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The King of Pop Was A Broken Man
By Maria Rodgers O'Rourke
Fabulous entertainer, master musician, choreographer, divorcee, suspected pedophile, recluse: how to reconcile the extremes in this single extraordinary man? One year after his death, many still wrestle with the multiple dimensions of Michael Jackson.
James Hillman wrote in “The Soul’s Code” of the inhuman encased in the human—divine talent housed in a fragile shell. How does this fragile shell sustain the force of the talent? Youth helps, but over time the demands of life, the losses and the loneliness, take their toll. Perhaps Michael’s tired body simply could no longer house, and be the instrument of, this talent.
In his glory days, there were indications of this dilemma. As early as 1988, when he performed “Man in the Mirror” at the Grammy Awards, there was pain and urgency in his performance deeper than the song’s profound message. The music flowed through and consumed his body, every beat finding expression, while his reedy voice soared over the instruments and singers on stage with him. After imploring the listener to “make that change,” he slumped to his knees, apparently unable to stand. But Michael was not defeated. Rather, the music lifted him, physically and spiritually, to a stunning crescendo. He seemed simultaneously possessed by and in command of his craft. As the crowd rose to their feet, his sweet gentle voice whispered, “Thank you,” and invited us, again, to “make that change.” His head deeply bowed, the lights faded to black. This passion was characteristic of all his performances.
"I am committed to my art,” Jackson explained to Oprah Winfrey in 1993. “I believe that all art has as its ultimate goal the union between the material and the spiritual, the human and the divine. I believe that to be the reason for the very existence of art." Through his music and dance, the person of Michael Jackson became this point of intersection.
Today, Michael is free of the frail body that once housed his soul. Perhaps he’s now swapping stories with Judy Garland, one of his iconic peers, who also lived a life of incomparable talent and deep sadness. Judy Garland explained her dilemma this way: “Maybe it’s because I made a certain sound, a musical sound, a sound that seems to belong to the world. But it also belongs to me because it comes from within me.” Michael had a sound deeply his own, too. His music touched millions around the world, giving voice to their experiences of life, love, loss, fear, and redemption. His work created images and moves which set the standard for future artists. If he wasn’t singing of our experiences, his music was, at least, the soundtrack to them.
The last years of his life became a freak show, sadly eclipsing his artistic contribution to this world. His eccentricities, like Elvis’s, are legendary. Michael shared Elvis’s dichotomy of power and weakness—great talent and success that brings with it isolation and a sense of unreality that most of us don’t experience in our daily lives. This unreality leads to behaviors and actions that appear weak and unstable. “The Soul’s Code” suggests that these events are evidence of the larger-than-life talent seeking grounding in human experience. The talent lifts the artist up, and drops him down, as it travels the arc of expression.
Ultimately, the true artist surrenders to this middle ground between inspiration and sweat. Michael Jackson gave himself completely to his artistic expression, and to the brokenness that came with it. Many revere him; others revile him, perhaps because his life and work are so far removed from “normal.” He traveled a road that was indeed, extraordinary, and leaves a legacy borne of sadness, pain, and magnificent talent.
Maria Rodgers O’Rourke is an author and speaker with 25 years of experience in communications and nonprofit management. Creator of the “Prepare Your Heart” journals, her work also appears in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul “ series of books. A native of St. Louis, she is married and has two children. Contact Maria at MROTheBigPicture@gmail.com or visit her website MariaRodgersORourke.com
http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/jul/01/big-picture-king-pop-was-broken-man/
By Maria Rodgers O'Rourke
Fabulous entertainer, master musician, choreographer, divorcee, suspected pedophile, recluse: how to reconcile the extremes in this single extraordinary man? One year after his death, many still wrestle with the multiple dimensions of Michael Jackson.
James Hillman wrote in “The Soul’s Code” of the inhuman encased in the human—divine talent housed in a fragile shell. How does this fragile shell sustain the force of the talent? Youth helps, but over time the demands of life, the losses and the loneliness, take their toll. Perhaps Michael’s tired body simply could no longer house, and be the instrument of, this talent.
In his glory days, there were indications of this dilemma. As early as 1988, when he performed “Man in the Mirror” at the Grammy Awards, there was pain and urgency in his performance deeper than the song’s profound message. The music flowed through and consumed his body, every beat finding expression, while his reedy voice soared over the instruments and singers on stage with him. After imploring the listener to “make that change,” he slumped to his knees, apparently unable to stand. But Michael was not defeated. Rather, the music lifted him, physically and spiritually, to a stunning crescendo. He seemed simultaneously possessed by and in command of his craft. As the crowd rose to their feet, his sweet gentle voice whispered, “Thank you,” and invited us, again, to “make that change.” His head deeply bowed, the lights faded to black. This passion was characteristic of all his performances.
"I am committed to my art,” Jackson explained to Oprah Winfrey in 1993. “I believe that all art has as its ultimate goal the union between the material and the spiritual, the human and the divine. I believe that to be the reason for the very existence of art." Through his music and dance, the person of Michael Jackson became this point of intersection.
Today, Michael is free of the frail body that once housed his soul. Perhaps he’s now swapping stories with Judy Garland, one of his iconic peers, who also lived a life of incomparable talent and deep sadness. Judy Garland explained her dilemma this way: “Maybe it’s because I made a certain sound, a musical sound, a sound that seems to belong to the world. But it also belongs to me because it comes from within me.” Michael had a sound deeply his own, too. His music touched millions around the world, giving voice to their experiences of life, love, loss, fear, and redemption. His work created images and moves which set the standard for future artists. If he wasn’t singing of our experiences, his music was, at least, the soundtrack to them.
The last years of his life became a freak show, sadly eclipsing his artistic contribution to this world. His eccentricities, like Elvis’s, are legendary. Michael shared Elvis’s dichotomy of power and weakness—great talent and success that brings with it isolation and a sense of unreality that most of us don’t experience in our daily lives. This unreality leads to behaviors and actions that appear weak and unstable. “The Soul’s Code” suggests that these events are evidence of the larger-than-life talent seeking grounding in human experience. The talent lifts the artist up, and drops him down, as it travels the arc of expression.
Ultimately, the true artist surrenders to this middle ground between inspiration and sweat. Michael Jackson gave himself completely to his artistic expression, and to the brokenness that came with it. Many revere him; others revile him, perhaps because his life and work are so far removed from “normal.” He traveled a road that was indeed, extraordinary, and leaves a legacy borne of sadness, pain, and magnificent talent.
Maria Rodgers O’Rourke is an author and speaker with 25 years of experience in communications and nonprofit management. Creator of the “Prepare Your Heart” journals, her work also appears in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul “ series of books. A native of St. Louis, she is married and has two children. Contact Maria at MROTheBigPicture@gmail.com or visit her website MariaRodgersORourke.com
http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/jul/01/big-picture-king-pop-was-broken-man/
