An essential companion to Michael Jackson's music, films, and books, this work offers 21 original, academic essays on all things Jackson-from film, music, and dance to fashion, culture, and literature. Going well beyond the average celebrity biography, this comprehensive book looks at why Jackson is regarded as one of the most important musicians of our time, offering insights into every facet of his art, life, and artistic afterlife. It looks at the methods by which his work was created, presented, received, and appropriated; discusses Jackson's varied personas along with his public and private appearances, albums, conceptual art, short films, and dance; and considers his use of costume, makeup, and reinvention. To help readers understand the phenomenon that was-and is-Michael Jackson, the book focuses on Jackson's historical context through an analysis of his films, songs, and books, examining him as an artist and shedding light on the political and ideological debates that surrounded him. Not shying away from the controversial aspects of Jackson's life and legacy, it also tackles questions of sexuality and racism, gender, and class, comparing Jackson to artists ranging from J. S. Bach to Andy Warhol. Through its examination of Jackson's entire catalog, the work connects all the aspects of his art and life to exemplify-and explain-the performer's unparalleled influence in the 20th and 21st centuries. Elizabeth Amisu holds a Master of Arts in early modern English literature from King's College London, in conjunction with the British Library. Joseph Vogel is an Assistant Professor of English and co-director of Film Studies at Merrimack College, USA. He is the author of Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson (Sterling, 2011), which was widely praised in publications such as Rolling Stone , Forbes, and Publishers Weekly, and author of James Baldwin and the 1980s: Witnessing the Reagan Era (University of Illinois Press, 2017). His work has appeared on numerous popular news sites, including The Atlantic , Slate , The Huffington Post , and PopMatters, as well as in many peer-reviewed journals, including the James Baldwin Review, the F. Scott Fitzgerald Review , The Journal of Popular Culture , and the Journal of Popular Music Studies.