Goucher College

Communications and Media Studies

SPRING 2021

Meeting Times - The On: Janet Video Podcast Will Air Weekly on Thursdays at 9PM EST on Facebook Live. 

If you miss the live show, watch the recordings on YouTube, Facebook, or on this site.

Prof. Branch

Pronouns: He/Him

Email: phill.branch@goucher.edu

Description and Goals

We will use Janet Jackson’s career as a case study to examine how race, gender and politics play a role in how media content is created, marketed and consumed.

 The Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004) Halftime Show which featured Janet Jackson as the headliner and resulted in what became coined as a “wardrobe malfunction,” was a turning point for the global pop icon and touchstone for discussions about race, gender and politics and popular culture.

Considering that her ascent as an artist took place during a time in popular music when radio playlists were still largely segregated (MTV once limited the number of videos of Black artists it would play, for instance), her success as an artist and her impact are worthy study, on its own. Compounded with her steep decline, in terms of public opinion and sales following the Super Bowl incident; her career is a case study in the power of media in the 24-hour news cycle, digital age.

Despite her enormous success and her place among the most revered artists in pop music, she was blacklisted for the Super Bowl incident. Radio stations banned her music, MTV stopped promoting her videos, album sales dropped, etc. Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake, the featured performer during Janet’s Super Bowl performance, became one of the biggest stars in the world. His career did not suffer at all; despite his being an EQUAL participant in the mishap.

This course will examine how pop music iconography is crafted and maintained under systemic structures that disempower women, Blacks and other marginalized groups. We will gain an understanding of power and how it functions in the media. We will look at the social/cultural implications of Janet being blacklisted, while Justin Timberlake’s career flourished. We will also examine Janet Jackson’s recent return to prominence as a respected legacy artist and how modern protest movements via social media helped revitalize her career and image. 

In the end you will see that entertainment is about more than a song, a dance or an image. It is all about control and in order for the system to function, someone has to wield it and others yield.

Weekly Schedule ·        

 

Episode One

On Janet Jackson and Black Music Crossover Success

Readings:

Sorry, Ms. Jackson: You’re Underrated. ‘Control’ at 30 

A Pop and R&B Legend, Janet Jackson Is Still Somehow Underrated

 

Guiding Question: What makes Janet Jackson’s success significant, given the era in which she began her pop music career?

 

Episode Two

On Rhythm Nation

Reading:

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation redefined pop style 30 years ago

I am listening to this as I type the syllabus. You can still let it rock from beginning to end. Let’s talk about the impact and our favorite cuts and videos from the album.

 

Episode Three

On MTV and Media Gatekeepers

Reading:

How MTV Handled Accusations of Racism and Became More Inclusive

Guiding Question: What is being commodified by gatekeepers in the music industry? How did that commodification play out for Black pop artists in the 80s?

 

Episode Four

On Damita Jo

Reading:

This is where a lot of y’all started sleeping on Janet. This is one of her best albums ,with several tracks that could have been singles. My favorite - “Island Life.” Buy it, listen...and let’s chat.

Episode Five

On Halftime Performances and the Boys Being Boys

Reading:

Justin Timberlake threw Janet Jackson under the bus to launch his solo career

Justin Timberlake, Back at the Super Bowl. What About Janet?

Exclusive: Les Moonves Was Obsessed With Ruining Janet Jackson’s Career, Sources Say

The Weird and (Not Very) Wonderful History of the Super Bowl Halftime Show

The Messy Racial Politics of the Super Bowl Halftime Show

The Legacy of Janet Jackson's Boob: Reading the scholarly literature on the 10th anniversary of Nipplegate

I will need to take my pressure pills for this episode. This whole thing still pisses me off.

 

Guiding Questions: What does the halftime show represent and how has that changed over time? How does the roster of artists who have headlined halftime reflect cultural shifts in the country? What does the response to Justin Timberlake highlight about gender disparity? Was the response unfair? What explains Les Moonves alleged targeting of Janet?

Episode Six

On The Velvet Rope 

Reading:  

How Janet Inspired a Generation

It is hard to choose, but this one might be my favorite Janet album just by a hair over Control. It’s a story. The imagery was on point. The tour was fire. I saw it three times. Best deep cut - “Empty.”

 

Episode Seven

On Breaking the Rules 

Reading:

Remembering Madonna At Her Most Controversial, Provocative, And Shrewdest

A cheeky new revelation about one of Prince’s most notorious stage outfits

Rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg Is Acquitted of Murder 

Guiding Question: What is forgiven and what isn’t...and why?

Episode Eight

On the Slow Jams

We are just going to get into the slow jams - singles and album cuts. Gather ‘round and catch these harmonies.

“We always wanted Janet to do her own backgrounds, we wanted her voice to be the dominant voice no matter what. She would have to work really hard. We’d do it so that it would be like a warm up, like, "Let’s do these backgrounds first to warm up your voice for the lead. By the time you get done with the backgrounds, you’ll be so happy to do the lead vocals" I stacked maybe a four or five part harmony and we’d do it four or five times on each note, so we’d end up with twenty tracks of just backgrounds, It could be oohs and ahhs. It’s patience, discipline, but it’s also trust. I would throw a note at her on the keyboard and it would sound like that note’s not gonna work. After maybe the second song we did, she trusted me. When it was done, it would be this great harmony. There would be a few dissonant notes in there, but somehow it would just work. The only other person I’ve worked with who can do this as well as Janet is Ralph Tresvant. A lot of singers don't want to do it and we don’t even try it. Those harmonies are something special.” - Jimmy Jam

Listen - “Can’t B Good”

 

Episode Nine

On the Videos

Reading:

Janet Jackson Has The Best Music Videos In The History Of Music Videos

Wall humps! Crotch grabs! Why Janet Jackson’s Pleasure Principle is pop’s most influential video

Janet made a lot of videos and I love all of them. ALL. That said, Pleasure Principle is in a league of its own. Let’s talk about the videos and the global impact Janet has as a visual artist.

 

Episode Ten

On Moving Forward and Being Unbreakable

Reading:

Forget The Super Bowl & Celebrate Janet Jackson Appreciation Day

Janet Jackson's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction is years overdue. And now we all know why.

Janet released the Unbreakable album in 2015, it debuted at #1 and launched a successful worldwide tour. The album was critically acclaimed and it seemed that the world shifted in its response towards her work. This period ended any notions about whether Janet’s legacy would remain intact. It also offered an opportunity for journalists, critics and scholars to look back and reflect on the decade or so since the SuperBowl incident.

 

Episode Eleven

Reflection

What does it all mean? 

Guiding Thoughts: What have we learned about media, audience response and ourselves?