Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson.
You just can't ignore what a moment this is. End of an era. What's pop music with it's proverbial King?
And it's no contest...Iran or MJ? North Korea step aside.
Right.
In all truth--my tomorrow will be as it would have been. Or will it? When the news broke, my shock quickly morphed into cynicism--a kind of cursory humbling rationale that kept me functional by reminding me that my life had all of about nothing do with a certain Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson (1958-2009).
But it's just not true. A quick rolodex of my life reminds me that a good friend of mine can do a mean moonwalk. My brother and I, for that matter, used to study the dance moves in "Thriller" for hours...and don't even get me started on what "doesn't matter if you're black of white" means for biracial families. And yet it's really more. It's why we all balled our eyes out to "Heal the World" when Willy could not be set free--it's about art. Expressing divine talents. Emotions. Life.
Mr. Jackson garnered so much criticism in his last few years--so much so he felt he had to leave the country. Was it all in his head? Who knows? Was he or wasn't he a "smooth criminal"? I don't know. But I do know why he was so beloved and later so trivialized--he lived.
Something about his individual style of music and his personality drew us to him. It was like fresh air. He didn't just sing...and he wasn't larger than life...he was life. Go Youtube any of his videos. There is a reason no one else has ever been deemed "the next Michael." It's not that other performers aren't talented. Indeed, my 30 gig iTunes playlist would disagree. It's just that he put himself out there which such shocking honesty that people could barely know what to do their feelings. Better to be loved or hated? To quote Machiavelli, "love is held by a chain of obligation which, men being selfish, is broken whenever it serves their purpose." And so it was.
But, more to the point--how it is. Life is short. Do you think St. Peter cares about multi-platinum status? Pardon me real quick, but...hell no.
Today, I am challenging myself and asking others to think about how we can be a little more Jacksonian (Michael not Andrew) in our daily lives. Perhaps we could just start with the arts?
Here at UB, how would you rank our exposure and commitments to the arts? Does "Knowledge that Works" also have room for a musical vocabulary and self-expression? As I mentioned last week, I feel that our university is blessed by its location in/around Baltimore's historic culture center: Mount Vernon. Starting from the Peabody and Walter's, then moving to BSA and MICA, and lastly finishing with the Meyerhoff, Charles Theatre, and Lyric. We certainly have opportunities for artistic exposure. But are we doing enough internally? Where are the student venues? Student artwork? I'm sure some of this is going on, so maybe I'm just out of the loop. I know we are a commuter school (at least for the time being), but something tells me that everyone still plays music in their cars and likes pretty pictures.
Maybe we could at least put a piano in the student center? Someone has to know the notes to Billie Jean...
Friday, June 26, 2009
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4 comments:
Fantastic homage, Jason--thanks so much! And thanks for the reminder to start with the, um, university in the mirror. Just to make everyone aware, we do have a public arts program on campus called Spotlight UB, which brings an eclectic range of entertainment to campus at very low prices. We also have a gallery on the fifth floor of the UB Student Center, which frequently features faculty, student and local art. Finally, check out the second floor of the new Liberal Art and Policy Building, where student work lines gallery walls. I agree we can do more, but, you know, one moonwalk step at a time.
Hi Jason,
I was shocked and sad too when I found out about MJ. One thing that came to my mind was if my kids (when I have them) would know who he was and if they would like his music. He was a very visionary artist and unique with beats and rythms. I know Thriller and Beat It will always be recognizable songs for me...but what do you think the next generation will say about his music?
I predict that MJ has a great future in elevator music. That is not a dis. We'll all be hearing his music for as long as music survives, just in different forms. I'm not talking Cistine Chapel, but something that ties into a cultural consciousness.
I enjoy your blog, btw.
What is disheartening about all of the news of MJ is stating how we all loved him. But I get a sense he didn't know it. I think we can learn by his death to look at the strengths in people and acknowledge them when they are alive. Everyone has their faults but I think life is too short to dwell on them.
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