How long does mass-hysteria mourning last? The Michael Jackson example.
This is all anecdotal to our lives in Chicago, but today we are thinking about the mass-hysteria phenomena that afflict this country from time to time. Like the wave of imagined grief that swept the whole world, really, when Princess Diana died. Or the post-911 hyper patriotism that forbade any criticism of the government or President Bush for several years after the attacks on the Trade Center and Pentagon. Then, there’s the Hope! and Change! MSM-fueled hysteria that propelled Dr. Utopia into office (the expiration date on which we’re still waiting for).
After Michael Jackson died, there were all manner of tributes to him here in Chicago, from the ridiculous to the sublime. On the day he died, we remember walking home from work, on a gorgeous day, hearing Billie Jean and Beat It playing out open windows in every neighborhood we passed. People on their sun decks were doing the Thriller moves, spontaneously. One group of very talented high schoolers breaking out into an impromptu rendition of Man in the Mirror that literally stopped everyone in their tracks on an El platform, letting trains pass and deciding to wait for later rides because they didn’t want to leave before the song ended (they were seriously THAT good).
In Boystown, Jackson died a week before Pride, and all during Pridefest whenever a band played anywhere, they did covers of his old hits after the crowds shouted MJ! MJ! MJ! repeatedly. In bars, when VJs spun Jackson’s remixes, people would cheer, some would shout “King of Pop!” or “Long Live the King!”, and everyone would get giant smiles on their faces grooving to Billie Jean, in particular.
Notice how everyone choose to remember Jackson as he was up to 1983 or so. Jackson Five songs got people on their feet. Anything from the Thriller album was well-received…but people completely ignored the Jackson of the 90s and beyond.
Now, finally, they’re just ignoring Jackson period.
Last night, we were out in Boystown and for the first time people didn’t cheer when Billie Jean came on the screens at Roscoes. They just reacted to it the same way they used to, before Jackson died, the same way they react when Lady GaGa comes on, or Madonna, or Cyndi Lauper, or whomever. Just another song. No MJ! MJ! MJ! cheers. No King of Pop accolades. No special attention at all.
The mass-hysteria passed. People moved on. It took awhile, but whatever need people had to deify Jackson was filled, and now they’re on to something else.
In light of everything Jackson did in the 90s and 2000s, we say NOT SOON ENOUGH.
It’s interesting to see this all play out every now and again…some event triggers the MSM’s wall-to-wall coverage. The talking heads tell Americans how historic the moment is. People are oversaturated with tributes to someone who may or may not actually deserve them. And then the bottom falls out of it. The MSM moves to something else, the public forgets, and the whole thing starts up again with the next “historic event”.
We seem to get one or two of these “historic events” a year. And usually when the MSM wants to drive ratings, or has nothing else on the books to fill all that 24/7 cable air time.
Funny how that works.
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I am afraid it will be a while longer before it will end.And then it will still be around but only taper off.It will be on anniversaries,birthdays and such,just not every minute.And now we have to hear about Teddy 24/7.I just wish they would let these people rest in peace but they know a cash cow when they see one and have to strike while people’s emotions are raw.Michael Jackson will be just like Elvis and bring in more money now that he is gone.That’s the bottom line-money.
The sad thing is …. it never ends. I expect MJ painted on velvet, but it will be a bit disturbing to see Ted Kennedy.
How long before they make EMK Day? We already have MLK…??
How long has Elvis’ mania lasted? It has been non-stop since his death. My cousin has gone to Graceland 3 times and went on an “Elvis cruise” with other Elvis supporters. As long as people are willing to pay money for this kind of thing, there will be perpetual Elvis hysteria. Ditto Michael Jackson. As long as there is money to be made, there will be no end to it. Not ever.
I’ll say that once the healthcare mess is over, this Kennedy fest will end too.