So I am in a diversity and multiculturalism class, and we had to respond to a blog posting on the sexual and racial identities performed by Michel Jackson. Here were my thoughts:
Where does one find the "real" with Michael Jackson? Certainly his music, his dance, and innovation as a performer have literally moved millions of people. Whom among those growing up in the era, or shadow of the era, of “Thriller” or “Beat it” has not spent at least some time trying, unsuccessfully in my case, to appropriate a personal version of the “moon walk”. Few can contest that the man had moves and he had rhythm. In these realms I celebrate his life and contributions to the world.
In relation to the sexual and racial contradictions enacted throughout his life I find it harder to find the “real”. Possibly it is precisely the unknown and fluidity of his sexual and racial positioning which drew increased attention to his passing. With millions of viewers watching was it all an honoring and paying of respects? Or was there a perverse hope that in his death and the cameras decent into Neverland the chance of revealing some scrap of evidence that might add certainty to an identity that is shrouded in mystery, conjecture, and option.
What remains certain is the uncertainty. MJ's personal struggles with identity manifested in personal transformation were played out in the media’s eye, uninhibited by any financial constraint. He could afford to manipulate physically that which others grapple with in quiet and hidden places. Many people conduct identity experiments and alterations. Usually these are manifested in a new wardrobe, trying a new hair color, a tattoo, or a piercing. Few carry their experiments to the extent and audience of MJ. Possibly his vivid and exaggerated uncertain sense of self and subsequent physical manipulation was the hyper version or the supersize of our own questions and experiments with self?
What is real is the gratitude I have for those who were patient, non-judgmental, and compassionate with me in and through my search for self. If others struggle as Michael did, and they do, maybe we should supersize our compassion?
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2 comments:
It is interesting that you bring up Jackson's real identity. As I listen to his music, I can see the overcompensating tone in his declarations of who he is. Transformation is a constant theme in his videos. He was endlessly searching for his identity. It is true that his struggles to find himself are not uncommon but rather the way in which he searched without financial constraints. This is probably the reason that I connect with his music. He was peculiar but his music was transendent.
The tragedy of childhood stardom: 99.9% of the world must sit with ourselves throughout the long, hard period of accepting/denying who we are. But MJ could change his image with money. MJ was too wealthy for his own good, which I think that I can say is true for every person with extraordinary wealth. Most people avoid their true selves through various acts of suppression. Others make changes in their lives through grit, courage and a little help from their friends. But nearly everyone seeks to create a certain image of themselves: The clothing, the hair, the car, the religion...we do some of these things because, we are told, we are judged by others - the weight of society. Yet there certainly is intrinsic value in making ourselves into who we want to be. I guess that a distinction can be drawn between those who make changes for themselves (self-actualization), and those who make changes for others (ego) - although the changes I've made for my partner have been important for my self-actualization (that is more complicated that I want to get right now)! One mystery of MJ is that we really have no idea why he altered himself. But we can safely assume that along with a degree of confusion about his identity and coupled with the allegations of being a pedophile, that he was deeply unhappy. This unhappiness is tragic. He should have everything - yet clearly "everything" was part of the problem. MJ is about more than just race and identity, his story is also about class. Great blog, Abe. Thanks for sharing. josh k.
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