Rhythm Nation 1814: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An audio cassette of Janet Jackson "Rhythm Nation 1814" (1989).

2015.263.16a: An audio cassette tape. The cassette is black plastic with white type on each side. Both sides have headers reading: [JANET JACKSON'S Rhythm Nation 1814/Pledge • Rhythm Nation • T.V. • State Of The World • Race/The Knowledge • Let's Dance • Miss You Much • Come Back Interlude/Love Will Never Do (Without You) • Livin' In A World (They Didn't Make)] on Side 1, and [JANET JACKSON'S Rhythm Nation 1814/Alright • Hey Baby • Escapade • No Acid/Black Cat • Lonely • Come Back To Me/Someday Is Tonight • Livin'...In Complete Darkness] on Side 2. The A&M Records logo, copyright information, and the cassette number [CS 3920] are featured on both sides.

2015.263.16b: An audio cassette paper jacket. The jacket is portrait orientation and features a color close-up photograph of Janet Jackson's face. Jackson is wearing a high-neck top and a cap. White type on sleeve reads: [JANET JACKSON'S / RHYTHM / NATION / 1814]. The back of the jacket has a black background with white type with a list of songs, production information, and a barcode.

2015.263.16c: An audio cassette tape case made of clear plastic on the front and clear plastic on the back. The case has interior holders to insert an audio cassette jacket.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1989
• Recorded by: Janet Jackson, American, born 1966
• Published by: A&M Records, American, founded 1962
• Type: audio cassettes
• Medium: plastic , magnetic tape , ink on paper
• Dimensions: H x W x D (cassette): 2 1/2 × 4 × 1/2 in. (6.4 × 10.2 × 1.3 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (jacket): 4 × 5 1/2 in. (10.2 × 14 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (case): 2 3/4 × 4 5/16 × 11/16 in. (7 × 11 × 1.7 cm)
• Place depicted: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Rhythm and blues (Music)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2015.263.16abc
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Timothy Anne Burnside
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © 1989 A&M Records, Inc Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.