Otherness and Power: Michael Jackson and His Media Critics

I have read a lot of books on Michael Jackson in the last 5 years! some have been good and others have been a money maker! I must say reading this book was awesome We all know the Michael that the media tried to brain wash us with! But this book is amazing a whole new look on Michael Jackson's life The real Michael that most of the world refused to know! Thank you for such a eye opener to what the media did to this man of pure LOVE and with the will of God tried to make a change for the better! If any one is looking for a great Christmas present to make it right for Michael Jackson then this is the book! I would love to buy it for all those people that don't know the true man " BEHIND THE MIRROR!"

This slim but important 2014 publication shines a spotlight on some of Michael Jackson’s harshest critics and reveals the depths to which some individuals, publishers and networks stooped to discredit his talent, his manhood, his generosity and his genius.For someone who is a fan, this can be a very difficult book to read in terms of its content. Susan Woodward looks at the assumptions and assertions of those who have been emphatic in their published negativity towards Jackson. This brings the sensitive reader into contact with examples of text that can be considered highly offensive.Woodward looks first at the words of music critic David Marsh, author of Trapped: Michael Jackson and the Crossover Dream published in 1985; then at journalist Maureen Orth and her “five lengthy articles about Michael Jackson for Vanity Fair magazine” published between the early 90s and 2000s; and finally, Mark Fisher, editor of The Resistible Demise of Michael Jackson published in 2009, and the various authors whose essays comprise that volume.From her examination of these works, Woodward reveals the frightening power of journalism to influence public consciousness despite, in some instances, a total absence of understanding of their subject, and in others, possessing preconceived notions of the artist that colour everything they write about him.Personally I have no time for professional writers who do not adequately research their articles and/or make no attempt to “walk a mile” in their subject’s shoes. Theirs is not even an attempt at balanced journalism. Admittedly, with the subject being Michael Jackson, there isn’t really anyone who could adequately assume to understand what it would be like to walk around in Jackson’s shoes for even the briefest period of time. But in most cases, they are not even prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt by attempting a less subjective approach to their subject.allthingsmichael2Woodward dissects their harshest statements and misconceptions and reveals how they highlight a failure of the critics to come to terms with Michael Jackson’s ‘otherness’ as well as his undoubted ‘power’ as a successful artist and internationally idolised celebrity.For students of Michael Jackson studies, this book is a valuable research tool with a very useful list of sources accessed by the author in forming her arguments.For the fans, Otherness and Power provides clearly thought-out responses to some of Jackson’s harshest critics – who, we must remember, managed to get their names noticed by ‘bullying’ someone in print because of his difference, his talent and his success.That way they could at least get their own slice of Jackson’s success.“Are you the ghost of jealousy?” MJ sings in Ghosts. For the majority of the folk discussed in Susan Woodward’s book, I’d have to say the answer is “yes”.Review by Kerry HenniganAugust 2017

This book really gets to the root of why so many parts of White Supremacist Western Society (Media, Hollywood, Law Enforcement, etc) have all joined forces since the 1980s to try to slay the power of Michael Jackson. They tried once and for all with the thoroughly debunked and failed Leaving Neverland. As they have repeatedly done before, they failed miserably again. Michael Jackson is more powerful now after being dead for 10 years than he has ever been, but the question everyone should be asking is why do they persist, even when it repeatedly reveals their own LACK of power while they simultaneously reinforce and prove MJ's power? A book should be researched and written about that intriguing mystery.

An excellent book! Highly recommend this book to everyone. If you think you've "understood" Michael's place in this world, what he represented etc., you MUST read this! It's unlike any other book out there and truly is an eye-opener.I'm most grateful to Susan Woodward for writing it. It's my hope that intelligent, well-written and thought provoking writing such as this, will become the "norm" when referencing Michael, and no longer will "tabloid fodder" be given a place at the table.It is my prayer that it will be widely read and discussed, again and again.Thank you. 🌻*I chose not to summarize the book when writing my review. I wanted the focus to shine on the fact, that this book is DIFFERENT. It offers readers a wonderful opportunity to remove the restrictive lens through which we were forced to view Michael, during his lifetime and even now. On a personal note, I count myself among the millions that cared very much for MJ. WE need no convincing of anything, yet I also believe we must always strive to bring the truth forward, allow it to reach every last eye and ear.

It's a brilliant work. Thoughtful, knowledgeable and adding to the conversation about the cultural phenomenon of MJ. If you liked "M Poetica" by Willa Stillwater and Joe Vogel's articles, this one is a must read.The author focuses on three books/authors who most notably criticized Jackson's persona: Dave Marsh ("Trapped: Michael Jackson and The Crossover Dream"), Maureen Orth (her articles for "Vanity Fair") and Mark Fisher ("The Resistible Demise of Michael Jackson") and shows how perception of Jackson's power and otherness caused bias and negative reaction in these authors' works. It helps if you are familiar with the works criticized (if you are into academic studies of MJ, like me, you probably are), but if not, Woodward provides enough context to understand the authors' position before she analyzes it.This is the knowledge of the subject and the depth of the analysis I was hoping to find in books like Fisher's, but unfortunately didn't. I'm glad such works are beginning to appear. I also hope Marsh, Orth and Fisher take the time to read it and experience for once what it's like to be on the other end of (in this case, deserved) criticism.