janet.

For her 1989 album “Rhythm Nation 1814,” Janet Jackson drew on an already established idea: the dance-based utopia. Lyrically, she was exploring the idea that the right rhythm can intoxicate and control us, and, eventually, unite us as living, breathing, flesh-and-bone humans. The album’s accompanying 30 minute longform music video did just that, with a chair routine that would be imitated for years after.