Category Archives: Culture
On the basis of what the American national media has covered most intensely recently, one would think the most pressing concerns of our country were the Michael Jackson trial and a missing teenager in Aruba. A short while before that, the most important issue of the United States, from the media’s perspective, was a vegetative woman in Florida. And, back through time, the pattern continues of our major news outlets concentrating on and hyping up stories with little genuine importance. … Continue reading
Before the trial against Michael Jackson started, his prosecutors, with the aid of an eager media, promised the world damning evidence against the superstar. Finally, we were led to believe, the allegations that “Wacko Jacko” shopped for partners in the junior section would morph into facts. After the prosecution was done with him, the whole world would see him for the child molester he supposedly was, and he’d be going to jail for a very long time. Reality has developed … Continue reading
Michael Jackson has established himself as one of the most successful musical artists in history. His album Thriller—which won a record eight Grammies—remains the bestselling album of all–time, having sold over 51 million copies worldwide. Jackson’s enormously popular videos for “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller” eliminated MTV’s reluctance to broadcast videos from black artists. Also, TV Guide, BET, and MTV determined “Thriller” to be the best music video ever made. Jackson’s later albums also experienced phenomenal success. Bad, from … Continue reading
Whenever an idiot teen with anger control problems decides that shooting people in the proper way to express rage, politicians of all political stripes say violence in the media is the cause. After the March 22 school shooting in El Cajon, California, Attorney General John Ashcroft proclaimed that movies and video games foster an “ethic of violence” that results in juvenile killing. People always need convenient scapegoats to blame for society’s problems. The practice of deflecting responsibility is certainly nothing … Continue reading
