Gender Trouble and Celebrity: MJ

A few years ago, I became fascinated with the spectacle of MJ. I don't need to spell out his name and add to the spectacle, you know who I mean. This was before the trial and after his downward spiral. Things were clearly falling apart, literally.

I developed this morbid curiosity in the devouring of the man's face at his own hands. I studied him. Wondered what possessed him. How could someone who had achieved such heights of stardom, celebrity, power and attention have developed such bizarre coping skills?

Upon his untimely death, it has not escaped me that indeed, MJ presented as highly genderqueer. Androgynous. A multiplicity of gender. Coincidentally or not, a continuum of race. People constantly speculated: "He went from a Black man, to a White woman." WTF?

Out of all the puzzles left behind, this feminization of his appearance and the unsettling conclusions drawn: "He's homosexual. Asexual. A pedophile. A pervert. Low life" need attention.

From early photos we can see the slow revealing of feminine accoutrements and presentation. There is the slight stature. Delicate poses. Makeup. More makeup. Excessive makeup. Lipstick. Blush. More lipstick. Long hair. Fake lashes, eye liner. Yes, MJ was not the only rock star to play with his femininity. Take a look through the '70s and '80s especially and you will have a hard time defining certain performers by their gender.

The difference with MJ, was the fact that while he was changing his appearance and face especially, he was countering these changes with upping his masculine quotient. A stronger jawline. More pronounced cleft. Stubble. Seemingly at odds with the aforementioned softening of features.

The duality of the man was apparent. Had it not been for a lack of breast implants and sturdy chin, he most certainly would pass for a woman. He played with his gender, openly, even if he did not know it (or perhaps, acknowledge it openly). Now, the question is, how were these changes perceived by the public at large? Of course, there have been mixed responses. Cruel jokes and comments have repeatedly been made. Documentaries on his freakishness and supposed antics, some of which were provocative, others fabricated for industry, abound.

I would argue that aside from the lightening of his skin which I don't wish to debate - but, has given the audience licence to speculate he hated himself and his race - his growing expression of femininity was a main source of ridicule, explicit or not. People say it all went downhill with the Bad video. While at once it was palatable to the White masses to have a softer, soulful Black artist crooning without fear of daughters, girlfriends, and wives fleeing for his overpowering manliness - what once was a ticket in to racial power - backfired. It was okay to be soft and neutered, but to be outright feminine, well that's just fucked. What a freak.

Needless to say, MJ was not the first and won't be the last to play with his gender. And arguably, perceptions of his race are equally if not more powerful in manipulating his demise. However, I do think it's worthy of attention, when one plays with their gender outside the rules, particularly a black man with mega money, celebrity and power, to witness the license with which this man has been and continues to be openly degraded.

RIP, MJ.