Has Death Wiped Clean Michael Jackson's Sins? Many Say Yes

By Melissa Daniels Posted Nov 19th 2009 10:50AM

A few years ago, young children listening to Michael Jackson tunes might have been something their parents would warn them about. Given the accusations that arose about his relationships with children in the 90s, some parents might not want the iconic pop star to be one of their kid's favorites.

But as Jackson's death has shown us this year, the final farewell is a transformational step in the image of a major icon. The scandals that may have plagued his life -- inappropriate behavior with children, addiction, isolation -- cast clouds of judgment that, in death, are mere footnotes to the greater legacy of their cultural contributions.

Gaylord Fields, senior editor at Spinner.com, said the sudden death of a major entertainer allows their faults to be set aside. The scandal of their death may create headlines, but afterward there is a wave of forgiveness that lasts longer than any misgivings.

"It's almost as if they've sort of been wiped clean of all earthly sin," Fields explained. "It's a very religious sort of conversion that happens when really big stars die before their time. And that's definitely been the case with Michael Jackson."

Fields draws comparisons to Elvis, John Lennon, and other performers who die before their story is complete. Whatever their status may be in the public eye at the time, their death is a time to focus on other aspects of their life and career.

"You need to kind of scrub them up if you want to put them on a pedestal," he said. "You're not gonna put a dirty statue on a pedestal."

King of Pop fans from different generations have different memories of how they see him. Those who remember him from The Jackson Five stage, 'Thriller' stage, or only from South Park parodies, will have different opinions on his life and times. However laced his legacy may be with scandal and mystery, those who wish to remember him as an icon will have no trouble doing so -- in part due to his untimely death.

"People really needed to reclaim him and reinvent him and this became the perfect excuse of someone who deserves iconic status without the tabloid scandal," he said.

Music and pop culture play an important role in any individual's life. They are a way to mark time, a way to connect the years and a way to commemorate life-changing milestones. Jackson's chart-topping music would've played a role in many people's lives. For parents to hold onto those memories and play certain songs for their kids is their way of remembering. But with that comes the cleansing of his legacy – they won't re-read the headlines of his scandals, but they will jam out to 'Beat It.'

"The threat of a real Michael Jackson and the scandal he had with the children is not interfering," Fields said. "It can't hurt the kids anymore."

Dr.Joe Schiavo, director of the music program at Rutgers-Camden, says the way people hang onto music of former times is an "interesting phenomenon." To listen to certain music, and share it with one's children, is a way for people to hang onto a piece of their youth.

"When you're young, a teenager or in your early 20s, there's many different events that take place in your life, it's just part of growing up," Schiavo said. "And I think we all have a tendency, at least I do, of associating certain events with songs that happen to be popular at the time or songs I'd like to listen to."

Listening to those songs after a sudden death of an icon like Jackson instantly rehabs his image. Schiavo notes that our culture has such short attention spans, that the talent is what stands out. A new generation of Jackson fans, absorbing his catalog after death, will only know the talent and the loss of a fantastic performer.

Just before Jackson's death this summer, he was preparing for his stateside comeback. Memorialized in the 'This is It' film, Jackson was dedicated to his craft up until the end. He seemed driven to reclaim a status in the U.S. public eye as not a scandal maker, but as the vessel of star power that got him where he was in the first place. While the tour may have changed up his image, his death served to do the same -- a somewhat morbid thought, but true nonetheless.

"This was going to be his big comeback, yet his popularity in the U.S. was waning since he'd been away for so long," Schiavo said. "We can only imagine now what his life would be like had he been able to go through with this tour."

Tags: elvis, john lennon, JohnLennon, michael jackson, MichaelJackson

Comments

(101)

Thursday 19 November

By mimi

Vote down Vote up Report this

MICHAEL JACKSON HAS NEVER DONE ANYTHING SINFUL! all you people are not only wrong but disgusting as well for talking about a dead man. it was PROVEN that it was all for money and he was INNOCENT. you people are the ones RESPONSIBLE for his death because all of you turned on him and treated him like a leper when he was an angel walking amongst us. A pure genius with a kind soul. This article is retarded because michael was not a sinner.

Sunday 22 November

By Tell It Like It Is

Amen!

Friday 20 November

By jm

People, this is ridiculous! If Michael Jackson was saved, he is in Heaven period! Good works doesn't save you from anything and to the ones that "believe he did it," you don't know for sure so don't judge him unless you have information that the police and the jury that acquitted him didn't have. Why is it so hard to believe he was being sued just for money! It seems easier for some people to just be lazy and believe that he molested anyone without doing any research.

By eddie p

last time i checked he was found not guilty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

By saramains28ky

i think people are always judging everyone else. when they have no right to i agree god does his own judging not us. nobody should be judged by another person. i think micheal was a great person for who he was. always helping everyone else.not always thinking of himself. i agree with what i have heard his brother say on tv enough is enough people need to leave michael jackson alone. the man is dead let it rest.

Monday 23 November

do you not watch tv. there was no proof that he did it. he would have been in jail. if he would have done. to me it was just abunch of greedy ass people after money.

hello

By Teresa

This poor man went through hell, because these people that had their children accuse him of that act were greedy for money. that's number 1

Number 2: The media made him out to be a freak but in reality they are the freaks. They can not make an honest living so they take a superstar and try to bring him down.

Michael Jackson was always a beautiful person to me and I encouraged my children to listen to his music and watch his concerts and videos, showing them what a real superstar was.
He was a caring, loving, person and definitely would have never hurt a child otherwise they would have found the evidence of it. HAH! They couldn't find a damned thing. I know that no one can hurt him now and as for his family especially his children I think they should steer clear because they are not as timid as you might think. God Bless them. My heart goes out to the Jackson Family to have to endure the fact that he was killed and did not die from natural causes. There will never be another Great, like Michael Jackson. He knew how to make music fun and interesting and his concerts were fabulous. God Bless His Soul, May He Rest In Peace!

He is an ANGEL now, up in Heaven! I will always love him just like I did when he was alive!

He was the sole entertainer!

Saturday 21 November

By exoticdoc2

Tellitlikeitis. Well, you certainly told me with your ad hominem attacks and name calling. When you have something more solid to support your love of this pedophile let me know. Jackson was human debris who abused children, that much is obvious to anyone not in serious self denial. Jackson himeself admitted to sharing his bed with little children not related to him. There is only one type of creature that sleeps with little children as a middle aged male, and most of them are members of NAMBLA.

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You ought to call yourself names, try FOOL on for size. King Michael admitted sharing bed, meaning space with children in room, specified however NOT SEXUALLY. He further admitted allowing children bed and sleeping on floor, telling stories, watching movies, warm milk and cookies, THINGS ONE WOULD DO AT SLEEPOVER. Parents alot of times on site too, consented. Noone touched anyone, facts of case(s) SAY SO!

AMEN!

By Boubacar Dieng

the question of going to hell or paradise is above us all! God knows of we and him what we know not. Let's stop blaspheming and expressing hatred for a dead. God is there to judge him - cheers

testing

Media is full of it. Imagine, WICKED as media is. Unjust and insulting content. Facts say no molestation, PERIOD! Heaven or hell for icon? Bible says hell for Evan Chandler per suicide.

By samantha

Michael has inspired many people throughout the world including myself. He was such a loving,caring and,sweet person to the world he went to charities,hospitals and, orphanages to help many people. I will never ever in my life believe he molested any children that is not him that is not in his heart I know somewhere deep in his heart he never did such a thing. I am a child myself I look up to him and see nothing but love and kindness. May he forever be in our hearts and may he always be the KING OF POP!

Tuesday 01 December

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday 25 November

By alexa

RIP Michael Jackson

DEAR MICHAEL,

I love you, R.I.P. Iconic, Musical GIANT!!!

Monday 07 December

By J.R.

I Don't Like His Music And
I Don't like Who He Was. But If Michael Jackson Ask For his sins to be forgiven Then He is up there in heaven With god.But if he used drugs and didn't ask for forgivnes Then and not a christen Then well He is in Hell. Yall that call him the icon And the king yall might want to stop Becouse he is not a king and he is not a gift of god. if you thank that well then you better go church and talk to your revern.

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