As some of you know, I write. One of the hardest things a writer does is put herself in the heads of people she is not like. Michael Jackson's difficulties have led me to wonder how I could make a wealthy entertainer's problems comprehensible. I believe one way would be to fault society for being so money driven, or perhaps fault individuals for their eagerness to jump through all kinds of hoops in return for moolah. Think about it. But for Jackson's wealth, he would not have been able to afford the problems he has.
Jackson is said to be extremely overextended financially because of his profligate lifestyle. Neverland alone devours millions per year. Salaries for its more than 100 employees alone would feed the hungry in a small state like West Virginia. Yet, society expects celebrities to live large. Would a poor boy from Gary, Indiana, who shared his bedroom with his brothers, be living so extravagantly now if he had not been encouraged to?
Plastic surgery is the pit of medical practice. That is because most plastic surgeons don't operate to remedy disabilities. They perform cosmetic surgery to try to satisfy people's idealized visions of their bodies. Furthermore, a significant share of doctors performing such procedures are not even trained in or certified in plastic surgery. Into this setting wanders a young Michael Jackson. Because of his deep pockets, he is doubtlessly encouraged to change virtually everything about his visage. No one considers sending him to a mental health professional who could him help him accept the face nature gave him. That would be against the plastic surgeons' interest. Instead, year after year, procedure after procedure is performed until the man looks like nothing Mother Nature would recognize as hers. The doctors become wealthy. Jackson becomes the recipient of unneeded alterations that are probably not reversible. He will likely never look like himself again. If a young man who worked at McDonalds had wandered into the same doctors' offices and sought a new nose or a cleft in his chin, he would have been told the doctor wasn't in, if not escorted out by security. Again, Michael's millions got him into trouble.
Article comments
1 - Ron Bell
Mac Diva,
To be sure, many see fit to prey upon the wealthy, but isn't Michael Jackson now a grown man with a grown up's responsibility for his finances, his social life, his personal affairs?
Society may expect celebrities to live large, but society does not require them (and cannot compel them) to live beyond their means. Let's not forget that Michael's biggest commercial successes occurred long before his latest plastic surgeries.
If Michael Jackson has a tragic flaw, I think it is that he hasn't grown up. Being an adult means accepting that one's resources have limits. He never learned that he can't always have what he wants when he wants it. More's the pity.
2 - Mac Diva
I agree with what you are saying, Ron. But, when writing a character it is necessary to make his behavior explicable. I recently finished reading a triology of speculative fiction by Kristine Smith. One of the characters in the Jani Kilian series is a sociopath who is unable to feel empathy. He admits to having killed 15 people over the years. But, Lucien is also charming and exceedingly loyal -- and dedicated to the heroine, Jani. That is the kind of characterization of a M.J. type persona one would have to do to make him believable in a narrative. To himself, he may simply be responding to what having all that money has given him permission to do.
3 - debbie
Another aspect of the money is that you are surrounded by 'yes' men, people that defend the ridiculous things you do because they want the gravy train to keep flowing. Instead of recognizing that a mental breakdown is occurring and getting him some help, everything is excused because, after all he is 'Michael Jackson' which means that he is rich enough to be excentric instead of crazy.
4 - Eric Olsen
exactly - as was said of the aristocracy: what is "crazy" for the middle class is "eccentric" for them
5 - Mike west
I agree with a lot of this remember he was mentally ill anorexia , body dismorphia , unresolved childhood issues and addictions, plus this huge huge success, dont be too hard on this poor chap lesser fellows could have done better with his success. I believe he was in a lot of pain , and as for the child molesations pls it was extortions from the families of two boys and he was innocent and pure and just loved children and he really did not understand that what he was doing ie just hanging out with Boys was wrong in the eyes of society
Let MJ rest in peace now please