Mike Showalter
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14 years ago @ The CultureMob Blog - Seattle Seafair 2009 e... · 0 replies · +1 points
14 years ago @ The CultureMob Blog - Tattoo Culture/The Sin... · 1 reply · +1 points
14 years ago @ The CultureMob Blog - Get free tips on the 1... · 0 replies · +2 points
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14 years ago @ The CultureMob Blog - Debating Michael Jacks... · 0 replies · +1 points
14 years ago @ The CultureMob Blog - Debating Michael Jacks... · 0 replies · +1 points
But when one considers popular dance, music, film, etc., isn't it both artistic and commercial success over a long period of time the ultimate scorecard? Or perhaps breadth of success across multiple popular artistic endeavors? After all, popular art by definition is that which can appeal to a mass audience.
Considered that way, I think time might not be as kind to Michael as it has been for both Astaire and Sinatra. (Or the Beatles.) Although his commercial music success is undisputed, Michael Jackson's personality flaws, his legal troubles, and his lack of meaningful and successful artistic output after 1995 will all work against him. In addition, he wasn't as versatile as either Sinatra or Astaire. And although his peak years were comparable in time to both of them, he didn't have the great years later on that each of them had. Astaire won an Emmy award for an acting performance in 1978, nearly 75 years after he first began performing as a child, and Sinatra came out with his Grammy-winning Trilogy in 1980, 40 years after he first began recording.
The body of work from his peak performing years is, to me, an obvious artistic success (and obviously a gigantic commercial success). So it's sad that his personal issues will in many ways overshadow that. However, I think the fame thrust upon him by modern media will unfairly diminish his true artistic reputation by many critics, who won't be able to disconnect his off-stage issues with his musical output and performances.
14 years ago @ IntenseDebate Blog - Opening Up the Debate ... · 0 replies · +1 points