This theme of a sissy triumphing over the violence of the street through fabulous performance comes up again in “Bad.”
In the Martin Scorsese-directed video, we meet Michael as a scholarship student going home to the ghetto from prep school to have his manhood challenged by the old gang. Here, his victory comes by channeling Tim Curry’s Frankenfurter from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, bumping, grinding and shimmyshammying his fey way around the deserted subway station where his former friends had taken him to mug people. By the climax, when Michael spits, hisses and snarls out an extended a cappella rhythm breakdown, the girly boy has metamorphosed into a tigress, a queen of the jungle, whose prowess blows the pedestrian power of the street urchins’ fists and blades out of the water.
It seems natural to me that my preteen self was exhilarated by these anthems of sissy power. What astounds me is how mainstream America bought into it. Much was said at Michael Jackson’s memorial about how he broke down barriers, making the world “a better place.”
Indeed, not only did he shatter many glass ceilings for blacks, Michael Jackson made many young gays see the possibility of acceptance and success for and as who they are.
9. July 2009 at 12:18 pm
Amazing that most of this never occurred to me. Would have loved to hear how “Remember the Time” fits into this theory. He was “with” a girl, but he was also a wizard or, perhaps, a faerie of some kind. I loved that video and despite the awkward kiss with Iman (again, the moment where we all winced at how improbably the coupling played on screen) I thought his BADness was kept intact. But wow… He was totally a queer icon. I always think of Prince as my queer icon, but Michael was really the first. Great piece, Ben. And I like the article too. Ha!
11. July 2009 at 2:47 am
I just wish people would leave MJ alone. Let the the man RIP please. His children is going threw enough they don’t need anyone putting down there father.
6. December 2009 at 9:15 am
New Old Gay,
As a huge Michael Jackson fan, I really enjoyed this essay. I certainly noted all the aspects of his videos that you mentioned, but somehow I never quite saw it that way (accidental queer icon). Your description of the “Bad” video was particularly beautiful.
Thank you so much! Keep up the good work.
– Tim Obialo