Around these parts, we honor the dead by consuming their image and their artifacts.
Just like Biggie, Tupac, Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Elvis, his death has led to a massive uptick in record sales. Thus, he has been granted a sort of Spectacular Immortality.
And just like so many celebrity totems, in death all his sins, real or alleged, seem to have been forgiven. For many people out there, I think it’s the impact of the death of a symbol they grew up with that has caused them to genuinely question the things they did or did not believe about him in the years since the living person behind the media-mirage of Michael Jackson (whatever and whoever he really was) was cast into popular exile and disrepute.
Some feel genuine remorse and sadness, whether they should or not is another question.
What is not in question, to me, is the fact that the media-priesthood are simply selling more product.
Tragedy, like sex and violence, sells.
And so the Spectacle’s priests shed crocodile tears for victims they helped to create such as Anna Nicole Smith. They do this as quickly and easily as they cry for scoundrels like Nixon. Michael Jackson the innocent Christ child, Michael Jackson the Dionysian, connected with the body and the dance, Michael Jackson the demonic eater of the young, connected with pedophilia: these were all images conjured by our Spectacular culture and its image makers, sometimes with, without and against Jackson’s participation. (Michael as magician-priest, king and sacrifice.) What his image will be in death is yet to be seen. But one hint lies here. And another here.
It’s kind of like when Bob dies in Fight Club, Tyler Durden’s SpaceMonkeys turn ”his name was Robert Paulson” into a mantra, snapping into realization that he did have a name, an identity.
Suddenly in death, for the Spectacle, Michael Jackson has his humanity back , and some semblance (or simulation?) of life.
Good point about MJ and the nature of fame/media. I know I’ve been hearing nonstop Thriller and Beat It all day, no matter where I go. I’m sure it will all…die out before too long and we get to hear more about Lohan or whoever….
Just a quick correction:, the Fight Club character’s name was Paulson.
Good catch, Edelberg. I’ve fixed the Fight Club reference.
Why didn’t the world love MJ this much eight days ago, when he was alive? Why did his ‘tight’ family let him wither away? Why did no one care about the kids? Why are the kids going to Katherine and Joe, eighty years old, who crash-and-burned the first nine?
Exactly.
Today is MJ’s (cough) pay-to-play ‘Memorial Service’. I live in L.A. Taxpayers are footing the bill for ten or so police cars blocking off the MAIN street where the perps – I mean Jackson’s parents – live. The city has turned into flock of crows, circling his psychic remains.
I am glad I’m middle aged. I don’t want to be here fifty years hence to be where human idiocy will inevitably land us.
MJ died in his sins and trespasses, unforgiven by Christ. Unless he had an 11th hour salvation experience and confessed his sins and repented…., but for some reason I can’t see that having happened. He lived his life in total opposition to Biblical principles and the wages of sin as we all know, is death. Go ahead, everyone jump on me for saying this. But death is the great equalizer and all of us will stand in the presence of our Creator. MJ did have a charisma and paranormal pizzazz, but I think it was from the, ummmm, dark side.