Saturday 27 June 2009

MICHAEL JACKSON AND THE (DE)CONSTRUCTION OF RACE

"Part of the formation and deformation of Michael Jackson is visible in comparing the video of "Black or White" with the video of "Morphing Michael Jackson." The promise of a post-racial world is juxtaposed with the slipping and sliding identity deformation of Jackson's face. When the boundaries of identity slip, other boundaries may slip and slide as well."


Michael Jackson - Black Or White (Official Music Video) - Funny bloopers R us

"These may be images of the shadow side of racial pluralism in America. As we struggle with the future of race in America, let's remember the two images. Racial pluralism, like religious pluralism, doesn't mean you merge with the other. It is instead a strong affirmation of your own identity and its integrity and an acceptance of the integrity and independence of the other."



"To watch these two videos side by side is to see tragedy unfold. The promise of the younger Jackson, his grace, charm and astonishing talent are juxtaposed with the melting and morphing of his promise and his identity into something that, in the end, becomes impossible to define or even understand. But tears seem appropriate."

[Quoted from here]

Echoed Here

***

N.B.: Cabe-me notar que as frases em sublinhado constituem uma sublime e eloquente sumula de tudo quanto tenho dito e repetido ad infinitum AQUI e noutros espacos sobre questoes relativas a identidade.
"Part of the formation and deformation of Michael Jackson is visible in comparing the video of "Black or White" with the video of "Morphing Michael Jackson." The promise of a post-racial world is juxtaposed with the slipping and sliding identity deformation of Jackson's face. When the boundaries of identity slip, other boundaries may slip and slide as well."


Michael Jackson - Black Or White (Official Music Video) - Funny bloopers R us

"These may be images of the shadow side of racial pluralism in America. As we struggle with the future of race in America, let's remember the two images. Racial pluralism, like religious pluralism, doesn't mean you merge with the other. It is instead a strong affirmation of your own identity and its integrity and an acceptance of the integrity and independence of the other."



"To watch these two videos side by side is to see tragedy unfold. The promise of the younger Jackson, his grace, charm and astonishing talent are juxtaposed with the melting and morphing of his promise and his identity into something that, in the end, becomes impossible to define or even understand. But tears seem appropriate."

[Quoted from here]

Echoed Here

***

N.B.: Cabe-me notar que as frases em sublinhado constituem uma sublime e eloquente sumula de tudo quanto tenho dito e repetido ad infinitum AQUI e noutros espacos sobre questoes relativas a identidade.

2 comments:

Nick said...

Shocking event, it will take a while to come to terms with it and to fully digest its meaning in the wider picture of racial identity.
May his soul rest in peace!

AGRY said...

Queria pedir-lhe que passasse pelo Solidário! Eu sei que ainda não é Natal! Importa-se?
Obrigado