Analysis Of Michael Jackson's Cultural Appropriation Of The Music Industry

Prior to this class I never thought about how the music industry was shaped and transformed through cultural change. The industry in the 1920s had many divisions and popular genres (Fry, 2015). Yet, although it may not have been considered culturally acceptable, children and adults of all genders, ages, ethnicities, and races found a way to listen to all types of music (Roy, 266). Different artists helped influence and pave the way for innovation of new music and to cross-racial lines. The music industry was shaped through racial categories with the recording industry that started the Race label in 1922 that eventually evolved to hillbilly music and now into country and western (Fry, 2015). The first country song was on the Minstrel stage

and started Hillbilly music. Throughout this paper I am going to examine racial and cultural appropriation through music sensations Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift. Although Jackson’s music is not country or hillbilly music, all types of “American popular music ha[ve] been an object of contention in the politics of race. Racial projects – both those engineering racial oppression and those seeking racial liberation – have self-consciously used music” (Roy, 267). Many artists today like Justin Timberlake have been attacked for black appropriation and specifically the styles of Michael Jackson in the elements of his performances and his music (King, n.p.). Yet Michael Jackson himself can also be seen in regards to cultural appropriation as he was sued for using elements of Manu Dibangu’s music into his songs (Michaels, n.p.).
Michael Jackson – the King of Pop - is more than a singer and a performer; he is a musician who left a unique style and legacy. In addition to being an amazing singer, Michael Jackson tore down the racial barriers for much of the music industry. Michael Jackson helped cross-racial lines. Jackson was the first black artist to be featured on MTV in 1983 (Manning, 41). This was a big step in breaking down racial boundaries as the mixed audiences of various ages all now saw Michael Jackson through this medium of the television. Having his music play through the television left a lasting impression and helped make Michael Jackson a sensation. Two videos that gained recognition through MTV are his songs “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” (Bream, n.p). People of all ages, races, and colors recognized these videos worldwide. Michael Jackson catered to various audiences of different ages, genders, ethnicities and most importantly races as he broke racial divides. Jackson questioned his audiences with the same question that was addressed in Roy’s article. The article questioned whether genres and social categories including race were aligned in “perfect homology” (Roy, 265). Although this article described how many artists needed to fall into a category of sounding “black enough” or “white enough” to get recorded and marketed, Michael Jackson challenged this statement and marketed himself to all audiences. He truly challenged the idea of why there was racism. Jackson said in an interview, “I don’t understand racism. We are all the same and I have the perfect hypothesis to prove it. I play to all those countries and they cry in all the same places in my show. They laugh in the same places. They become hysterical in the same places. They faint in the same places and that’s the perfect hypothesis. There is a commonality that we are all the same” (Hamilton, n.p).
Yet, blackface minstrelsy can be found in Michael Jackson’s music.

The white-faced appropriation of blackness was still going on when Jackson produced his music. Although more people were starting to challenge and cross the racial lines, Jackson had to challenge traditional minstrelsy with his creativity during the time when he first started his career (Manning, 48). Jackson’s songs brought together people of different races and helped unite people through the music industry. There were racial stereotypes and the appropriation of black song and dance when Jackson first started. Yet cultural appropriation has now grown and Jackson’s legacy has evolved and is borrowed by many artists today. Michael Jackson’s hard work and dedication left a legacy for breaking racial barriers, unbelievable performances, and for ultimately named the King of Pop. Although pop was his main style, he had a varied collection of musical genres including soul, rhythm and blues, funk, rock, and

disco.
Today, Taylor Swift is considered the number one pop star in America according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune (Bream, n.p).

An interesting connection was made asking if Swift is the next Michael Jackson in terms of their impact on pop culture. As Bream (2015) explains, ‘Both were savvy enough to pull in unexpected collaborators — rock guitar god Eddie Van Halen on Jackson’s “Beat It” and hip rapper Kendrick Lamar on Swift’s “Bad Blood” — to help cross over to different audiences.’ Also interestingly, country sensation Taylor Swift played a rendition of Michael Jackson’s song during one of her concerts and then eventually turned from a country singer to a focusing on pop. The cultural appropriation from one genre to another over time is still in the music industry. Although both Swift, who dominates in today’s generation, and Michael Jackson, who left a lasting legacy resonating with many people, differ on many levels, they both have made cultural milestones and will be used in models for cultural appropriation for years to

come.