On Michael Jackson
by Margo Jefferson
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Description
Michael Jackson was once acclaimed as a song-and-dance man of genius; Wacko Jacko is now, more often than not, dismissed and reviled. Whence the weirdness and alleged criminality? How to account for his rise and fall? In this work of cultural analysis, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Margo Jefferson unravels the complexities of one of the most enigmatic figures of our time. What do P. T. Barnum, Peter Pan, and Edgar Allan Poe have to do with our fascination with Jackson? How did his upbringing show more and his tenure as a child prodigy inform his character and multiplicity of selves? What is the perverse appeal of child stars for grown-ups and what is the price of such stardom for these children and for us? What do we find so unnerving about Michael Jackson's presumed monstrosity? In short, how are we, all of us, implicated?--From publisher description. show lessTags
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Less a biography and more of a social commentary on events surrounding and actions taken by Michael Jackson. The author touches on child fame and how society and the entertainment industry sexualizes children. This sexualization, along with various other events in his life, made Michael who/what he is. The author neither sticks up for nor condemns Michael, but instead tries to understand and explain how he become who he is today.
Great collection of essays about MJ's impact and significance in US, black and pop cultural history. Margot Jefferson's work is full of insights and extremely well-written.
Michael Jackson : Yesterday, Today, Forever :
born on August 29, 1958 to June 25, 2009 →
this month is my mourning month – Nelson Mandela and Michael
Michael is a prodigy – A STAR – A Hero – A fighter for human rights and in my heart this man will live forever – I love his music – I loved the reason behind his songs – he is just one of my all-time favorite singers. There I said it – he is just that amazing!
There was so many rumours about him that was not true, but you need to listen to rumours to believe it according to me! Rumours can destroy an artist but he had so many fans who never believed it so yeah SO there you can take the middle finger rumours!
I love to do internet research so this is not me this is wiki show more again!
Background
The eighth child of the Jackson family, Michael made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5 - his 1982 album Thriller, are credited with breaking racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool.
Aspects of Jackson's personal life, including his changing appearance, personal relationships, and behavior, generated controversy. In 1993, he was accused of child sexual abuse, F_cking Rumors but the civil case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount and no formal charges were brought. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges after the jury found him not guilty on all counts.
Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father, Joe In 2003, Joe acknowledged that he regularly whipped him as a boy. Joe was also said to have verbally abused his son, often saying that he had a "fat nose". – He recalled that Joe often sat in a chair with a belt in his hand as he and his siblings rehearsed, and that "if you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up, really get you. Both of Jackson's parents have disputed the longstanding allegations of abuse, with Katherine stating that while whippings are considered abuse today, such action was a common way to discipline children back!
They Don't Care About Us (I am sure he written these for his parents)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNJL6nfu__Q
“Bullied by his own father & mother – F_cking sick” Poison for said father & Mother”
Jackson acknowledged that his youth had been lonely and isolating. His deep dissatisfaction with his appearance, his nightmares and chronic sleep problems, his tendency to remain hyper-compliant, especially with his father, and to remain childlike throughout his adult life, are consistent with the effects of the maltreatment he endured as a young child.
Ben – Michael:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1dAQN5QcZU
"We Are the World"
Now tell me? → A person creating these types of songs is “a child molester” Think again I am not going to listen to those type rumors – even if it was true or not who cares – was that rumors created to make some people rich →
I HATE RUMORS – DO NOT SAY THINGS YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT, OR ABOUT PEOPLE YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT!
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
Black or White
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2AitTPI5U0
Heal the World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWf-eARnf6U
We are the world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI
Earth Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU
"Man in the Mirror" is an ant-hemic ballad of confession and resolution.
This man had many demons he faced every day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps
Proclaimed Jackson according to me is one of "the greatest entertainer’s that ever lived"
show less
born on August 29, 1958 to June 25, 2009 →
this month is my mourning month – Nelson Mandela and Michael
Michael is a prodigy – A STAR – A Hero – A fighter for human rights and in my heart this man will live forever – I love his music – I loved the reason behind his songs – he is just one of my all-time favorite singers. There I said it – he is just that amazing!
There was so many rumours about him that was not true, but you need to listen to rumours to believe it according to me! Rumours can destroy an artist but he had so many fans who never believed it so yeah SO there you can take the middle finger rumours!
I love to do internet research so this is not me this is wiki show more again!
Born - Michael Joseph Jackson - August 29, 1958 - Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Died - June 25, 2009 (aged 50) - Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active - 1964–2009
Cause of death Cause of by propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication
Resting place Glendale, California, U.S.
Residence Los Olivos, California, U.S.
Occupation
• Singer
• songwriter
• dancer
• actor
• record producer
• businessman
philanthropist
Children – 3
Genres
• Pop
• soul
• rhythm and blues
• funk
• rock
• disco
• post-disco
• dance-pop
new jack swing
Background
The eighth child of the Jackson family, Michael made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5 - his 1982 album Thriller, are credited with breaking racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool.
Aspects of Jackson's personal life, including his changing appearance, personal relationships, and behavior, generated controversy. In 1993, he was accused of child sexual abuse, F_cking Rumors but the civil case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount and no formal charges were brought. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges after the jury found him not guilty on all counts.
Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father, Joe In 2003, Joe acknowledged that he regularly whipped him as a boy. Joe was also said to have verbally abused his son, often saying that he had a "fat nose". – He recalled that Joe often sat in a chair with a belt in his hand as he and his siblings rehearsed, and that "if you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up, really get you. Both of Jackson's parents have disputed the longstanding allegations of abuse, with Katherine stating that while whippings are considered abuse today, such action was a common way to discipline children back!
They Don't Care About Us (I am sure he written these for his parents)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNJL6nfu__Q
“Bullied by his own father & mother – F_cking sick” Poison for said father & Mother”
Jackson acknowledged that his youth had been lonely and isolating. His deep dissatisfaction with his appearance, his nightmares and chronic sleep problems, his tendency to remain hyper-compliant, especially with his father, and to remain childlike throughout his adult life, are consistent with the effects of the maltreatment he endured as a young child.
Ben – Michael:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1dAQN5QcZU
"We Are the World"
Now tell me? → A person creating these types of songs is “a child molester” Think again I am not going to listen to those type rumors – even if it was true or not who cares – was that rumors created to make some people rich →
I HATE RUMORS – DO NOT SAY THINGS YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT, OR ABOUT PEOPLE YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT!
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
Black or White
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2AitTPI5U0
Heal the World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWf-eARnf6U
We are the world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI
Earth Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU
"Man in the Mirror" is an ant-hemic ballad of confession and resolution.
This man had many demons he faced every day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps
Proclaimed Jackson according to me is one of "the greatest entertainer’s that ever lived"
show less
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6+ Works 1,115 Members
Margo Jefferson was a theater and book critic for Newsweek and The New York Times. She won a Pulitzer Prize for criticism. Her writing has appeared in several publications including Vogue, New York magazine, and The New Republic. Her books include On Michael Jackson and Negroland: A Memior. She is a professor of writing at Columbia University show more School of the Arts. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- People/Characters
- Michael Jackson
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- Music, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 782.42166 — Arts & recreation Music Vocal Music, Singing Secular forms of vocal music Songs General principles and musical forms Traditions of secular songs {genres} Rock songs
- LCC
- ML420 .J175 .J44 — Music Literature on music Literature on music History and criticism Biography
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