Episode 84 – Sentenced to Neverland

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 & Karin Merx Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and author of  ‘A festive parade of highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. Our References and Where to Easily Find Them: Amy C. Billone, 'Sentenced to Neverland: Michael Jackson, Peter Pan, and Queer Futurity, ed. C. R. Smit (Ashgate 2012) pp 39-50. Elizabeth Amisu, ‘The Isle Is Full of Noises’: Revisiting the Peter Pan of Pop.” The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies 1, no. 1 (2014).https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/the-isle-is-full-of-noises-revisiting-the-peter-pan-of-pop/ Elizabeth Amisu, The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife (Praeger/Bloomsbury, 2016, 2024) Elizabeth Amisu, Online Course Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson, https://onlineartseducation.co.uk/course/dangerous-philosophies-of-michael-jackson-online-course/

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 Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and author of  ‘A festive parade of highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. Our References and Where to Easily Find Them:  Margo Jefferson: 'I have always loved Michael Jackson' ( Guardian, 2018) Was I in denial? Margo Jefferson on Michael Jackson's Legacy ( Guardian, 2019) Margo Jefferson, A Life and Afterlife of Shape-Shifting in NPG's, Michael Jackson: On the Wall ( Tent Cat, National Portrait Gallery, 2018). Margot Jefferson, Ripping Off Black Music: From Thomas “Daddy” Rice to Jimi Hendrix Jefferson, Margo. Ripping Off Black Music From Thomas: “Daddy” Rice to Jimi Hendrix (Harper's, 1973) - https://amzn.to/4ffn5Kl “Was Michael Jackson just a pop icon… or a philosopher in disguise?”Discover the dangerous ideas behind his music, persona, and legacy in this online course, based on the acclaimed book The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson.Enrol today. https://onlineartseducation.co.uk/course/dangerous-philosophies-of-michael-jackson-online-course/

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 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-83-part-1-on-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 Jackson Academic Studies Episode 83 - On Michael JacksonBy Elizabeth Amisu & Karin Merx Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and author of  ‘A festive parade of highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. Our References and Where to Easily Find Them: Margo Jefferson, On Michael Jackson (Vintage Books, 2007; Granta Publications, 2018).

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, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and author of  ‘A festive parade of highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. Our References and Where to Easily Find Them: Sylvia J. Martin, 'Michael Jackson's Gesamtkunstwerk: Artistic Interrelation, Immersion, and Interactivity From the Studio to the Stadium', Liminalities: A Journal of Performance Studies Volume. 11, No. 5 (November 2015)

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 electronically 21/04/25. http://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/episode-80-the-staging-of-a-Media-Trial. 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 80 - The Staging of a Media TrialBy Elizabeth Amisu & Karin Merx Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and author of  ‘A festive parade of highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. Our References and Where to Easily Find Them: Philipp Dominik Keidl, "The Fans of Michael Jackson v Wade Robson and James Safechuck": Forensic Fandom and the Staging of a Media Tribunal, American Behavioural Scientist 2022, vol.66(8) (Sage Publications, 2022).

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://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/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 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 79 - Consuming PassionsBy Elizabeth Amisu & Karin Merx Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and author of  ‘A festive parade of highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. Our References and Where to Easily Find Them Judith Hamera, Unfinished Business: Michael Jackson, Detroit, and the Figural Economy of American Deindustrialization (2017): https://amzn.to/416ZmoW

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://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/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 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 78 - The Labours of Michael JacksonBy Elizabeth Amisu & Karin Merx 'I think that somebody could come along with a really nice essay (people that are thinking about writing for the journal) about the labours of Hercules and the labours of Michael Jackson.'- Elizabeth Amisu Unfinished Business: Michael Jackson, Detroit, and the Figural Economy of American Deindustrialization by Judith Hamera (2017): https://amzn.to/416ZmoW Submit a proposal for 33 1/3: https://333sound.com/how-to-submit-a-proposal/ Our References and Where to Easily Find Them1. The Labours of Hercules - https://www.theoi.com/articles/what-were-the-12-labors-of-hercules/2. The Michael Jackson Book Club - https://www.facebook.com/groups/mjbookclub/3. Kingvention – The Michael Jackson Convention - https://www.kingvention.com4. Pierre Bourdieu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvzahvBpd_A Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and author of  ‘A festive parade of highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. www.michaeljacksonstudies.orgfacebook.com/michaeljacksonstudiestwitter.com/mjas29instagram.com/elizawriterinstagram.com/karinmerx You May Also Like:

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 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 78 - The Labours of Michael JacksonBy Elizabeth Amisu & Karin Merx 'I think that somebody could come along with a really nice essay (people that are thinking about writing for the journal) about the labours of Hercules and the labours of Michael Jackson.'- Elizabeth Amisu Unfinished Business: Michael Jackson, Detroit, and the Figural Economy of American Deindustrialization by Judith Hamera (2017): https://amzn.to/416ZmoW Submit a proposal for 33 1/3: https://333sound.com/how-to-submit-a-proposal/ Our References and Where to Easily Find Them1. The Labours of Hercules - https://www.theoi.com/articles/what-were-the-12-labors-of-hercules/2. The Michael Jackson Book Club - https://www.facebook.com/groups/mjbookclub/3. Kingvention – The Michael Jackson Convention - https://www.kingvention.com4. Pierre Bourdieu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvzahvBpd_A Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and author of  ‘A festive parade of highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. www.michaeljacksonstudies.orgfacebook.com/michaeljacksonstudiestwitter.com/mjas29instagram.com/elizawriterinstagram.com/karinmerx You May Also Like:

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 author of  ‘A Festive Parade of Highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA, is the editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. References Kerry Hennigan, "MJ Studies Today, The Iconic Imagery of Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour and its afterlife.” The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Vol 10, No. 4 (14-04-2024) https://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/mj-studies-today-c/ Kerry Hennigan, "MJ Studies Today, ‘The Country’s Child.’ Fans, friends, family and media on the 15th anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson.”  The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Vol 11, No. 1 (14-07-2024). https://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/mj-studies-today-ciii/ Kerry Hennigan, "MJ Studies Today, The 7 Charts of Michael Jackson. The prevalence of the Number Seven in his life, career, recent chart success and fan expression.” The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Vol 10, No. 3 (14-01-2024). https://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/mj-studies-today-xcvii/ Kerry Hennigan, "MJ Studies Today, The return and its aftermath. ‘Damned Lies’ and Conspiracies in the life and afterlife of Michael Jackson, Part 2”,  The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Vol 11, No. 2 (14-10-2024). https://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/mj-studies-today-cvi/ Karin Merx, Elizabeth Amisu, Episode 75 (29/08/2024) Summer Edition, The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies 11, 3, (2024). Karin Merx, Elizabeth Amisu, Episode 76 (21/11/2024) Wannabe Startin' Somethin', The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies 11, 4, (2024). Judith Hamera, "Never Can Say Goodbye": U.S. Deindustrialization as Unfinished Business (Oxford University Press 2017). https://amzn.to/4gWs4Q8

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 Amisu Karin Merx BMus, MA, is editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, and author of  ‘A Festive Parade of Highlights. La Grande Parade as evaluation of the museum policy of Edy De Wilde at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’. Find out more about Karin here. Elizabeth Amisu, PGCE, MA, is the editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife. Find out more about Elizabeth here. References Fischer, D-E. (2011). Wannabe startin’ somethin’: Michael Jackson’s critical race representation. Journal of Popular Music Studies. 23 (1), 96-107. Joseph Vogel, Earth Song: inside Michael Jackson's Magnum Opus (Blake Vision Books, 2012) Elizabeth Amisu, The Dangerous Philosophies Of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife (Bloomsbury 2024, paperback) Karin Merx, “From Throne to Wilderness: Michael Jackson’s ‘Stranger in Moscow’ and the Foucauldian Outlaw.” The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies 1, no. 4 (2015). http://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/from-throne-to-wilderness-michael-jacksons-stranger-in-moscow-and-the-foucauldian-outlaw/.