Summing up Michael Jackson turns out to be hard

[Johonny]

Who was Michael Jackson? I don't know. When he initially died I have to admit I was as interested as the average man about his life and death. Despite a lot of "information", there is yet to be an official cause of his death. Yet there’s no end to the people that will tell you how and why he died and who’s to blame. It’s kind of odd. Jackson’s life would appear to be a live version of Citizen Kane. A boy snatched from his childhood of poverty (with possibly the best of attentions of mom and dad(?)), to a young adult life of wealth and privilege. The adult strikes out on his own and finds major success. In some ways his success appears to be driven by both spite and to fulfill his parents deepest wishes. He then uses his success to buy things, yet apparently whatever it is he really wanted he couldn’t buy. Then he slowly falls down a slow walk of tabloid shame. Finally building themselves a palace of his own where they can live his life away from the world the he thinks no longer loves him the way it should of, or that he no longer loves. I have no doubt this will be the popular portrayal of Jackson we will see. It’s certainly popular on the DU. The blame the parents, lost childhood, self destruction that wasn’t his fault version.

But really is that the best way to describe Jackson’s life? Orson Wells tells Kane’s story in non-linear fashion but he tells his story. While each interviewer gives his own interpretation of the life (based mostly on how they felt about him) we never doubt they are actually telling us the truth of Kane’s life history. Jackson’s life could never be told in this way. His life feels more like the movie Rashomon. We are outside the events, everyone tells us what happen, but it never in the end adds up to a coherent story. Everything we are told can’t all be right. Who was Michael Jackson? Was Jackson the little boy forced into the music industry by overbearing parents, or the adult that broke away from his family and of his own adult free will set out to make a music industry career for himself? Was he the pure musician that loved the artistry and loathed the financial part of the industry or the pure business man that made a fortune buying other peoples music rights? Was he the shy man that spurned the public pressure, or the constant needy show man that named himself the King of Pop and sent his own tabloid news to the tabloids to print? Was he the fit athletic dancer of the videos or the sickly invalid suffering several chronic diseases? Was he a drug and surgery addict slowly drugging himself into a stupor everyday or the lively personality with boundless energy? Was he the too openly friendly child like innocent adult or the commandeering driven adult that forbid his servants to use his name to the point even in his 911 call his servants would not publically use his name? What was his sexuality? He was the sexiest man alive, twice married, twice divorced. Yet he is described by his friends also as a-sexual. He was a man of boundless contradictions. The more interviews about him you watch the less you appear to know about him. All the stuff said about him can’t all be true, yet viewers seem to get the set of information that fits their MJ reality the best and make him that Michael Jackson. To me, he was the enigma, wrapped inside a riddle, inside a conundrum. Jackson was the King of Pop, the burned out child star, the rejected self isolated millionaire, the self obsessed ego maniac and more… Any movie about Michael Jackson has to be like Rashomon.

It seems to frustrate a lot of DUers that their Michael Jackson isn’t another DUers Michael Jackson. How could two people have so differing views of who he was? This know doubt makes you mad, but you might want to remember, there is so much information out there on the guy and you are only looking through the haze to reconstruct the Jackson that best fits your reality. All I know about Jackson is what other people tell me and people tend to be unreliable witnesses. There has to be a truth, but I doubt there’s any real way you or I will ever know it. It’s no doubt the autopsy report will answer some questions about Jackson’s death, but it’s no doubt to me also going to in the end up also raising more questions. After all the non-stop news on the man I find it odd that I'm no closer to knowing Michael Jackson today than I was before he died.

[masuki bance]

1. nm.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. Consider the reality of the situation -

you never met Jackson, never had any dealings with him, and the only things you'll ever know about him is what you'll read or hear on TV about him.

He was an entertainer. He wasn't your family member or friend. Now he's dead, and it means nothing in your own life.

Hold close to the ones you love and work to know them. That's what matters.......................

[AlexinVA]

6. Nothing in your life

"He was an entertainer. He wasn't your family member or friend. Now he's dead, and it means nothing in your own life."

It is not that simple for those who love him. He was a big part of many of our lives. I have relatives I'd not shed a tear over if they were to die. Michael's loss I grieve, and I'm glad I do. He brought me so much joy in my youth. Memories I'll never forget. And that's a mark more real than many family members or friends will leave.

With that, I bow out of DU's Michael threads. There is a divide between those who love him and those who don't... and debate is not really going to change someone's emotions over the man.

[sandnsea]

3. Some can hold more than one thought in their head

and recognize the controversy and the talent. Much as you have done and in quite an eloquent manner.

Others just can't control their incessant need to tell others how to live their lives.

[democracy1st]

4. its like politics to me!

[Life Long Dem]

5. I have the image I've had all along, up until he died

and keep the image I've had all along. And don't jump on me again before you get "your" facts straight over "what" image I care for.

[niceypoo]

7. I can sum him up in four words

you dont fuck babies

[Birdiesmom]

8. *Sigh** ...and thus allegations and rumors become a foregone conclusion.

Even the courtroom charges never claimed that he "f**ked babies." At worst, he was accused of inappropriate touching, and he was cleared of all charges when the testimony fell apart in the courtroom. The earlier accusation was "settled out of court," which some take to mean that MJ was "guilty." I take it to mean that the family was after money.

Either way, he did not "f**k babies." It's highly unlikely he "f**ked" ANYone.