Here is a roundup of media and blogger reaction to the death of Michael Jackson on Thursday.
The Los Angeles Times and the New York Times (user id and password here) each have lengthy formal appreciations.
LA’s CBS affiliate headlines its obituary “World Mourns Loss of Biggest Entertainer in History.” The article also notes that emergency medical technicians tried for over 40 minutes to resuscitate Jackson.
USA Today has a detailed discography accompanying a very comprehensive article about Jackson’s four-decade artistic legacy. Lots of links to additional coverage.
Blogger reaction is massive, and there’s definitely a lot of mixed feelings out there.
E.D. Kain is swearing off television for a week, now that “St. Michael of Neverland Ranch” has died:
I’m not sure I can stomach the insta-documentaries and the faux-mourning. Indeed, not to be too horribly cynical, but I’m quite sure that all those who spoke ill of Jackson in the past, including all the media outlets and anchors will leap headlong onto the Saint Michael bandwagon now that he’s departed.
Jonah Goldberg is not a believer in Jackson-as-icon:
Generally speaking, I’m a believer in the rule that we should not speak ill of the dead. Or at least we should wait a decent interval before doing so (if we never spoke ill of the dead, history would be meaningless). But, I must say I find the media’s instinctive rush to sanctify Michael Jackson disgusting.
Look, I understand that Michael Jackson was an “icon.” I understand that some people loved his work and that many people who never met him believed they loved the man too.
But I didn’t, and I’m hardly alone.
Steve Clemons wins the Class Act Award (no surprise there). Under a photograph of the Thriller cover (in contrast, for example, to the photograph this cretin chose to put up), he has this brief notice:
I know this is not a political or foreign policy matter — but news has just broken that Michael Jackson has died of heart attack (according to current reports) at the age of 50.
No matter the controversies, I grew up on many of his songs.
Condolences also to the family, friends, and fans of the iconic Farah Fawcett who also died today from a two and a half year struggle with cancer.
If you are crazy for the Jackson 5, Joe. My. God. is a kindred.
One of my earliest childhood memories is my parents exchanging looks as the Jackson 5’s ABC played on the car radio and my dad saying, “Do you think he knows what he’s singing about?” And me, in the backseat, the same age as Michael, wondering, “Well, what IS he singing about?”
Check out the video collage below the quoted paragraph.
The Culture Monster blog at the Los Angeles Times reminds us that MJ inspired pop artists Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol.
Not a blog, but Time.com has a first-rate tribute to Jackson.
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