News from the New Party

The death of stars

This week an important artist, who triumphed over adversity to win deserved acclaim, sadly passed away.  Farrah Fawcett died of cancer at the age of 62.  Her part as one of Charlie's Angels in the popular 1970's TV show left her with a reputation as a world-class airhead which took much work to dispel.  Eventually she created a body of work which earned her three Emmy nominations and a considerable degree of respect.  She had the misfortune to die in the same week as Michael Jackson. 

Donald Douglas (or rather, Mrs Donald Douglas) comments:

R.I.P. Farrah Fawcett. You will not be forgotten. I was so sorry to hear that Farrah had lost her battle with cancer on the same day that Michael Jackson passed. She will be lost in the circus of "Michael Jackson." She was a true hero in her fight with cancer. So instead of hearing about her life we are only hearing of Michael Jackson. Don't get me wrong I loved Michael Jackson but really who was he at the end???

Who indeed?  Michael Jackson enjoyed (or endured) global fame from a very early age.  He is justifiably remembered for his remarkable achievements in popular music, especially in the early 1980s.  In later years, however, his reputation has suffered from bizarre and erratic behaviour, to such an extent that admiration, fear, pity, revulsion and derision have been directed at him in similar measure.  Much has been said in recent days about the magnitude of his cultural impact, and much of this comment is fair, but is the wall to wall media coverage really justifiable in the world in which we live?  Is the fate of Michael Jackson really of greater significance than the fate of, say, Iran?  A sense of perspective is called for, if only to grant Michael Jackson a little of the dignity that sadly eluded him in much of his later life.