Core Response #3 (Mar 28th Reading) - KC Chow

Michael Jackson (LEFT), O.J. Simpson (RIGHT)

In her piece “Monster Metaphors: Notes on Michael Jackson’s Thriller,” author Kobena Mercer explores the many elements that contributed to Michael Jackson’s allure, success, and popularity – concentrating less so on his talent and rather his individual but still ambiguous image, particularly with his race and sexuality (305-308). In reading Mercer’s work, I realized just how much Jackson is the antithesis of another black celebrity O.J. Simpson.

Though Jackson was initially heavily associated with blackness when he came onto the music scene (having a voice “rooted in the Afro-American tradition of ‘soul’” and being a part of an all-black band in the Jackson 5), he is notorious for visually disassociating with this racial affiliation through undergoing a cosmetic transformation that resulted in him appearing white, something the media had a frenzy over and constructed a Peter Pan narrative with (305-306). Conversely, after he gained prominence as a football player, O.J. became not just a celebrity but a black celebrity. Though he is black and looks black, O.J. verbally denounced his status as a black man, saying: “I’m not black; I’m O.J.” He even discriminated against other black people living in his neighborhood of Brentwood.

Tilda Swinton during a 2016 Comic Con appearance (LEFT),
Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One in Doctor Strange (RIGHT)

In addition to being racially ambiguous (neither completely black or white), Jackson wasn’t considered entirely masculine or feminine as he would often don women’s clothes and makeup (307). Additionally, he didn’t often publicly discuss his romantic or sexual relationships, which male celebs can do to affirm their masculinity. Even in his music video for “Thriller,” he states “I’m not like other guys,” which many have perceived to refer to his nontraditional masculinity (316). I can’t think of another celebrity again, apart from Tilda Swinton, who could have such an encompassing undeterminable image. For me, Tilda is a less potent version of Michael’s image but still of a similar formula. Despite being female, she styles herself in masculine clothes and haircuts, giving off a very androgynous vibe. Though she hasn’t undergone any surgery like Michael had, she often even transcends racial identification, despite being distinctly pale white person. I remember watching a review of 2016’s Doctor Strange (which she appears in) and a reviewer calling her very “other.” In the superhero flick, she appeared as the Ancient One who was an Asian man in the original comics, which caused a lot of uproar. Even though I’m of Asian descent and don’t condone whitewashing of roles, Tilda is so “other” and “otherworldly” to me as well that I really didn’t have a problem with it. If (say for instance) they cast Anne Hathaway in the role, I would be upset.