Even the grim reaper cannot stop the entertainment juggernaut that is Michael Jackson.
The recently departed “King of Pop” was posthumously honored by the Library of Congress when they chose to include his landmark music video, “Thriller” in 2009’s collection of films chosen to be included in the National Film Registry.
It was one of 25 other films to make it into the well protected vaults of Congress’ Library and is the first music video to ever receive the honor, marking its significance in popular American culture in the process.
“Because of the way the recording industry is evolving and changing, we thought it would be good to go back to the development of an earlier seismic shift,” remarked Steve Leggett, coordinator of the National Film Preservation Board, while speaking on the development of the modern music video.
Other films inducted include 1979’s “The Muppet Movie” and 1957’s “The Incredible Shrinking Man.”
Congress created the library registry in 1989 and now houses 525 films in the effort to safeguard cinema that has an enduring importance to American culture.
