Romany Grieshaber

Emma Eastwood

Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal

Narrative (Plot/Storyline)

• This video is linear and it is chronological. The outline

of the plot is that, Michael Jackson is a criminal and he
is on the run from the police.
• He goes into a bar and tries to get away from the
police. Throughout the video, he is fighting off police
officers that are disguised as customers in the bar.
• At the end of the video, the police surround the bar but
Michael gets away.

Narrative Theories

• Propp:

• The Hero: Michael Jackson, trying to get revenge on a

rival gang.
• The Villain: the police that are trying to stop Michael.
• The Helper: The children and the customers in the bar.
• The Dispatcher: The children and his gang.
• The Donor: The customers in the bar, they give him the
gun.
• The Princess: Defeating the rival gang and getting
away from the police.
• The False Hero: Police (should be helping the hero but
go against him)

• Todorov:
• Equilibrium: There is rivalry between both gangs. It is
very obvious.
• Disruption: Michael Jackson goes into the rival’s bar.
There is a fight and he makes his mark on the gang.
• Re-Equilibrium: The rivalry continues but the rival gang
now know the leaders of their rival gang after he went
into their bar.

• Levi-Strauss

• Good vs. Bad

• Michael vs. rival gang

• Weak vs. strong

• Violence vs. Non- violence

• Domestic/Civilized vs. Savage/Brutal

• Policemen vs. Michael

• Barthes

• Will Michael get away from the rival gang?

• Will the police catch him?

• Which gang will win?

• Will the rivalry dissolve?

• What really went on between the two gangs?

Why do audiences continue watching this video?

This video by Michael Jackson is action packed, so

audiences don’t lose interest in it. The audiences want to
find out what happens between the rival gangs.
Michael Jackson is an icon and all his music is inspirational
to many different people. In the time of it’s release, the mise
en scene of this video was relevant to the fashion which will
of encouraged people to watch this video, especially
females.
Similarly, the main audience for this video is male’s due to
the style of the video and the status Michael Jackson has
around the world, many males look up to Michael Jackson
both musically and fashion wise.