Anarchism, with the exception of middle-class types what like to discuss such ideals at length yet pray that their apartments might be spared come the revolution, is a predominantly working class notion, albeit one which was given credence via the writings of a middle-class intellectual. Such are the ironies of the "political", don't you know?
By existing outside of the rules of a society, one would assume, those most victimised by said society might be free to exist in a manner which they have been told since childhood is very much within reach, and yet always seems a fingers-length too far to the right.
A pillar of that same society, barring a not-inconsiderable attack of the guilt, is unlikely to want to change things terribly much.
Except, of course, for Michael Jackson.
Jackson not only retreated ever-quietly from the confines of western society, he in fact constructed his own version of such, a utopia within which Michael Jackson was answerable only to Michael Jackson. Until such times as the rest of the world, and the standards adopted by such, imposed upon him, Jackson served as the sole benefactor of civilised endeavour.
Civilisation, for him, started and ended at the gates of Neverland.
If he had felt the need to write a credible, considered manifesto for such living, instead of ever-so-intellectually-stimulating stuff like "Heal the world, make it a better place", he may well have sparked a revolution.
If only for one tiny inconvenience.
No-one but Michael Jackson could live like Michael Jackson. Bill Gates has more money, considerably more power, but he couldn't exist like Jackson has done and, circumstances permitting, may continue to.
Gates is the spokesperson, rightly or otherwise, for a genuine revolution, albeit one of technology rather than economy (although one informs the other).
All Jackson had to do was go into a studio and lay down some highly idiosyncratic hollers every few years, then hand it over to the people he employed to worry about such nonsense. When he toured in support of said doodlings, it was as the ambassador of some exotic, heavenly dream-land. Here was Michael, prince of pop, but also sovereign ruler of his own slab of earth, a slab impenetrable to anyone deemed unfit by him, a classless, raceless (insert plastic surgery joke if so required) utopia.
Article comments
1 - Al Barger
Yeah, well Al gots a SPECIAL PLACE for his unique type of "anarchy" all picked out is what.
2 - Eric Olsen
Duke, a very brilliant piece.
I sympathize with your insomnia - it appears to be the curse of a very fertile imagination. I would suggest cutting the caffeine down to a dull roar nd checking into mild sleep-inducers like Valerian and Melatonin. I take them both every night and sleep pretty well, and I am not unfamiliar with the demands of a cycling brain.
Re MJ, you expressed your views and sympathies very well, and I agree with your conclusion that while he was probably a fucking loon 30 years ago, after years of isolated reign he is now a raving fucking loon. I have no idea if he committed the acts he is accused of but I wouldn't be surprised either way.
I also had affection for him for most of his life/career (they are only divided by about 10 years) but now I think his lunacy has become a danger to himself and others. I'm not sure what the anser is, but regardless of the outcome of his current dealings with the law, if he doesn't somehow align himself with reality, it can only end in tears.
Get some rest, buddy.
3 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Al, thats some freaky malarky. Is that you in the blue top, incidentally?
Eric, thank you good sir.
I'm always contemplating methods of getting to bed earlier and so on, but to no avail. Too much trash to be watching and discussing and what not. All my attempts fail. Like the other night, i thought i'd put on an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm before i went to bed. quarter to five and i realise how damn late it is. Then i go to bed and put on the commentary from Pi to listen to that the brain might be preoccupied, but no, "this shot here..." what shot where? I must look, and thus, efforts are scuppered once again.
Hehe. It would be terribly sad if it wasn't so amusing.
Thanks for the kind words regarding this dose of scribbling. I think i'd been wanting to write about this carry-on for some time, but needed the anchor, if you will, which arrived in the form of the anarchist musings. At half 6 in the damn morning. lol
4 - Eric Olsen
I was on a very late schedule for many years due to the DJing and all, and people who haven't talked to me for a while are astounded to hear I get up at 6am 5 days a week now and have been for a few years. I just don't have any choice. It still doesn't feel right, though.
5 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Eric, it most certainly don't feel right. I keep saying, well, it's just like if someone was on night shift. You get up at 2PM then stay up till 6. But still, normal folks seem awful content with the bed-at-reasonable-hour thing.
It's not as bad when its a choice, but when you WANT to sleep, but the head won't let you, that sucks right there.
6 - Eric Olsen
because I don't have any choice as to my schedule and have to get a reasonable amount of sleep, that's why I use the Valerian, Melatonin, antihistamine, ...