Comments on: Michael Jackson And The Cruelty Of The Ideal

By: philadelphia

philadelphia — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:02:30 +0000

Thanks Mary. I never assumed that you were trying to define Jackson’s psyche, but your approach is sensitive and imaginative–The way in which you describe his moonwalk, his striving for beautiful and intangible ideals, his contending with racism at such an early age, the way in which you describe that indomitable spark he had…all of these images show a unique understanding, whether you are speaking as one artist to another, or one human to another. This essay delved into what may have been Jackson’s deeper struggles– and that made me appreciate him differently, and I am grateful for that.

By: Hamster

Hamster — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Kids dancing for MJ in Montreal. Thought Ryeberg might like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYVi_6KZyTs

By: Mary Gaitskill

Mary Gaitskill — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:07:43 +0000

Thank you for the comment, belatedly. It may also be late to say I didn’t mean to examine Jackson’s psyche. I don’t think I could do that, I don’t know if anybody could. That was the way Erik described it and I let it be that way because I couldn’t think of a better way to describe what I wrote. But really I was responding as much as anything to Lynn Crosbie’s piece which made me think about Jackson in a totally different way than I had before. Once I focussed on him, all these thoughts and images came flooding through and I had to write the piece. But I don’t think its a description of what it was like to be Micheal J. That is beyond me.

By: philadelphia

philadelphia — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:12:36 +0000

I was sad to hear that Michael Jackson had passed away, even though I really have little insight into who he really was. I’ve watched mourning fans perplexed, trying to understand what affinity they have for Michael Jackson the man, not the entertainer. Because, while I have enormous respect for his talent, the man has always been a mystery to me. This essay is the most intimate, honest and real examination of his psyche I’ve seen.