The meaning of Michael
What is the meaning of Michael Jackson?
Since the pop singer's death on June 25, and especially after his memorial service Tuesday, this question has become inescapable. The answer seems to depend less on who Michael Jackson was than on who we are, and it apparently varies greatly by age and race, as well as musical taste.
Many of the reactions to Jackson's controversial life and untimely death have been extreme. The outpouring of grief and love has been an extraordinary sight; on the other side, some of the criticism has been fierce.
But I suspect that the reaction of the great majority of Americans is somewhat like mine: a mix of appreciation for his achievements, sadness for a troubled life cut short, and puzzlement over the adulation for a man who lived a less than heroic life.
[Associated Press photo]
To those of us who were not Michael Jackson fans, the past two weeks have been a revelation -- and strongly reminiscent of the death of Princess Diana in 1997. (The managing editor of the paper I worked for then was reluctant to put the news of Diana's death on the front page, an indication of how oblivious many of us were to the worldwide tsunami of interest her death would unleash.) Jackson had not made a hit record in almost a decade. Twice, he faced serious accusations of sexual misdeeds with children. His increasingly strange behavior made him a favorite of the tabloid press for much of his adult life.
And yet, literally millions of people who never met him are now in mourning. A great many of those people (although not nearly all of them) are African-Americans. Some are inclined to the victim mentality given voice by the Rev. Al Sharpton and others: that Jackson was hounded and persecuted in ways that a white celebrity would not have been. Some simply loved his music or appreciated his generous charitable giving. Many others, it is clear, are motivated by feelings of pride and hope: that a black man could grow up poor and yet rise, through talent and hard work, to the top of his field. There is a tradition among black Americans of forgiving the sins and shortcomings of black heroes and leaders -- a tradition grounded in part on the fact that white-dominated society has often been quick to ignore, belittle or outright stymie black achievement.
Regardless of race, sex, religion or other societal dividing lines, Americans tend to cherish -- even worship -- their entertainers. But what nags at me is this: Is the world so short of heroes that a person as grossly flawed as Michael Jackson qualifies?
Comments
While enumerating Jackson's sins, most people refer to suspected pedophilia, excessive spending, infantile behavior and self indulgence colored by huge insecurities and phobias.
Jackson was essentially a bored addict. He had everything and he had to keep reinventing life to entertain himself. His reinventions were self destructive because the monotony of wealth and fame were probably too much for him to bear. He never did transition successfully to adulthood and aging must have been positively frightening to the man.
Everyone marvels at what a great entertainer he was and how amazing his performances were. Watching him on and off on TV over the last few days I was struck by his frenetic pace. Jackson seemed to me like a whirling top on stage, electrifying and surreal.
The nature of his performances demanded superhuman effort. But he was too emaciated and gaunt to be capable of the energy output his performances exacted. Ironically if he hadn't been thin he would not have been able to attain the gyrating speeds that so compelled his audiences and kept them his worshipers.
The man was caught between the devil and the deep sea and his audiences kept him there with their blind adulation.
Sure he had preternatural talent but in order to excel at his punishing routines he probably sought the help of drugs.
The ugly aspect of our high velocity, entertainment world, its palpitating beats, dizzying speed, noise and neon lights is that the illusion would be impossible without mind altering substances to fuel great acts.
Also, the excruciating physical pain and injuries that accrue over a period of several years of performing keep people like Jackson seeking more and more potent drugs to alleviate the demons that wrack their bodies and minds.
In the end Jackson succumbed to the unnatural demands he made on his body on the way to the pinnacle of a very cruel and exploitative industry.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 9, 2009 10:37 AM