On Monday, a line of students stood in anticipation at the Student Pavilion to watch the "Michael" movie, released earlier in April 2026.
The event, hosted by ASU Programming and Activities Board, also included a costume contest and incentive giveaway in its promotion. Among the prizes awarded to students were a vinyl record player, a Michael Jackson Funko Pop and vinyl records of the artist's "Thriller" and "Bad" studio albums.
According to its website, PAB aims to enhance the student experience with engagement opportunities. Vibhor Bhatia, a junior studying data science and a director of programs for PAB, led the planning committee that chose the theme for the event.
"It was almost instant," Bhatia said. "We came down to discussion, and you know, everyone loves Michael Jackson."
Abhi Kathuria, a junior studying supply chain management and finance, won the costume contest after the movie ended. Clad in a black leather jacket and zippers all over, he took home a record player and "Bad" vinyl as his prizes.
His win came serendipitously that night, having recently gotten into record-collecting, looking for Michael Jackson vinyls in particular.
"I love the sound of old music," Kathuria said. "I feel like people in general have been looking for that nostalgic vibe."
Nostalgia comprises much of Jackson's image in pop culture today. According to Bhatia, the event's purpose was twofold — promoting both his biopic and merchandise from a bygone era of music.
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But Jackson's enduring legacy stems from more than a mere fascination with his past. Students like Kathuria admire his extension into sociocultural issues.
"His message is still really, really relevant," Kathuria said. "The problems around the world aren't that much different from back then compared to now."
Despite Gen Z's distance from the cultural landscape of the '80s, students today such as Nicolas Romero, a senior studying economics, still take inspiration from the "King of Pop."
Romero became a fan of Jackson in the aftermath of the singer's death in 2009. Sporting Michael Jackson-inspired leather heels during his vinyl-winning moonwalk, Romero was influenced by more than the singer's musical prowess and fashion.
"I got to learn about Michael Jackson after he had already completed his whole trajectory, I got to see the later years when he was more active in social movements," Romero said. "I saw the positivity and his motivation to help people before I fell in love with his music."
With his power and impact, Jackson urged consistently for peace and understanding — tenets that mark the ethos of his legacy today.
In an era of culture inseparable from the internet, Kathuria finds in Gen Z a capacity for positive change almost equal in scale to that of Michael Jackson in his prime.
"(Michael Jackson) did something extraordinary," Kathuria said. "But we also have that potential now."
Describing the decision for a theme, Bhatia highlighted Gen Z's particular interest in the late pop star's backstory. Despite his childhood challenges, Jackson's passion and talent propelled him to enduring fame in contemporary pop culture.
"College students today, they love having someone like a positive role figure," he said.
Understanding the personal struggles and artistic motivations of a superstar in retrospect, Romero hopes people today can find a figure to look up to within Michael Jackson — balancing the pursuit of fame with tender humanity.
Decades after his career peaked, Jackson endures, whether it be through Spotify streams or calls to activism.
READ MORE: Echoes of the past
"He happened to be someone who was very famous, very powerful," Romero said. "But everybody, at whatever level, can do the same that he did."
Edited by Sam Troester, Emilio Alvarado and Senna James.
Reach the reporter at jkao5@asu.edu.
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