Written Analysis-Analysis 3

     American society’s reaction to Michael Jackson’s death in 2009 perfectly demonstrates the cult of celebrities. For many days after his death, all of the major television networks were flooded with news of his death and reminiscing his life’s achievements. It seemed that his death was more important than any political or world news.

     During the reminiscence of his life’s achievements, the networks overlooked many of the morally questionable details of his personal life. As an alleged child molester of ambiguous sexual identity, these details did not mesh with the Michael Jackson we came to know and love, the illustrious entertainer. Michael was undoubtedly popular, in the United States and all over the world. At his funeral, there were more than a million attendees. Hordes of gatherers have visited his former house and improvised monuments have been raised in his name at several sites.

     This type of worship of a celebrity, like Michael, extends far beyond talent for entertaining. The cult of celebrity may have allowed Jackson’s sexual and racial identity confusion to contribute, in some odd fashion, to his appeal to many who were looking for an idol and could identify with him. Michael’s many surgical reconstructions illustrate how he defied societal norms and the very laws of nature.

     In a culture that encourages its society to worship their celebrities more than their everyday heroes, it is really no surprise that Michael Jackson’s cult of celebrity reacted as cultists would. The media enables, and even promotes, this behavior through their creation and manipulation of popular culture. We as a society must really begin to analyze our personal values and realize that they have an effect on our culture. After all, this is the culture that we are teaching our children, the people who will replace us.