[LINK] Two Michael Jackson links

[rfmcdonald]

Two people on my Livejournal friends list have made Jackson-related posts which deserve further propagation.

• brunorepublic covers the exciting news that Michael's abusive svengali father, Joe, has launched a new record label that's bound to be successful. "In essence, he motivates the artist with pain until they achieve the desired results. It's not easy to reach the top. Many people simply lack motivation; they aren't able to push themselves there. So, Papa Joe does the pushing for them, and he pushes hard! After just a few years of physical and emotional torment, it's amazing what people will do for a moment of relief. Their desire for success is genuine. When they perform, you can really see it in their eyes."


• Elsewhere, lord_whimy examines the extent to which Jackson's transgressiveness related to his talent. "I think transgression has become a cheap artistic tactic, a short cut: it's all impact, no resonance. It's too obvious. It starts out novel, but then quickly becomes tiresome. There's a law of diminishing returns that sets in with transgression: once it gave us Bowie, but now it gives us Insane Clown Posse. Jackson's transgressions did nothing to serve his art; he was great in spite of them, not because of them."