Michael Jackson's sudden death brings forth mourning by fans all over the world. Retailers and collectors are flooded with demands for albums and memorabilia, and anyone owning LP copies of his early recordings see their value rocket as people hunger to own something of the pop icon.
Whilst a frenzy of activity emerges amongst loyal fans, closet fans surprisingly emerge - many surprising themselves - whilst others observe this activity with some incredulity.
Michael Jackson
What is this outpouring of grief, desire and questioning all about? What desire, emotional attachment, accompanying feelings, experiences or existential angst is associated with the death of this public figure? It seems to me that the death of an Elvis-type figure opens a door to individual and collectively expressed experiences of existential angst. We are reminded of the finitude of our existence and in experiencing such discomfort (even if unlikely for many to be identified as such), we know, at some level, the real aloneness of our association and grief-like responses.
Whilst Michael Jackson is considered public property, anyone in their 40s or 50s remembers at the same as age as them - with all the associations of that era. They were the same age as him as they started out in the world with the whole of their lives stretching out before them. His sustained achievements outweigh what many might have mastered and this awareness might spark regret, shame or grief. Camaraderie might ensure as people experiencing the 1960s and 1970s era of the Jackson Five share stories of what they were doing as they watched it as children. Upon closer inspection, the only Jackson Five - or indeed Michael Jackson - that exists, is the Observer. What do I mean? There is no Michael Jackson in an absolute sense. There is our co-constructed association of a figure who was part of our youth, who had a life and who has died. A reminder that we too, one day, will die and we do not know when that will be nor do we have control over it.
For later followers who experienced him as a star from the 1980s, he holds another promise. The dawn of celebrity worship when normal people can be jettisoned into stardom as never before, is now possible in theory for anyone. Only a few make the mark and when they do, often their lives seem tortured and lonely.
Michael Jackson played an important role in our history. The first African-American performer of modern times to consistently and globally whoa the world with his music, performance agility and his holding of possibilities for others that 'Anything is Possible'. However, when this is cut short, each of us are reminded of our existential aloneness, of the fragility and uncertainty of our existence and the 'Call to Conscience' to live our lives with meaning and purpose - since we know not when it will end. We just know that it will.
Michael Jackson - A Reminder of Our Existential Angst?Master's Challenge: Madworld (Machinima.com) Video Clips. Duration : 5.67 Mins.Madworld : Chainsaws, Baseball Bats and Crotches oh my!
Tags: Madworld, Nintendo, Wii, Sega, Platinum, Games, Varrigan, City, Little, Eddie, Donnie, Darko, Hellboy, BRPD, Baseball, post-appocalypti
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