Iconic Music Video: Pre-1997

1982: Michael Jackson - Thriller

Why is this video iconic?

Michael Jackson's music video for Thriller, according to Vinny Marino from ABC News, was the 'Greatest video of all time' and is still considered 'the best music video ever by just about everyone'.
The main reasons that everyone hyped about the video so much was because it was one of the first music video's that was a 'short film' or 'story' about the song, rather than a promotional clip. It was full of mystery and the tension got the audience hooked.
The mise-en-scene used in the video creates the view of two normal teenagers, which is represented by their typical 1980s teenage outfits that are bright and colourful. As they are in the middle of nowhere in a dark creepy forest and also a eerie graveyard, they are portrayed as daring and fearless, although for the female character this is then discredited when every time she runs into trouble, she screams and frighteningly runs away.
There are a lot of close ups used, especially of the female character, to show different emotions clearly. Also, mid-shots are commonly used to show the relationship between the characters (e.g. the closeness and distance of the characters). This is also used with the two shot shots, that the characters are in together.
Generally, the story line is panicked and chaotic so is represented by using fast pace editing. It creates the tension that keeps the audience hooked onto wanting to continue watching and a relationship between the characters and the audience as it makes them feel more involved. Michael showed a lot more prevalence than any of the other characters so the audience is made to focus more on him - which is because he is the artist and it is his music video.
The technical elements were quite basic as in the 1980s, the advances of technology hadn't occurred, making editing of when Michael becomes a monster very amateur and unrealistic looking. For the 1980s, it would have looked surprisingly realistic which would have further created an interest for the target audience.

All of these factors effect why the music video was such a huge hit and why it became and still is such a hugely successful credited music video. Although one of the many reasons it was so popular is because of the song. The music video was such a hit because people loved and continue to love his music and so even a terrible music video would be promoted by his large fan base. The key to a successful music video is to have a good song in the first place - then tell a story through your song.