Michael Jackson: In Death, as in Life, the King of Pop Culture

Bully Pulpit.com ^ | June 26, 2009 | Lou Carlozo

[AnnGora]

Now that Michael Jackson is dead–or to quote one of his album titles, “HIStory”–an antidote is sorely needed to the gushing CNN and Fox News anchors I heard all last night and into this morning, eulogizing Jackson as if he had died on a cross instead of in his home of apparent cardiac arrest. No, what we need is someone as sober as a Lester Bangs, who when John Lennon died, declared, “I can’t mourn the man.”

[AnnGora]

Very interesting column regarding the exaggerated mourning of celebrities who really don't deserve the hysterical adultation bestowed upon the occasion of their demise. Proof popular culture has taken an ugly turn.

[P-Marlowe]

Could we please have a moratorium on Michael Jackson articles on Free Republic?

I don't like glamorizing child molesters.

[AnnGora]

If you would read the article, you would find it DOES NOT glamorize him at all! Just the opposite.

[freekitty]

Enough of Michael Jackson.

[Taxbilly]

Yeah the king of pop is now meeting the King of Kings, should be interesting.

[YankeeReb]

Enough of the media feeding frenzy. Even Fox is guilty!!! We just had the most damaging government seizure of power pass the house and all you hear all day is about Jacko!!!!

[JimRed]

“Pop Culture” is a major factor in the destruction of America’s moral fiber, and a danger to Her very existence.

[P-Marlowe]

Post it in the Smokey Back Room. I don’t care a whit about this pervert.

[AnnGora]

Then let’s ban all articles on the death of any celebrity. That’s what the article is about: the outpouring of grief anytime someone of fame dies, regardless if they were decent human beings or not.

Enough knee-jerk reactions to article titles without reading the article.

[AnnGora]

Neither does the author of the article.

[P-Marlowe]

He cared enough to write an article. That's caring too much in my book.

Moderator, please move this to the smokey back room or Chat.

[Boucheau]

“I don’t like glamorizing child molesters.”

Exactly!!!

Our pre-pubescent sons are a bit safer now.

Let’s leave it at that.

[AnnGora]

“He cared enough to write an article. That’s caring too much in my book.”

You cared enough to respond to the thread. Three times.

[yawningotter]

The key test of his artistry is how well his songs stand up over time. I do not see Michael Jackson’s work surviving like Elvis’ has. Like the article said, Jackson was an entertainer, and not an artist. A pretty darn good one, but still an entertainer. Take away the dance moves and the videos, and what is left? Could he perform “Billie Jean” or “Beat It” convincingly if he couldn’t dance? Will his songs be considered part of the “Great American Songbook” a hundred years from now?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Millions of dumb little kids were encouraged to see a perverted POS as a role model. They were taught that Jackson's hysterical wailing and gyrating is art. His felonius and perverted assault of young boys was winked at, accepted and excused.

If this isn't a sign of a culture nearing death, I don't know what is!

He is finally dead, a boil on the nations arse has been lanced!

[Luke21]

Thank you. What a sick society.

[DoughtyOne]

Some of you are being very rude.

Read the damned article. It puts a voice to the very thoughts you folks have on Michael Jackson. It certainly did mine.

It suggests that people who are as flawed as Jackson was, should not be idolized. Appreciate their music for what it is, but do not idolize the person who is severely flawed.

Isn’t that the right message right now? Well, yes it is...

[freekitty]

I know what the article said. Regardless; I am tired of hearing celebrities being made into something bigger than life. They aren’t. They are human beings being run by a PR machine for a quick buck.

[AnnGora]

Thank you!!!

[Safetgiver]

Upon his death, the world resumed to a small bit of normalcy. Not much, but I felt it.

[AnnGora]

” Regardless; I am tired of hearing celebrities being made into something bigger than life. They aren’t. They are human beings being run by a PR machine for a quick buck.”

You just summed up the article.

[Lando Lincoln]

AG... You are right. This column is not about Michael Jackson per se. It is about the erosion of our culture. Very worthy to post here.

Those who are indignant about the post miss the larger point. Such is the nature of too many. Well done.

[DoughtyOne]

Look, I appreciate where folks are coming from here, but this is not the article to trash. It’s probably one of the few that are worthy of posting.

[freekitty]

I figured that out a while back.

[AnnGora]

I agree. But our culture has become so warped that history may not judge a pedophile harshly simply because he was a pop icon. How far do you separate the entertainer from his/her private life?

[Lando Lincoln]

Some of you are being very rude.

Read the damned article. It puts a voice to the very thoughts you folks have on Michael Jackson. It certainly did mine.

Indeed. Sloppy thinking with a quickness to judge is the curse of many. This article is not about Michael Jackson! Rather, it is a commentary regarding the exact thing people here are bitching about.

[AnnGora]

I think the author’s title is misleading, which is the problem with the knee-jerk reaction. This article talks about John Lennon and Kurt Cobain as much as Michael Jackson.

[DoughtyOne]

Having been guilty of that kind of sloppy thinking from time to time, I am well qualified to agree with you. :-)

[Bernard Marx]

"Pop Culture" is destroying this once-fine nation. Twisted juvenile American cultural pathologies allowed a somewhat talented but immature, pitiful child-man like Michael Jackson to become a national icon. Those same pathologies have metastasized into the election of a "pop culture" President.

The uncritical adulation of Obama is a sharp reminder of how shallow and lacking in any real intellectual substance our national character has become. Every time I see idiots like the Fox News guest who said, without embarrassment, that Jackson was "the greatest musical talent in history," I think of the mental midgets who elected Obama. And of real greats like Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart and onward -- the list is a long and imposing one.

[MaxMax]

Meanwhile, Anna Nicole Smith is still dead.

[AnnGora]

Excellent post. Thanks.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I’m just impressed with the reference to Lester Bangs - second only to R. Meltzer as a rock critic.

[nesnah]

What is really interesting is that, on the same day, the beautiful woman that brought young men’s fantasies to the pinnacle, and the pop-star that immortalized a song entitled “Beat It” died.

[DemonDeac]

The adoration of this sick pervert is disgusting.

[dfwgator]

I’m just impressed with the reference to Lester Bangs

Leonid Breshnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs. Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom!

[Mr. Mojo]

what we need is someone as sober as a Lester Bangs, who when John Lennon died, declared, “I can’t mourn the man.”

At least Lennon wrote a bunch of good tunes. ...and wasn't a pedophile.

[Lando Lincoln]

Yes, me too. That’s why I am imminently qualified to point it out! ;-)

[DoughtyOne]

Sounds like we could be the new forum ‘sloppy thinking patrol’. LOL

Take care...

[Gorzaloon]

Enough of Michael Jackson.

But..but...if they stop talking about him, they might have dead air to fill up with stories about CAP AND TAX, and NATIONAL HEALTH!!

Quick!! Look over here at the surgical sideshow freak! Over here!!

Michael Jackson died!!!!

[pandoraou812]

Well said. I had the TV on a few times & not once have I heard anything about his thing for young boys. Just the gushing about his talent... I never cared for MJ's music & I sure don't think he is the king of anything. I hope his children can finally have a semi normal life at some point.

[cubreporter]

The only King I know of is “Christ the King” and then... Elvis who was King.

[pandoraou812]

Agreed

[driftless2]

"songs stand over time"

You hit the nail on the head. I made the same argument yesterday on threads like this, and got attacked by a mob of Jackson fans who firmly believe his musical mediocrity was brilliance. He had an immature voice, snappy dance moves, and the best of his songs are only mildly catchy. In short nothing of substance.

[freekitty]

I know.

[Lady Jag]

Move over to other threads. Just like TV you can turn it off...unless you’re just bitching for the sake of bitching.

[SaraJohnson]

Most of us can agree that ghoulish Jackson, with his fake nose melting off his damaged face, and his insanely self centered mentality, is the perfect king for today’s pop culture of death.

You can’t get much closer to pop culture’s ideal of the walking dead.

[Lando Lincoln]

Tha shallow depth of thinking on this thread is overwhelming. How many of you have read - and absorbed - the article?

[don-o]

Enough knee-jerk reactions to article titles without reading the article.

Good luck with that!

[don-o]

Meanwhile, Anna Nicole Smith is still dead.

Any more on Jeff Goldblum - Goldbloom - Goldberg - whoever that dude was who was trying to horn in on Jacko's grand finale?

[csvset]

Goldblum is alive, his “death” was a PR stunt. He has a movie coming out soon. It’s an attempt to jump start his waning career.