Today's "Things I Miss Friday" is both easy and difficult. Easy because the subject is almost a given, but difficult because it's a controversial given. Kendra from Pop Trash Radio put it this way: "The Michael Jackson I loved died a long time ago in my opinion. This still makes me somewhat sad." I believe there are a lot of people that feel that way today, and I am one of them.
His life and significance are a bit difficult to parse, but so far I see people falling in three camps: 1) those who can only make pedophile jokes today; 2) those who only talk about his great achievements in music; and 3) those who recognize his achievements but also recognize his personal difficulties. #1 and #2 are laypeople. I've only seen #3 in newscasters so far. I believe the #3 is really the only way to go.
How do we give credit to an alleged pedophile for anything he accomplished? I have always firmly believed that people who commit such heinous crimes are genetically programmed for that sort of behavior. However, I read something yesterday that I think is an even better description: genetics loads the gun but environment pulls the trigger. What would have become of this boy genius had there been someone in his life with some knowledge about the special needs and concerns of child stars and the dangers of celebrity? The abuse of Jackson's childhood is fairly well-documented and not really disputed. That already creates a particular type of sensitive and possibly troubled child. Put that child in a fishbowl and continue to have him work in an industry where both your employers and fans fawn over you and it's a recipe for destruction.
I'm not sure we'll see anything quite like Jackson's level of fame for a long time to come. We are already a much more jaded society and would scrutinize someone similar so much earlier. For all of his own personal failures and destructive problems, we must hold ourselves partly accountable. As I stated recently with the Jon & Kate phenomenon, we love to lift people up and then watch with joy as they crumble and fall, all the while still partaking of whatever entertainment it is they provide us (for Jackson, the music). If genetics loads the gun, then fame and the public's habit of lifting up and tearing down bought the gun, the ammunition, taught him how to shoot, and then pulled the trigger.
This level of fame will also be hard to reach again because Jackson was a rare talent; I don't believe that can be denied. To Gen Y or the Millenials, it may be hard to believe, but MTV used to be kind of revolutionary. They had a sort of punk rock attitude when they started and were very much giving the finger to the traditional music industry and cable programming. They were navigating only semi-charted waters. However, they didn't play videos by black artists. It's such an odd feeling for me to think how in my lifetime this was even possible - how segregated the music industry still was during my childhood. However, Michael Jackson changed that. His music was so good and so broad in its influence that MTV had no choice but to show him. To do otherwise would have been the equivalent of making people sit in the back of the bus. With millions of Americans of every race and background buying Jackson's albums, it only made sense that they show his videos.
And then, we can't ignore those videos. I can't imagine what the world of music videos would look like if it weren't for Michael Jackson. Maybe the Gen Y/Millennial folks have no idea, but he truly was a visionary. As the footage rolled on every cable news network yesterday, my brain kept flashing with even more videos (because, of course, the news mainly showed clips of the Jackson 5 and "Thriller"). If you really want to see how amazing he was, watch those early Jackson 5 clips. He is the standout and nearly mesmerizing to watch. But what about "Smooth Criminal", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Rock With You", "Beat It", "Dirty Diana", "Black or White", and a hundred more. Who doesn't recognize the lit sidewalk in "Billie Jean"? Who hasn't seen (and tried) the Moonwalk? (And that was before the internet - imagine today what would have happened with that moment.) What about "Scream", with his sister Janet - when they had to actually show some people they weren't the same person. What about Say Say Say, with Paul McCartney? How sad that they had that terrible falling out (I'm wondering if Sir Paul will release a statement.) What about "Man in the Mirror" and "Leave Me Alone, which let us in to a bit of his troubles. Do you remember "Remember the Time" with Eddie Murphy as an Egyptian king and Iman as his queen? Because of his extreme amounts of money, he could afford the best special effects available, often before the ordinary public had any idea something like that existed. I think videos like "Black or White" and "Remember the Time" out-do the late 90s/early 00s Star Wars films.
And then there's "We Are The World." Sure, there have been other similar projects, but that one stands out - I think everyone owned a "USA for Africa" t-shirt. I vividly remember standing on stage for one of my fifth grade school recitals and singing that song and how the audience of parents and teachers joined in at the chorus. Who could pull together that array of celebrities and musicians today without it turning into a horrendous ego-fest AND accomplish a beautiful piece of music that also worked to bring a world problem to light? I am at a loss to think of anyone who could achieve that today.
People will be tempted to look at him as a divided human being: in one part, an extraordinary artist who has made lasting contributions to the world of music, art, and charity. And the other part, a troubled and possibly sick human being who allegedly molested young boys and was an all-around weirdo: a pet chimp, a home amusement park, an obsession with Peter Pan, the skin lightening, the plastic surgery. However, I insist we must work to recognize that this is all the same human being and that this is all intertwined. Artists are often troubled people.
One scientist found that 20% of poets commit suicide, compared to 4% of other professions, and poets have nowhere near the fame Jackson did. He was troubled because he was great and because his greatness thrust him into a life and lifestyle that was more than he could manage. I find it utterly disturbing that he was preparing for a huge tour when, clearly, he had to have been significantly troubled and in poor health. Shame on his handlers. I have yet to see that side of this mentioned; I hope someone picks up on it and starts asking questions. Anna Nicole Smith's handlers are being held accountable for their role in her death; his should be, as well.
But that brings me back to us - the video-watching, album/MP3-buying, tabloid magazine reading public. We are complicit as well. Nothing grabs our attention more than when a side show takes the main stage. Well now, Mr. Jackson has left the building and it's time for us to find a new show. Let's try not to destroy the next one, but instead let's work to treasure our artists; we can lift up their work while keeping the person grounded. We're in this together. We are the world. I do not believe in an afterlife, but I do believe that there is peace to be had today, both for the people who were troubled by Jackson (the boys, their families, his handlers) and for Jackson himself. I think it's worth taking some time to reflect on all of this. But I hope it's also possible to take some time to just enjoy some of Jackson's work on the YouTube Michael Jackson channel. Remember the time.
I'm pretty sure there will be a memorial service for Jackson. I think what they should try to do is reunite everyone from "We Are the World" and have them sing that in tribute. It's sad to think how most of them outlived him, but it would remember the best of his life and the best of his work and would be an amazing show of support. I can dream.
Edited to add: If you want to read similar, much more concise thoughts on this from a far better writer, check out Andrew Sullivan's post on The Daily Dish. He's got it right.
Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 4:20PM 
