Yale conference examines life, work of Michael Jackson
By DIANE SCARPONI
Associated Press Writer
September 24, 2004
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Michael Jackson, frequently savaged in the tabloid press and chased by paparazzi, was picked apart by more rarified critics this week, as the subject of a two-day conference at Yale University.
Eighteen scholars from universities all over the country discussed the sexual, racial and artistic aspects of King of Pop _ his life and music, his exploitation of the Victorian art of melodrama and the way he fought stereotypes about the black male image.
It is the first such conference to look at Jackson, although other universities have hosted conferences about Madonna and other pop stars, said Seth Clark Silberman, who teaches classes at Yale about race and gender.
"Michael Jackson in many ways is the black male crossover artist of the 20th century. He has grown up in front of us, so we have a great investment in him, even though some people today may find his image disturbing," Silberman said.
Since his days as a child star, Jackson has made his image increasingly strange, disturbing and contrary to sexual and racial expectations, he said.
The conference, "Regarding Michael Jackson: Performing Racial, Gender, and Sexual Difference Center Stage," avoids the details of the criminal child molestation lawsuit against Jackson underway in California, but it does look at how the media has reported on the case. Jackson pleaded not guilty in April to child molestation and conspiracy charges. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 31.
Panelists discussed how pedophilia allegations feed into stereotypes about gays. Although Jackson married twice and has children, he has long been rumored to be gay or bisexual, said Silberman, who is writing a book about Jackson.
Jackson also is an interesting figure for academics because of his race, and the surgeries he's had to change lighten his skin tone, Silberman said.
Todd Gray, who was Jackson's personal photographer for four years, spoke about how Jackson asked him to retouch photos to make him appear lighter-skinned.
Record executives wanted Jackson to appear masculine in photos, while Jackson preferred pictures of himself kissing animals or hugging the Mickey Mouse mascot at Disneyland, Gray said.
Jackson's androgynous image was contrasted with other black male images, from the rappers whose ripped torsos are on the covers of music magazines to Robert Mapplethorpe's graphic photos of nude black men.
Rose Theresa from the University of Virginia discussed how the melodrama in Jackson's music mirrors his life.
"It's not a coincidence. There's no way," Theresa said.
Jackson often explores race in his work, noted another panelist, Nora Morrison, a graduate student from Harvard University. In the video for "Beat It," Morrison noted, Jackson breaks up a fight between a black gang and a white gang, whose members then join in his dance moves.
Yale students said they hoped to learn things about race and gender at the conference that they could use in their own studies.
Megan Burns, who is pursing a master's in fine art in painting, said she is interested in iconography and looks at Jackson as the ultimate performance artist.
"I am completely and utterly fascinated with Michael Jackson as an image and as a self-created piece of art," Burns said.
"He's contributed to the national discussion and race and gender, and that is an invaluable topic for all of us to discuss," she said.
_
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By DIANE SCARPONI
Associated Press Writer
September 24, 2004
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Michael Jackson, frequently savaged in the tabloid press and chased by paparazzi, was picked apart by more rarified critics this week, as the subject of a two-day conference at Yale University.
Eighteen scholars from universities all over the country discussed the sexual, racial and artistic aspects of King of Pop _ his life and music, his exploitation of the Victorian art of melodrama and the way he fought stereotypes about the black male image.
It is the first such conference to look at Jackson, although other universities have hosted conferences about Madonna and other pop stars, said Seth Clark Silberman, who teaches classes at Yale about race and gender.
"Michael Jackson in many ways is the black male crossover artist of the 20th century. He has grown up in front of us, so we have a great investment in him, even though some people today may find his image disturbing," Silberman said.
Since his days as a child star, Jackson has made his image increasingly strange, disturbing and contrary to sexual and racial expectations, he said.
The conference, "Regarding Michael Jackson: Performing Racial, Gender, and Sexual Difference Center Stage," avoids the details of the criminal child molestation lawsuit against Jackson underway in California, but it does look at how the media has reported on the case. Jackson pleaded not guilty in April to child molestation and conspiracy charges. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 31.
Panelists discussed how pedophilia allegations feed into stereotypes about gays. Although Jackson married twice and has children, he has long been rumored to be gay or bisexual, said Silberman, who is writing a book about Jackson.
Jackson also is an interesting figure for academics because of his race, and the surgeries he's had to change lighten his skin tone, Silberman said.
Todd Gray, who was Jackson's personal photographer for four years, spoke about how Jackson asked him to retouch photos to make him appear lighter-skinned.
Record executives wanted Jackson to appear masculine in photos, while Jackson preferred pictures of himself kissing animals or hugging the Mickey Mouse mascot at Disneyland, Gray said.
Jackson's androgynous image was contrasted with other black male images, from the rappers whose ripped torsos are on the covers of music magazines to Robert Mapplethorpe's graphic photos of nude black men.
Rose Theresa from the University of Virginia discussed how the melodrama in Jackson's music mirrors his life.
"It's not a coincidence. There's no way," Theresa said.
Jackson often explores race in his work, noted another panelist, Nora Morrison, a graduate student from Harvard University. In the video for "Beat It," Morrison noted, Jackson breaks up a fight between a black gang and a white gang, whose members then join in his dance moves.
Yale students said they hoped to learn things about race and gender at the conference that they could use in their own studies.
Megan Burns, who is pursing a master's in fine art in painting, said she is interested in iconography and looks at Jackson as the ultimate performance artist.
"I am completely and utterly fascinated with Michael Jackson as an image and as a self-created piece of art," Burns said.
"He's contributed to the national discussion and race and gender, and that is an invaluable topic for all of us to discuss," she said.
_
¡Qué nivel Maribel!
S@ludos...
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