Profile Playlist

Worldwide Phenomenon

In the Making                                

A Playlist Profile of Michael Jackson by Jessica Stadham

An inspirational leader was he, the one and only Michael Jackson. Michael was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He was one of nine children. His dad was musically gifted and pushed Michael into the music industry. Michael became a part of the Jackson 5, which consisted of him and his brothers. This group became extremely popular in the 1960s. Joseph Jackson, Michael’s father, believed in his talent so much that some say it was too much. While in the Jackson 5 group, Michael continued to succeed and acquire great amounts of public attention. A certain company in particular called Motown record label was impressed by the Jackson 5 and decided to pursue their future career. The Jackson 5’s first single, I Want You Back, created immense success leading them into the number 1 chart on the billboards. When Michael turned 13 years of age, he began his solo career along with still continuing to work with the Jackson 5. In 1975, controversy was amongst the Jackson 5 and the Motown record label eventually making them go their separate ways. Later on, calling them the Jacksons, signed to Epic Records and again with positive feedback, continued to produce songs. Michael Jackson’s second album Thriller, achieved massive success. This album sparked a new sound in the pop industry thus giving him the name “King of Pop.” He later on produced more albums that people all over the world could relate to and enjoy. His journey to the top and the enormous amount of success along the way inspired other aspiring artists to become what they are today. His connection to people through his music inspired many to reach their goals and aspirations in life. He was considered a popular topic in the pop industry. Michael gave a new meaning to the word pop and later down the road new coming artists wanted to be just like him. His ability to lead by inspiring was a quality he exceeded.

Track #1: It’s My Life Jovi, Bon. “It’s My Life.”Crush. Island Records, 2000.

This song exemplifies the “live life to the fullest” kind of characteristic Michael possessed. An example of his self-contentment was, “He perfected a sound that consisted of the transracial base that was his musical heritage punctuated by carefully wielded hyperracial sounds.”(Roberts) One of the factors that attributed to his success was confidence in who he was as an artist and a human being. Like any celebrity, they are given the chance to be and live the way they please. In Michael’s circumstance, he produced music with the best ability he could and in return, life was what he made it to be. The lyrics that applied the most to Michael’s life story were, “It’s my life and it’s now or never I ain’t gonna live forever I just wanna live while I’m alive.” For the most part he lived by this understanding, which allowed him to set high goals and have victorious outcome. He is and will always be known as the king of pop.

 Track #2: You Get What You Give New Radicals. “You Get What You Give.”Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too. MCA Records, 1998.

This song emphasizes Michael Jackson’s tenacity for constantly living out his dreams. He is considered to be a die-heart dreamer. Like many musical artists, music was his passion in life. For example, he obtained his goal in producing music that represented him by always having a dream, “His music, however, suggests the potential for racial transcendence in the realm of popular culture as it crisscrosses through various radicalized genres.”(Roberts)  He continued to produce and perform songs until he passed away. This dedication is one of the many inspirational qualities Michael possessed. The lyrics, “If you feel your dreams are dying hold tight,” stresses the fact that even though life has its downs, if you keep your dreams and goals tight that will be all the motivation you’ll need. I believe this song represents Michaels love for creating music and never ignoring what your purpose in life is. In this case Jackson’s was to create music that spoke the truth.

Track #3: Man in the Mirror Jackson, Michael. “Man in the Mirror.”Bad. Epic Records, 1987.

The song Man in the Mirror portrays Michael the best. Michael’s career took place in a time where race was more of an issue than it was today. During his transracial period, Michael went from being black to white, thus shocking many people into confusion. This song highlights this time in his life when he wanted to make known that race is nothing but a color. His change in appearance demonstrated fearlessness in projecting a message out to the public that race doesn’t hinder someone’s ability or talent. This song emphasizes the thought that people should look in the mirror and change instead of blaming others. Michael incorporated his message into his life and displayed his thoughts on race not affecting a person’s abilities. “Ultimately, however, while Jackson pointed the way to moving past rigid musico-racial categories, the manner in which he incorporated these sounds inadvertently made it difficult for this space to be genuinely realized.” (Roberts)

Track #4: Music of My Heart N Sync. “Music of My Heart.”Music of My Heart Movie Soundtrack. Miramax, 1999.

Growing up Michael Jackson, along with his brothers were pushed into the music industry by their father. This song reveals an inspiration. In this case, these lyrics relate Michael to his inspiration and foundation from the start of his career. This song displays a sense of nurturing. The lyrics “You’ll never know what you’ve done for me, what your faith in me has done for my soul,” represents Michael’s appreciation for the object or person that has been his rock through his career. “The litany of statistics never seems to grow less staggering: Thriller as the largest selling album in the history of the recording industry, Guinness World Records recognition as the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time” (“Bio”).”(Roberts) Michael’s inspiration carried him throughout his career which also enabled him to obtain a plethora of success as a pop artist.  This song is about reflecting on someone or something that acts as a foundation in your life that constantly encourages you to keep aiming for your goals. Whether it was his fans, family, or friends that was his rock throughout his career, his inspiration played a huge role in his success.

Track #5: Dare You to Move Switchfoot. “Dare You to Move.”Learning to Breathe. ReThink Records, 2000.

A well-known incident that occurred in Michael Jackson’s lifetime not only hurt his image but hurt his career as well. In 1993, Michael was accused of child molestation against a young boy. This accusation caused speculation in the public and also changed what people thought about him. At the beginning of the song there is a sense of anticipation. This is a similar situation to Michael’s accusation because at that time everybody was wondering if it was true or not and what he was going to do about it. Michael Jackson’s ability to appeal to the public his innocence, allowed him to, in conclusion, become innocent at the trials, “Over the course of two trials, Jackson became highly accomplished at employing his childlike innocence and vulnerability as a primary bulwark of his defense, at least in the court of public opinion.”(Nyong’o)Then the song provokes the listeners to forget about the past and move forward with their lives. This is something that Michael did. His ability to overcome this worldwide scandal illustrates the bravery he had. This characteristic was also an inspiration to many people.

Track #6: World Five For Fighting. “World.” Two Lights. Aware/Columbia Records, 2006.

This song entails the act of someone taking the lead on making a difference which is exactly what Michael Jackson did. As his career progressed, Michael was earning his title as the king of pop. Many fans and aspiring singers looked up to him as inspiration. Michael put a whole new perspective on the meaning of pop. He led many vocal artists to stardom by having such leadership qualities. His leadership qualities involved being an inspiration to many. This song states, “What kind of world do you want.” Michael had a positive vision of his world and began to provide the world with the knowledge to make it happen. For example, one of his songs, Man in the Mirror, expressed his wishes for this world.

Track #7: Bad Jackson Michael. “Bad.”Bad. Epic/CBS Records, 1987.

Many of Michael’s songs reveal stories that people can relate to. His music video to the song Bad, signifies the hardship of someone who has alliances with both races and is forced to live up to a set of expectations. Many people around the time this video was released had the same issues. “His 1987 video Bad, directed by Martin Scorsese, depicts this discomfort with the pressure to conform to one set of expectations by explicitly disavowing another.” (Arnold) Jackson’s notable ability to express such powerful messages through his music made him a great role model. Michael’s way of connecting to people through his music was another reason why he was such a great leader and inspiration. Despite Michael’s ups and downs throughout his career, producing relatable music was never an issue.

Track #8: The Generous Mr. Lovewell Mercyme. “The Generous Mr. Lovewell.”The Generous Mr.Lovewell. INO Records, 2010.

Giving to charities was always one of Michael’s passions in life. “Although the Jackson family wound up profiting from it (Michael donated his profits to charity.)”(Arnold) This song portrays a man who loves to be generous and encourages the people in this world to do the same. He wanted to make the world a safer and more loving environment and who else had the capability to give more than him? Many people admired his kind and generous heart to various organizations around the world. In a sense, Michael began a spark in an attempt to make the world a better place by aiding numerous charities globally. This characteristic of generosity gave additional reasoning as to why Michael was such a courageous leader. Even up to the point of his death, Michael Jackson never stopped trying to change the world for better.

8tracks.com Paragraph

This playlist for my profile playlist contains eight tracks that represent different aspects of Michael Jackson’s life and career. The tracks each relate back to the dominant impression of Michael Jackson being an inspiration both in the music industry and to many people worldwide. The playlist includes: It’s my life by Bon Jovi, You Get What You Give by New Radicals, Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson, Music of my Heart by N Sync, Dare you to Move by Switchfoot, World by Five for Fighting, Bad by Michael Jackson, and The Generous Mr. Lovewell by Mercyme. I put my tracks on 8tracks.com.

Arnold, Regina. “Profit without Honor: Michael Jackson in and out of America, 1983–2009.” Journal of

            Popular Music Studies. Wiley-Blackwell. 2011. Wiley Online Library. 4 Sept. 2012 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1533-1598.2010.01265.x/full.

Arnold highlights the difference between a live performance and a televisual one. A key factor in Michael’s career was his ability to succeed in creating both a live and televised performance so well built his image as the king of pop. The article then begins to involve other artists in other music industries that include racial differences. Arnold concludes with the statement that performing in America and also being an African-American, such as Michael Jackson is a dangerous endeavor given the historical past on black people.

Image Citation: Gunion/Redferns, John. “Finger Pointing Up.” Photograph. United Kingdom. 25 June                                                                           

            2010. Web. 6 September 2012. http://mistavybeworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/MJ-dangerous-tour.jpg

Nyong’o, Tavia. “Have You Seen His Childhood? Song, Screen, and the Queer Culture of the Child in

            Michael Jackson's Music.” Journal of Popular Music Studies. Wiley-Blackwell. 2011. Wiley Online Library. 4 Sept. 2012 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1533-1598.2010.01263.x/full.

At the beginning of the article Nyong’o elaborates on the fans’ expressions when they are in the presence of Michael Jackson. She then starts to discuss the known incident with the boy who claimed Michael was acting inappropriate with. This becomes public to the world thus hurting his career and reputation. She also debates Jackson’s intentions and morals with questioning. Many are indifferent about Michael to this day because of the public display on his life and peoples nature of judging one another. Nyong’o briefly discusses Michael’s childhood and his rise to stardom. Finally Nyong’o depicts Michael’s songs by tying in his difficult childhood while analyzing his tracks. 

Roberts, Tamara. “Michael Jackson's Kingdom: Music, Race, and the Sound of the Mainstream.” Wiley  

            Online Library. Wiley-Blackwell. 2011. Journal of Popular Music Studies. 4 Sept. 2012. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1533-1598.2010.01262.x/full.

            Roberts portrays Michael Jackson to be a multi-talented inspirational legend. It is pretty obvious that she is biased towards him. Further in the article Roberts talks about Michael’s hyper/transracial way of being and the effect it had on many people. This mind-set Michael had was used in his music and influenced many others around the world to eliminate the stereotype of diverse races. Roberts’s article expresses the major discomfort Michael had with racial violence and other racial issues. He personally exemplified what it’s like to be a hyper/transracial person through his drastic exterior appearance from being black to white. In conclusion, Roberts left off stating that Michael inspired and resonated within many pop artists today.

                                                                          

Cover Letter

For my revisions, I started with reading over my entire playlist to find grammatical mistakes and correcting them as I see fit. I incorporated quotes from my articles that I researched into the individual track summaries. I added some various sentences that I felt were needed in some spaces to give more support to what I was trying to get across to the audience. My feedback from Kayla Spreeman was useful in some places. I don’t believe that my songs were in too jumbled of an order so I left them be. I tried to have smoother transitions into my summaries and before the quotes. I added in-text citations to my tracks and gave the profile playlist more body by adding more helpful sentences. I didn’t feel like I needed to do some heavy duty revising to my first draft but I did feel like some minor tweaking was in order. All in all I felt like I did a decent job in revising my profile playlist.

Feminist lens, Things Fall Apart.....yep..

Feminist lens, Things Fall Apart

When I read “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, I felt that it was mainly about the men and women played no significant role. I was not surprised by this since this was about an African society and they tend to be very patriarchal. Since I have chosen to write with the feminist lens, my theme will be as follows. Although most of the female characters in this book play a minor role which reflects the patriarchal historical Nigerian society, the story of Ekwefi portrays a more feminist literary perspective.

I will explain how most of the characters in the book are stereotypical Nigerian women: wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, but their characters remain undeveloped. They cook foo-foo, bring palm wine to their husbands, bear numerous children and are considered property to be bargained for at marriage time. This is comparable to literature to the 1970’s when “Women were sex maniacs, goddesses of beauty, mindless entities, or old spinsters. (? 174). The Nigerian men have multiple wives which also downplays their significance. I will then contrast this to the story of Ekwefi, who is the only female character with any depth. As we follow her into the woods the night that she follows the priestess who takes her daughter on a journey to another village before she takes her to the cave to see the deity, we are given a glimpse of Ekwefi’s character. I believe it’s significant that the child in this story is female, the priestess is female and the character of Okwonko, who is the only male, is secondary in this particular section. Finally, I will explore the idea of mother. Although it appears from the stereotypical characterization at the beginning that the motherhood has little significance, at the end of the book, there is a section that discusses motherhood in a different light.

Thoughts about Postman's article

While reading Neil Postman’s from Technocracy to Technopoly, I was reminded of how in Brave New World, traditional ideals were not followed. This article allowed me to grasp a better understanding of what technocracy and technopoly really meant. The way that tradition is vaporized and forgotten is very similar in Brave New World and Neil Postman’s article. When John asks about Shakespeare, the Headmaster in the school responds with indignation:  “Our library,” said Dr. Gaffney, “contains only books of reference. If our young people need distraction, they can get it at the feelies. We don’t encourage them to indulge in any solitary amusements.” This illustrates the disconnect between literature (tradition) and the life of the average citizen in New London.

In order to understand the technopoly of Brave New World, or of the United States, for that matter, it is easier to look at the technocracy of the past in the United States. A technocracy is “society only loosely controlled by social custom and religious tradition and driven by the impulse to invent” (Postman 41). We were first a tool-developing nation. Then we invented machines and slowly people took a backseat to machines and became inferior to those machines. With each passing decade, machines took front stage and people became a means to an end. We became consumers and mass producers at the expense of the individual.

Fredrick Winslow Taylor contributed to this discussion. Postman talks about him as being the originator of scientific management. Taylor’s philosophy was that machines were more important than people. His philosophy was eventually being put into use with armed forces, legal professions, home, church, and education. Taylor’s philosophy can be summed up in this quote: “The goal of human labor and thought is efficiency; that technical calculation is in all respects superior to human judgment; that in fact human judgment cannot be trusted, because it is plagued by laxity, ambiguity, and unnecessary complexity; that subjectivity is an obstacle to clear thinking; that what cannot be measured either does not exist or is of no value; and that the affairs of citizens are best guided and conducted by experts.” While many people do not remember Taylor specifically, his works have led generations of reform in the twenty-first century.

A technolopoly is a “totalitarian technocracy” (Postman 48). In a technopoly, tradition is replaced, not by making it illegal or immoral, but making it obsolete or ”by redefining what we mean by religion, by art, by family, by politics, by history, by truth, by intelligence, so that our definitions fit its new requirements” (Postman 48). If we follow this line of thinking further, we would eventually find ourselves in the world of Singularity and lose the very essence of humanity.

Intelligence vs. Consciousness

While reading this article, I thought about what intelligence and consciousness really mean. Think about it, can somebody be intelligent and not have consciousness, or visa versa? There are so many factors that play into my opinion, one of them being my religious beliefs. In Brave New World, Bernard is one of the few Alphas that seem to be aware of consciousness and the possibility of having an authentic existence. In the article, the author discusses Kurzweil’s belief that computers will eventually become superintelligent—intelligence plus consciousness. However, in my opinion, computers are not capable of having consciousness.

Consciousness is what separates us from animals. Even the most intelligent animal does not exhibit the ability to make as sophisticated judgments as the average human toddler. Human consciousness means “to be aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts and surroundings, to learn from the past and experiences of others and be able to plan for the future.” (Hornor)

Bernard exhibits consciousness despite all the hynopaedic repetitions from his childhood. Hemholtz Watson, likewise, develops awareness that appears unique to Alphas. Bernard tells Lenina when they visit the sea that he wants to be unique. He wants to be something that is not part of something else. In stating this, he is showing that he has consciousness. “As though I were more me, if you see what I mean. More on my own, not so completely a part of something else. Not just a cell in the social body” (Huxley, 90). Therefore in Brave New World, intelligence and consciousness are linked.

Grossman states that technology is growing at a rapid pace. Studies have found that "technological progress happens exponentially, not linearly” (Grosssman). He states, in summarizing Kurzweil and other Singularitarians, that eventually artificial intelligence will eventually create superintelligent computers that will develop consciousness.

 “All that horsepower could be put in the service of emulating whatever it is our brains are doing when they create consciousness — not just doing arithmetic very quickly or composing piano music but also driving cars, writing books, making ethical decisions, appreciating fancy paintings, making witty observations at cocktail parties.”

The concepts of consciousness and intelligence are fundamental to my beliefs as an Evangelical Christian. I believe that God made man in His “image,” forming man from the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life; and man became “a living being.” (Genesis: 1:26) In my opinion, God is the ultimate creator, therefore technology can never become conscious because God did not intend for computers to be more than machines. God is the author of human consciousness and intelligence.

I believe that humans are the only species that has consciousness. Perhaps by 2045 we will have superintelligent computers. Technology is growing at a fast pace; but no matter how intelligent it might get, it will never reach full ‘human’ consciousness.

References: Brave New World, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2048299,00.html, and http://www.ucgstpaul.org/vcm/vol02/iss07/ai.htm