Michael Jackson's Dream Lives On

In the episode, Karin and Elizabeth discuss the teaser trailer for the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, and compare it to the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody. They explore the history and evolution of movie trailers as an art form, noting their shift from simple advertisements to sophisticated promotional pieces. The discussion includes an academic analysis framework for the biopic, focusing on artistic legacy, identity, race, representation, media, and methodology. Michael Jackson Academy Course UpdatesElizabeth’s three Michael Jackson-related courses include the newly launched “Teaching Michael Jackson Studies“, “Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson“, and the flagship course, “Introduction to Michael Jackson Studies.” She offers incentives for purchasing multiple courses, such as a signed hardback book and a workbook for listeners of the podcast. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 87 – The Mi

In this episode, Elizabeth and Karin discuss the recently published essay Karin wrote, Echoes Without Presence: AI, Michael Jackson, and the Crisis of Cultural Authenticity. They discuss specific topics as mimesis, misremembering and disremembering and imagination. Feel free to connect and ask us questions. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 86 – Echoes Without Presence” Podcast, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, 13 no. 2 (2025). Published electronically 21/11/25. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-86-echoes-without-presence. The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, please credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies.” A

In this episode, Elizabeth and Karin discuss the essay, Sentenced to Neverland: Michael Jackson, Peter Pan, and Queer Futurity by Amy C. Billone. This essay is published in Michael Jackson: Grasping the Spectacle, edited by Christopher R. Smit. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 85 – Sentenced to Neverland Podcast, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, 12 no. 4 (2025). Published electronically 21/10/25. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-85-sentenced-to-neverland The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Episode 85 – Sentenced to NeverlandBy Elizabeth Amisu & Kar

In part 2 of our discussion about Margo Jefferson, we discuss articles from the Guardian and her essay in the catalogue of the On the Wall exhibition. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 83 – part 1 – On Michael Jackson” Podcast, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, 12 no. 4 (2025). Published electronically 21/08/25. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-84-part-2-margo-j/efferson The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Episode 84 – Margo JeffersonBy Elizabeth Amisu & Karin Merx Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Stu

In this episode, Elizabeth and Karin review the books written by Margo Jefferson, On Michael Jackson, editions 2007 and 2018. This is part 1 of the discussion; the next one is about articles in The Guardian and the catalogue of the On the Wall exhibition. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 82 – Gesamtkunstwerk” Podcast, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, 12 no. 4 (2025). Published electronically 25/06/25. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/podcasts/episode-82-gesamtkunstwerk The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Episode 83 - On Michael JacksonBy Elizabeth Amisu &

In Episode 82, our Anniversary episode, Elizabeth and Karin discuss the essay Michael Jackson's Gesamtkunstwerk: Artistic Interrelation, Immersion, and Interactivity From the Studio to the Stadium by Sylvia J. Martin. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 82 – Gesamtkunstwerk” Podcast, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, 12 no. 4 (2025). Published electronically 25/06/25. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/podcasts/episode-82-gesamtkunstwerk The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Episode 82 – GesamtkunstwerkBy Elizabeth Amisu & Karin Merx Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA,

In this episode, Karin and Elizabeth talk about their experiences as exhibitors on KingVention ranging from 2016 till 2025. They discuss the first event and how fantastic that was with the big Dangerous Cover, the people they interviewed and remember Nicole, the student who did the course Michael Jackson Studies and who passed away not very long after. We dedicate this episode to her. We go into 2022 when Elizabeth was at the event, 2023 and 2025 where we represented the Journal, sold and signed the hardback and the paperback version of The Dangerous Philosophies. This year we did two talks. One about AI and Michael Jackson together with The Big MJ Debate and a MJDLO about the academic void: How to preserve Michael Jackson's Legacy and how Fans can Contribute. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. "Episode 81 – The Road To KingVention" Podcast, Michael Jackson's Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, 12 no. 4 (2025). Published electronically 26/05/25. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/podca

In this episode Elizabeth and Karin discuss the essay by Philipp Dominik Keidl where he explores how Michael Jackson fans responded to the sexual abuse allegations made by Wade Robson and James Safechuck in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland. The focus is on a phenomenon Keidl terms "forensic fandom," where fans produce counter-documentaries and online content to defend Jackson's reputation by discrediting his accusers. These fan-made videos, particularly those associated with The Michael Jackson Innocence Project (MJIP), serve as a form of "media tribunal." The essay argues that these efforts are less about seeking truth and more about reinforcing myths that undermine allegations of sexual abuse, ultimately contributing to a toxic fan culture that silences victims and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. "Episode 80 – The staging of a Media Trial" Podcast, Michael Jackson's Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, 12 no. 2 (2025). Published electron

In the second part of the book review Unfinished Business by Judith Hamera, Elizabeth and Karin discuss how Hamera writes about Consuming Passions, Wasted Efforts and Michael Jackson's Financial Melodramas. One of the important questions they ask is why using Michael Jackson and compare his dancing and financial gains and losses as deindustrialised. They ask if using only two documentaries, of which one is from Bashir -Living With Michael Jackson - and the other, This Is It, are reliable for academic research? REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. "Episode 79 – Consuming Passions." Podcast, Michael Jackson's Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, 12 no. 1 (2025). Published electronically 21/02/25. http://michaeljacksonstudies.org/the-labours-of-michael-jackson/. The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies 

Abstract: In this episode, Elizabeth and Karin talk about Judith Hamera’s powerful book, Unfinished Business: Michael Jackson, Detroit, and the Figural Economy of American Deindustrialization, the concept of virtuosity in relation to Michael Jackson's labours and the labour of factory workers. They also explore the cultural and historical context of Michael Jackson's music and the potential for future opportunities for a new "33 1/3" series book about one of Michael Jackson’s albums. A 33 1/3 book was published on Dangerous in 2014, written by Susan Fast. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. "Episode 78 – The Labours of Michael Jackson." Podcast, Michael Jackson's Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation, 12 no. 1 (2025). Published electronically 21/02/25. http://michaeljacksonstudies.org/the-labours-of-michael-jackson/. The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use

In this episode Karin and Elizabeth discuss four columns by Kerry Hennigan, the two podcasts of last year and dive in the introduction of an academic book titled "Unfinished Business" by Judith Hamera. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 77 – ‘Past-Present-Future Book 7’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 12, no. 1 (2025). Published electronically 21/01/2025.  The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies.” Episode 77 – Past-Present-Future Book 7 By Karin Merx, Elizabeth Amisu Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and aut

In episode 76, Karin and Elizabeth discuss the essay "Wannabe Startin' Somethin': Michael Jackson's Critical Race Representation" by Dawn-Elissa Fischer, Professor at the San Francisco State University where she teaches courses on black popular culture, information technology and virtual ethnography. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 76 – ‘Wannabe Startin' Somethin'’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 11, no. 2 (2024). Published electronically 21/11/2024.  The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies.” Episode 76 – Wannabe Startin' Somethin' By Karin Merx, Elizabeth

Abstract: In Episode 75, Karin and Elizabeth speak briefly about the hiatus the Journal has been in, past episodes and great essays to read, and the 8th year of The Dangerous Philosophies and the paperback published in April this year by Bloomsbury. Elizabeth also shares her experience visiting MJ the Musical. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 75 – ‘Summer Edition’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 11, no. 1 (2024). Published electronically 29/08/2024. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-75-summer-edition-michael-jacksons-dream-lives-on The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jack

Abstract: In Episode 74, Karin and Elizabeth have Dr Tristan Cabello as their guest to discuss the essay The Roots & Routes of Michael Jackson published in 2012 by Sylvia J Martin. In this compelling episode they answer questions about identity, influence, if MJ was politically used and much more. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 74 – ‘The Roots & Routes of Michael Jackson’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 11, no. 1 (2023). Published electronically 21/11/2023. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-74-the-roots-and-routes-of-michael-jackson The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael J

Abstract: 7 Years ago, Elizabeth Amisu published her textbook The Dangerous Philosophies Of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. In episode 73, Karin asks Elizabeth questions about the book, and she looks back on several chapters with Elizabeth. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 73 – ‘7 Years The Dangerous Philosophies Of Michael Jackson’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 10, no. 2 (2023). Published electronically 21/09/2023. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-73-7-years-the-dangerous-philosophies-of-michael-jackson The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of M

Abstract: In episode 72, Karin and Elizabeth discuss three essays written by three prolific black academics, Professor Wallace, Professor Royster and academic Elizabeth Amisu. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 72 – ‘A Medley Of Essays’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 10, no. 1 (2023). Published electronically 29/08/2023. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-72-a-medley-of-essays The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies.” Episode 72– A Medley Of EssaysBy Karin Merx & Elizabeth Amisu Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Acad

Abstract: In episode 71, Karin and Elizabeth discuss the two short films Stranger In Moscow & They Don't Care About Us alongside Karin’s Essay: From Throne To Wilderness: Michael Jackson’s Stranger In Moscow. They look into how Stranger in Moscow and They Don’t Care About Us, signify the perceptual and mirror the message MJ wanted us to see and hear? REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 71 – ‘Stranger In Moscow & They Don't Care About Us’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 10, no. 4 (2023). Published electronically 21/07/2023. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-71-stranger-in-moscow-they-don't-care-about-us The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you c

Abstract: In this episode, Karin, Elizabeth and Kerry contemplate about 14 years of the passing of Michael Jackson. They discuss the article The Boy Who Would Fly (1983) by Hoskin and express how these 14 years are experienced and look into the future. This episode is dedicated to Elizabeth's Father IBK, who passed untimely on Sunday, June 18, 2023May his soul Rest In Peace REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 70 – ‘Michael Jackson 14th Anniversary’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 10, no. 4 (2023). Published electronically 25/06/2023. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-70-Michael-Jackson-14th-Anniversary The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that yo

Abstract: In episode 69, Karin and Elizabeth, review Keep Moving: The Michael Jackson Chronicles by Armond White. They discuss each two essays and give an overview of the essays of the book and where you can buy it. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 69 – ‘Keep Moving’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 10, no. 4 (2023). Published electronically 31/05/2023. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-69-keep-moving The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies.” Episode 69 – Keep MovingBy Karin Merx & Elizabeth Amisu Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of M

Abstract: In episode 68, Karin and Elizabeth review Otherness & Power by Susan Woodward. They go deep into the content of the three books and articles Susan analysed and conclude that the book remains essential to read especially for new fans and scholars who want to write about Michael Jackson and his art, to not fall into the factless tabloid trap. REFERENCE AS: Merx, Karin, and Elizabeth Amisu. “Episode 68 – ‘Otherness & Power Review’, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On An Academic Conversation 10, no. 4 (2023). Published electronically 30/04/2023. https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/episode-68-otherness-power-review The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies asks that you acknowledge The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies as the source of our Content; if you use material from The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online, we request that you link directly to the stable URL provided. If you use our content offline, we ask that you credit the source as follows: “Courtesy of T