Man in the Mirror The “Man in the Mirror” music video shows its audience that the world was once falling a part. This song was originally written by Siedah Garrett and performed by Michael Jackson. In this song from 1987, Michael Jackson shows his audience scenes of destruction, poverty and overall a world where nothing seems to be fair. This song is sung in the genre of soul. Artists commonly produce music in this specific genre to touch the hearts of their listeners. They do so in a way in which they form emotional connections with their audience. In “Man in the Mirror,” Michael Jackson portrays a world of poverty and injustice, however he does so in a way that convinces his viewers to change their ways by doing what is right. Michael
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A big part of this video is showing large groups of protestors that are holding up signs and walking through the streets. In big blue letters, one sign reads “We Need Real Homes” (Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”). This symbolizes that there are people in the world struggling and they need help from the people who are supposed to be there to support them. Within the video, there is also a scene showing a small contained fire with a young dark skinned boy sitting beside it. (Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”). What this image is able to show the viewers is that this fire is his only source of warmth. Without a home to live in, people like that little boy don’t have the warmth and comfort they need in order to live a happy life. The next way that this video is able to show that people are in need of help is through the use of little empty orange cups. These cups are a way to show that people are thirsty and are in need of resources in order for them to live. In the lyrics, Garrett says that she’s “been a victim of a selfish kind of live / It’s time that I realize / That there are some with no home, not a nickel to load” (lines 23-15) implying that she takes advantage of everything she has sometimes while there are people out there who have nothing at …show more content…
Jackson uses characters in his video to show the struggles that people face in the world. The use of poor people living in the streets does just that. Large groups of dark skinned men, women and children are dressed in raggedy clothes with dirt on their face. Garrett says “They follow each other on the wind ya’ know / ‘Cause they got nowhere to go” (lines 15-16) because this shows that those people stick together and help each other through the struggles although it is clear to see that those are the people who are in desperate need of help from those who have something to offer. The use of young children with tears rolling down their face foreshadows the struggles that will come in the future because these children are in need of guidance and support. The military also plays a vital role in this video. The reason being is that they represent the power that the government has. The men in uniform are shoving the innocent people and hitting them with metal rods. This motivates the viewers to step up and fight for the freedom and equality that they
A big part of this video is showing large groups of protestors that are holding up signs and walking through the streets. In big blue letters, one sign reads “We Need Real Homes” (Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”). This symbolizes that there are people in the world struggling and they need help from the people who are supposed to be there to support them. Within the video, there is also a scene showing a small contained fire with a young dark skinned boy sitting beside it. (Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”). What this image is able to show the viewers is that this fire is his only source of warmth. Without a home to live in, people like that little boy don’t have the warmth and comfort they need in order to live a happy life. The next way that this video is able to show that people are in need of help is through the use of little empty orange cups. These cups are a way to show that people are thirsty and are in need of resources in order for them to live. In the lyrics, Garrett says that she’s “been a victim of a selfish kind of live / It’s time that I realize / That there are some with no home, not a nickel to load” (lines 23-15) implying that she takes advantage of everything she has sometimes while there are people out there who have nothing at …show more content…
Jackson uses characters in his video to show the struggles that people face in the world. The use of poor people living in the streets does just that. Large groups of dark skinned men, women and children are dressed in raggedy clothes with dirt on their face. Garrett says “They follow each other on the wind ya’ know / ‘Cause they got nowhere to go” (lines 15-16) because this shows that those people stick together and help each other through the struggles although it is clear to see that those are the people who are in desperate need of help from those who have something to offer. The use of young children with tears rolling down their face foreshadows the struggles that will come in the future because these children are in need of guidance and support. The military also plays a vital role in this video. The reason being is that they represent the power that the government has. The men in uniform are shoving the innocent people and hitting them with metal rods. This motivates the viewers to step up and fight for the freedom and equality that they