Beyond the Moonwalk: Deconstructing the Typography of Michael Jackson’s Thriller
[Your Name/Institution] Date: October 2023
The visual identity of Michael Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller is universally recognized, yet often misattributed. While commonly referred to as the "MJ Thriller font," the typeface is not a custom creation for the artist but a pre-existing commercial design: ITC Serif Gothic , specifically in a Heavy or Black weight. This paper examines the origins of ITC Serif Gothic, its specific application on the Thriller album cover, and the reasons behind the public’s persistent misnomer, arguing that the font’s unique geometric and gothic characteristics became inextricably linked with the album’s genre-defining legacy.