club 30's with mjfangirl- a Michael Jackson Fan Podcast2 Jul 2025

#40- How To Study Michael Jackson Like a Scholar (Even If You’re Just a Fan) with Elizabeth Amisu

In this episode, MJfangirl discusses the growing acceptance of Michael Jackson studies as a serious academic field with Elizabeth Amisu, an author and PhD candidate in Michael Jackson studies. We dig into Amisu's book, 'The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson,' along with other recommended readings that examine Michael Jackson's artistic and cultural impact. Topics include the significance of Jackson's Oxford speech, the cultural and musical legacy he left behind, and the importance of acknowledging his African American heritage. They also discuss the current state and future potential of Michael Jackson academic studies, encouraging listeners to contribute to preserving his legacy.

Related Links:

Get Elizabeth's Book: https://amzn.eu/d/4tMjNBn

https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/

https://elizabethamisu.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro: Can You Get a PhD in Michael Jackson?

00:43 - Meet Elizabeth Amisu: Author, Scholar, MJ Expert

02:00 - Why We Should Study Michael Jackson Seriously

05:52 - What Is the Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies?

08:13 - How MJ Was Overlooked in Academia Before 2009

11:19 - How Instinct vs. Intellect Framed MJ’s Image

13:05 - Book #1: Dangerous by Susan Fast (Album Analysis)

18:52 - Book #2: The Dangerous Philosophies by Elizabeth Amisu

22:12 - Why There Were So Few Serious MJ Books?

29:05 - Michael Jackson’s Oxford Speech (and why it matters)

33:19 - Book #3: Man in the Music by Joseph Vogel

38:24 - Book #4: MJ and the Quandary of Black Identity by Sherrow O Pinder

43:40 - Book #5: Making Michael by Mike Smallcombe

47:23 - What It’s Like Getting a PhD in MJ Studies

50:57 - Final Thoughts: How Fans Can Help Preserve MJ’s Legacy

Join our community of Michael Jackson fans at Club 30's https://www.patreon.com/mjfangirl

✩ Contact & Socials

Instagram, facebook, twitter @mjfangirlblog

My amazon storefont: https://www.amazon.com/shop/mjfangirlblog

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Mjfangirl

Podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music: “Club 30s with MJFANGIRL- a Michael Jackson podcast”

Business Inquiries - hello@mjfangirl.com

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(85)

85. Michael Jackson Biopic Part 2: New Updates, Rare Footage & Fall 2026 Merch

Michael Jackson Biopic Part 2 just got a BIG update! And in this episode, Randall and I are breaking down everything we know so far about the sequel, including the latest information on when Part 2 co...

23 Sep 45min

84. INTERVIEW- Big Al Answers YOUR Questions about Michael Jackson, Celebrities at Neverland, & Holiday Memories

Big Al was the amusement park manager at Neverland Valley Ranch, and in this episode, he answers YOUR questions about Michael Jackson, Neverland, and his unforgettable memories from working at the ran...

14 Sep 50min

83. INTERVIEW- “I Had No Idea This Was Going to Happen” | Longtime Fan Talks Special Moments with Michael

Cindy is a lifelong Michael Jackson fan and the creator behind @MJ80sArchive where she shares rare footage and memories from one of the most exciting eras in Michael Jackson history. In this episode...

31 Aug 52min

82. INTERVIEW- "I Want People To Know Who He Really Was" - Big Al Talks 15 Years at Neverland, Bill Bray & the Michael biopic

Big Al was the amusement park manager at Neverland Valley Ranch, where he spent years helping bring Michael Jackson’s vision for the amusement park and rides part of the property to life. In this epis...

27 Aug 45min

81. INTERVIEW- Geron Caszper Candidate Talks Teaching Michael Jackson to MOONWALK, BAD & the Smooth Criminal Lean

What was it like teaching Michael Jackson to moonwalk? Geron Caszper Canidate is the dancer and choreographer who taught Michael the backslide, which became later known as the moonwalk, one of the mos...

17 Aug 57min

80. INTERVVIEW- Ricko Baird on Dancing With Michael Jackson & What Made MJ the Gold Standard

What made Michael Jackson’s AURA so different? Today I sit down with dancer, performer, and recording artist Ricko Baird to talk about dancing alongside Michael Jackson in MJ & Friends and You Rock My...

10 Aug 32min

79. INTERVIEW- Meeting Michael Jackson: Arus Tee on Neverland & What Michael Was Really Like

What was Michael Jackson really like in person? Today I sit down with my longtime friend Arus Tee, who went from being a fan watching him on TV, to meeting Michael Jackson multiple times. Honestly- an...

3 Aug 52min

78. INTERVIEW- Mani Niall, Michael Jackson's First Private Chef, talks the Victory Tour, The Golden Temple, & Memories with Bill Bray

Today I'm joined by Mani Niall, Michael Jackson's first private chef, for a fascinating conversation about the Victory Tour, life on the road, and the personal moments fans rarely get to hear about. M...

27 Jul 1h