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Michael Jackson, frequently savaged in the
press, was picked apart by more rarefied critics as scholars
gathered for a conference on the pop star at Yale University.
Eighteen scholars from US universities discussed sexual,
racial and artistic aspects of Jackson’s life and music
on Thursday and Friday in the first academic meeting to study
him.
Jackson “in many ways is the black male crossover artist
of the 20th century,” said Seth Clark Silberman, who
teaches race and gender at Yale.
“He has grown up in front of us, so we have a great
investment in him, even though some people find his image
disturbing.”
Other universities have hosted conferences about Madonna
and other pop stars, Mr Silberman said.
The two-day conference avoided details of the child molestation
case against Jackson in California, but it did look at how
the media has reported on the case.
Jackson pleaded not guilty in April to child molestation
and conspiracy charges. His trial is scheduled for January
31.
Still, panellists discussed how pedophilia allegations have
fed into false stereotypes about gays. Although Jackson married
twice and has children, he has long battled rumours that he
is gay, said Silberman, who is writing a book about Jackson.
Since his days as a child star, Jackson has made his image
increasingly strange and contrary to sexual and racial expectations,
Silberman said.
Panelists discussed Jackson’s plastic surgery and his
skin tone change from dark to light (which Jackson says is
due to a condition called vitiligo.)
Todd Gray, Jackson’s personal photographer for four
years, described how Jackson asked him to retouch photos to
make him appear lighter-skinned.
Record executives wanted Jackson to appear masculine in photos,
while Jackson preferred pictures of himself kissing animals
or hugging the Mickey Mouse mascot at Disneyland, Gray said.
Jackson often explores racial issues in his music, noted
another panellist, Nora Morrison, a graduate student from
Harvard University.
In the video for “Beat It,” she said, Jackson
breaks up a fight between a black gang and a white gang, whose
members then join in his dance moves.
Megan Burns, who is pursing a master’s degree in fine
art, said she looks at Jackson as “a self-created piece
of art.”
“He’s contributed to the national discussion of
race and gender, and that is an invaluable topic for all of
us to discuss,” she said.
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