughtful assessment of the extended version of the vid a while back. Did I imagine that? :unsure:
It’s not about modesty, I understand superiority when I see it. The way some people write is way beyond my level of English comprehension and understanding and I am totally ok with that. 🙂
 
The video is fine. It's really fine.

I'm not a big fan of the silhouette dance at the end - I didn't like that even in the 80s, but otherwise it's a great video. Great song, great dancing, great singing.

When did you become a fan?
Just stop.
 
@filmandmusic you successfully lured me in! Congratulations! 😆

@SilverFiner first, I feel like you're getting some harsh responses and I'm not entirely sure why. The wonderful thing about Michael having such a strong legacy is that it means his art will live on and continue to be evaluated and reevaluated with the changing contexts of culture. So, to me, it's perfectly valid to bring this up, because it really just reaffirms what we all hope is true - Michael's art lives on in new contexts, with new audiences, and will continue to provoke response. Much preferable to being forgotten I would say!

Anyway, let me dive into your message because I have so many thoughts! TWYMMF happens to be one of my favorite music videos too!


I am also a feminist! Read feminist literature, support women, and deeply understand rape culture.

In fact, I am a survivor myself.

Second in fact - I also have studied rape culture and feminism on the doctoral level and wrote a dissertation and a book about both! haha. It feels funny to bring this up here, but I do think it's valuable context, because I want you to know that when I respond to your thread I am doing so coming from a mindset that very much understands your values! And supports them too.


I feel like this is all understandable and, honestly, I watch lots of reaction videos and frequently see this response from people. Not necessarily being sick, but sort of being like..."hmmm, I'm not sure about this." I think it's fair, because with today's cultural context, this video would likely not be made this way, let alone take place in a grungy place that reinforces some of those fearful elements we (stereotypically) associate with rape culture. So even though I don't personally share your view, I do understand how you arrived at it.


This is also fair. And in real life, I absolutely agree with you.


So first, let me just say this - I think it's fair for you to read it however you want to. In that, not all pieces are going to work for every person. If this made you feel physically sick to watch, that's an extreme reaction, but it is your reaction, and it doesn't mean you are wrong. I am glad that you are actually wanting some other perspectives, though, because I would hate if you or anyone totally wrote off this video without at least pursuing some other takes.

So with everything I have said, let me share my view of this short film.

As f&m mentioned in his reply to you, there is a longer version of this film that shows an introduction that gives more context to the "world" this story takes place in. I do want to address that, but I'm going to focus first on the original video itself since it is what most people know and see.

In my opinion, TWYMMF exists in a world of fantasy for every person involved. Intentionally so. Let's look at the beginning...

The setting is grungy - dark streets, a little dirty, not much lighting. A classic setting for violence and fear. As the video opens we see Tatianna walking around the streets alone at night - confidently strutting, unafraid, no air of self consciousness, generally comfortable, etc. This in itself is not reality, right? No woman I can think of would confidently walk alone at night through a grungy area. But Tatianna does and she doesn't even flinch.

As she walks, we overhear some conversation. Guys giving each other shit about trying to get girls, etc. We see Michael appear and Tatianna barely even notices. She is entirely confident, unthreatened, powerful. Him popping into the street doesn't knock her off balance as it would in real life. She's free of such fear. As Michael appears, we overhear the guys talking - "what is he doing? we told him to go home." They are all preparing to watch the embarrassment of a lifetime. He is clearly not a guy they see as the one who would get her attention, especially when the others couldn't. This introduces a second layer of fantasy - a world in which the shy guy, whose not really like the other guys, can and does get the girl, simply by being himself. More on that in a bit.

After Tatianna passes him up, he of course shouts and she turns around. She's startled, obviously, but as she watches him walk toward her, she doesn't flinch. Again, no anxiety, no fear. This is where I begin to believe (in my head canon) that Tatianna and Michael know each other. They are from the same neighborhood. Maybe they even grew up together. Maybe he has been seeing her, watching her, crushing on her hard, and she's always passed him up. In reality, a total stranger yelling at you would make you flinch, but Tatianna doesn't. She stands back and looks at him as if to say, unimpressed, "well, now what?" and that is when, of course, he breaks into song.

This, to me, is where the flirtation sort of begins. She walks off, unamused, but the guys encourage him, and so she stops in her tracks and starts to pay attention. He's asserting himself as someone viable for her - trying to show her what he can offer - not only literally as he does in the song lyrics ("I'll pick you up in my car and we'll paint the town"/"I'll be workin' from nine to five, To buy you things to keep you by my side"/"I swear I'm keeping you satisfied") but as an alternative to the other guys around him.

Let me explain.

While yes, MJ follows her around a bit in these opening moments, and she seems a bit annoyed by it, he doesn't demonstrate a threat. When she walks away from him and the guys crowd around behind him, it isn't to threaten her, but to implore her "give the guy a chance, he's trying." But she's over it, right? So she takes off and sprints down the alley. And here is where the fantasy really ramps up. And you may even notice, this is where Tatianna's attitude officially changes.

The most stereotypically frightening image women have of rape is in a dark alley. I mean that is quite literally the scenario that is constantly referred to when we talk about rape. The idea of a woman running down an alley and being followed by a man, or group of men, is legitimately terrifying. But what happens here? No one follows her. MJ doesn't even step toward the alley. He stays exactly where he is. Singing, flirting, trying to entice her back. The guys stay there too, signifying there is no threat. He's not trying to stalk her, or scare her. He's flirting. He wants to seduce. He doesn't want to hurt her.

At this point, Tatianna comes back out of the alley - again, unafraid, unwavering - and only at this point does MJ approach her again. From here forward, there is a new understanding between them. This is play. This is flirtation. This is harmless. And yes, it is fantasy.
From here forward, Tatianna is a part of the game. Our expectations of the worst that could happen are subverted. MJ is not the monster and maybe those guys aren't either. Maybe in this world, the beautiful girl can be her confident hot self without the threat of violence and the guys just want to impress her. Maybe in this world, the guy no one believes in, could make her fall for him too.

For the rest of the video, MJ chases Tatianna around and we see her visibly laughing, mocking him, playing into the silliness of it all. We see her approach a group of girlfriends, who we previously didn't even know where around. This is a subtle reminder that this situation isn't necessarily what we may have thought. There are things happening off frame. There is an entire community here. And yes, they likely know each other already.

Toward the end of the video, Tatianna is taunting MJ. Leaning against her car, inviting him to come in and kiss her, but he doesn't. He teases her right back. In fact, he's not done trying to convince her to give him a chance. He performs for her - not with aggression, or force. His method works. He's friendly, he's flirting, and he even gets the guys (who made fun of him) to join in with the performance. Then, of course, Tatianna is convinced. She wants him right back. They come together in silhouette and even in that moment, all they do is hug. He doesn't even push a boundary to kiss her. There is nothing to fear. There never was.

This is a ****** fantasy lol. Let's be honest, right? This is not how this stuff plays out in real life. But in a fantasy world, wouldn't it? In a fantasy world, wouldn't a woman be able to strut through the streets at night and feel safe, and only get hit on by a guy she finds attractive, but who she never really noticed before? Who doesn't at any point make her feel unsafe but, instead, successfully seduces her? Let's be clear - the fantasy of being seduced is not the same as the reality of catcalling. And I don't think it has to be viewed as such. In my opinion, this is why we see MJ offering an alternative to being catcalled. He's not trying to look powerful, or dominant, or cool. He's just trying to win her over.

This is where I think the context of the full length short film matters. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it. While some of it may contradict some of my points, it overall reinforces what I'm saying.

In the original opening of the short film, we get a greater view of this setting. There are people all around, it is dark, feels a little dangerous. We see guys busting each other, bothering the other women on the street, being aggressive and combative. We might think of it as your traditional "toxic masculinity." Michael gets caught up in the middle of it - sort of being made fun, singled out as not fitting in, not belonging, with them telling him to just go home. He walks away sad and eventually sits on the stoop with the older man we later see give him a thumbs up in the video. As they sit together, the old man gives him a pep talk. "You're not like those guys and you don't want to be like those guys. Just be yourself." We see Michael smiling and internalizing this. "Be yourself," he whispers. Almost like it never occurred to him before this moment. Almost like he didn't know there even was an alternative to trying to "fit in." He doesn't have to be the stereotypical guy. He doesn't have to be aggressive, or combative, or toxic. He can "just be himself."

And this is where the video as we know it begins. MJ embraces being himself. He approaches the woman he has a crush on and he performs. He doesn't catcall in the way the other guys did, he doesn't get in her face, or back her into a corner. But he does put it all out there. He literally sings and dances and jumps on cars and (if he were anyone other than Michael Jackson) showed that he was willing to make a fool of himself just to win her over.

That is part of the fantasy. He isn't like the other guys. He is an alternative. And the situation doesn't have to go down like it might in reality. We can exist here, as viewers, in a suspended reality where the beautiful girl and the gorgeous guy end up happily together after some playful flirtation. Nothing scary, nothing dark. Just the pure fantasy of an alternate reality where such a thing is possible.

And, let's be honest, part of what MJ is doing here is teasing his female fans just the same. No, we don't want some random guy to follow us around or catcall us. But Michael Jackson singing to us about how beautiful we are and how he wants to please us? Girl. Kill me now. It's all I want and need in the world lol.

Phew... that was a lot!

So look, with all of this said, I completely get if your take on this video is that it's problematic. If my theory of MJ offering an alternative fantasy doesn't sit right with you, that's ok. You could question if it is harmful to pretend this is possible... if it encourages bad behavior, etc. But, in my opinion, that's putting a nefarious lens over a situation that actually represents both people in the end getting what they want. Though some of this may be problematic in reality, I'm not sure if it really helps anyone to say that a video depicting a woman visibly laughing and enjoying herself with a guy she obviously is attracted to is perpetrating rape culture. I understand the reasons why and I'm sure there's an argument for it. But wouldn't it also be nice to argue for a reality in which something like this is even possible?

I hope all of this makes sense! This ended up being 10,000x longer than I intended so I'm very sorry about that. But I did forewarn. I have A LOT to say :)
Thank you for such a long and thoughtful response. This is exactly what I was looking for by coming here. I will be re-reading it for sure. I hope it will be taken in consideration when other people will try to form an opinion about this MV.
 
Thank you for such a long and thoughtful response. This is exactly what I was looking for by coming here. I will be re-reading it for sure. I hope it will be taken in consideration when other people will try to form an opinion about this MV.

You are very welcome! I don't expect that my analysis and perspective will necessarily alter yours, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on what I shared! If you'd rather chat off-thread, feel free to pm me! As some people know, I'm not the best at keeping up with my pms, but that doesn't change how interested I am in discussing this. But no pressure of course! :)
 
I love the video.

Clearly it's with her approval - I see the video as if they actually already know each other a little.
She loves the attention and likes the person "chasing" her (MJ)

And they hug/kiss in the end - so I see no offensive behaviour, I see nothing wrong - not even by 2024 standards. - It's just great fun.

A great song and a great shortfilm.
 
Keep in mind that there were many stories (in the press) around that time about Michael Jackson being homosexual or asexual.

This seems to explain as to why they decided to project a heterosexual image of him via certain music videos, especially with the concept of his 'The Way You Make Me Feel' music video.
Just stop.
There is no point in having a discussion with her.
And they hug/kiss in the end - so I see no offensive behaviour, I see nothing wrong
Apparently, in the end the female character gives in (to him) due to fear for her own life.
 
>fear for her own life

LMAO. She is actively looking for him after he disappears from the dance scene.
Well she got scared for her life when Michael disappeared, because she was now all alone in a dark gloomy alley. She was really relieved when he came back so she ran into his arms like, "Never leave me alone in a dark gloomy alley again!" I'm sure that was all part of Michael's plan to scare the girl so she would cuddle with him, as he told us in Thriller.
 
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