ON MICHAEL JACKSON

This strange essay conveys an art critic's meanderings on the artist as racial victim, creative genius, and misunderstood cultural icon. Reader Andrea Johnson remains as detached as the author, who offers arty chapter and verse of Jackson's career--from bizarre childhood through his increasingly bizarre metamorphosis as an adult. Johnson softly delivers Jackson's every costume change and dance move. The dreamy vocalization and attempt to deal with Jackson and his peccadilloes as mere movements in a long life of artistic and personal passion serve only to confuse listeners. ON MICHAEL JACKSON is exposé, apology, hero worship, and damning litany--one more piece of speculative prose, delicately delivered, serving an enigmatic media personality. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 06]