Otherness and Power: Michael Jackson and His Media Critics
Rating: 5/5
This slim but important 2014 publication shines a spotlight on some of Michael Jackson’s harshest critics and reveals the depths to which some individuals, publishers and networks stooped to discredit his talent, his manhood, his generosity, and his genius.
For someone who is a fan, this can be a very difficult book to read in terms of its content. Susan Woodward looks at the assumptions and assertions of those who have been emphatic in their published negativity towards Jackson. This brings the sensitive reader into contact with examples of text that can be considered highly offensive.
Woodward looks first at the words of music critic David Marsh, author of Trapped: Michael Jackson and the Crossover Dream published in 1985; then at journalist Maureen Orth and her “five lengthy articles about Michael Jackson for Vanity Fair magazine” published between the early 90s and 2000s; and finally, Mark Fisher, editor of The Resistible Demise of Michael Jackson published in 2009, and the various authors whose essays comprise that volume.
From her examination of these works, Woodward reveals the frightening power of journalism to influence public consciousness despite, in some instances, a total absence of understanding of their subject, and in others, possessing preconceived notions of the artist that colour everything they write about him.
Personally, I have no time for professional writers who do not adequately research their articles and/or make no attempt to “walk a mile” in their subject’s shoes. Theirs is not even an attempt at balanced journalism. Admittedly, with the subject being Michael Jackson, there isn’t really anyone who could adequately assume to understand what it would be like to walk around in Jackson’s shoes for even the briefest period of time. But in most cases, they are not even prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt by attempting a less subjective approach to their subject.
Woodward dissects their harshest statements and misconceptions and reveals how they highlight a failure of the critics to come to terms with Michael Jackson’s ‘otherness’ as well as his undoubted ‘power’ as a successful artist and internationally idolized celebrity.
For students of Michael Jackson studies, this book is a valuable research tool with a very useful list of sources accessed by the author in forming her arguments.
For the fans, Otherness and Power provides clearly thought-out responses to some of Jackson’s harshest critics – who, we must remember, managed to get their names noticed by ‘bullying’ someone in print because of his difference, his talent, and his success.
That way they could at least get their own slice of Jackson’s success.
“Are you the ghost of jealousy?” MJ sings in Ghosts. For the majority of the folk discussed in Susan Woodward’s book, I’d have to say the answer is “yes.”
Kerry Hennigan
Michael Jackson Book Club Member
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Merci de nous prévenir, nous les fans, quant à la dureté des propos de Marsh, Orth et Fisher.
Il m’est toujours difficile de lire des contenus cruels sur M J. Tant de personnes se sont permises de le dénigrer, l’humilier, le condamner, sans le laisser parler ni lui accorder le bénéfice du doute. Même mort, les gens continuent de le tuer !
Personne n’a osé affirmer que tout ce qui est arrivé de négatif à MJ vient du fait qu’il est noir. Oui, le racisme perdure, aux U.S.A. encore plus qu’ailleurs.