One of Us?

Michael Jackson was a freak before he was a freak – just one of the things I learned while watching the extras on the Freaks DVD tonight. Aside from some of his early Motown stuff, I’ve never been a MJ fan, but it’s impossible not to have the death of the King of Pop on the brain. So I looked over ye olde DVD shelf tonight to see if there was something related to his passing that I wanted to write about. Hmmm…what jumped to mind? In My Skin? Eyes Without a Face? Fiend Without a Face? Uhhh…

OK, clearly the first thing that springs to when I think about Michael Jackson is his “deviations” and not his pop stardom. Most of us think feel the same way, I’d venture to say, as the guy’s weirdness – physical, behavioural and, well, fashion-wise – overshadowed his music stardom long ago. “Wacko Jacko” was a self-made freak. So, the obvious choice was to re-watch Tod Browning’s 1932 film Freaks.

Browning, who is best know for making the original Bela Lugosi Dracula, destroyed his career with the film, which shocked and upset audiences and censors greatly at the time because of its use and portrayal of actual circus “freaks.” It tells the story of a traveling sideshow, in which one of the midgets, Hans (Harry Earles), is duped by a non-freak trapeze artist Cleo (Olga Baclanova), who marries him for his money, with the plan to poison him and take his inherited fortune. What makes the film so affecting and unmatched to this day is its use of actual circus freaks: a bearded lady, half-man (the renowned Johnny Eck), the pinheads, a human torso, conjoined twins, etc., etc., etc.

Browning paraded dozens of performers in front of the camera, both exploiting them and humanizing them, while telling a story full of uncomfortable ideas, perhaps best exemplified by the banquet scene where the freaks chant “One of us, one of us!” to Cleo – who has just married the child-sized man – while she looks on in horror.

The story behind the film is just as fascinating as the movie itself, and the disc includes a documentary that’s about as long as this short feature (just over an hour), called Freaks: The Sideshow Cinema. It includes interviews with several actual sideshow performers, historians and film expert David Skal, who has written several books and appeared on the extras of several DVDs of the genre classics variety.

One of the points made on the documentary is that “freak” isn’t necessarily a negative term. Indeed, one of the dictionary definitions of “freak” is “any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration.” It’s pointed out on the doc that this applies to not only someone with a physical deformity or abnormality, but anyone who stands out from the norm – for being exceptionally attractive, or even talented. Long before Michael Jackson altered his physical appearance, he was a freak of exceptional performing abilities. The sometimes used slang “freakishly talented” would certainly apply.

Skal mentions in The Sideshow Cinema that a self-styled freak is a “gaft-freak” (I’m not sure if this is the correct spelling; I was unable to find the term online – anyone know?). Of course, self-styled freaks, if you want to use the term, are everywhere these days, with tattoos, piercings, implants and other surgeries. As far as freakshows go, they’ve either morphed into counter-culture extravaganzas, such as The Jim Rose Circus and its brethren, or have pretty much died out, as the line between “freak” and “normal” is less clear than ever, and we live in a culture of increasing acceptance and political correctness.

Jackson, however, was the both the world’s most famous freak and one that managed to be truly disturbing, because he wasn’t trying to be a freak (seemingly) and his freakishness seemed to have a mental illness attached to it. I found that pictures of the guy were increasing uncomfortable to look at, as he’d whittled away his human features through what clearly some very irresponsible plastic surgery, and dressed in a way that dared you to sneak a peek at what was behind the scarf, hat and mirrored sunglasses. And, as I already mentioned, his behaviour – from the dangling babies, to the outrageous purchases, to the lifestyle (Neverland Ranch anyone?) to the child molestation allegations – only further removed his humanity, and made seem, if not freakish, downright monstrous.

For better and worse, Michael Jackson was truly a freak. Freaks, particularly the extras on the disc, illustrates the evolution of freaks and freakshows, offers food for thought on the meaning of the word, and made me realize that MJ – before he moonwalked off this mortal coil – was proof that the Freakshow simply got bigger, once it moved from the tent to the tabloid.

 

- Dave Alexander

Comments

Who gives a shit about this child molesting cockroach. Good riddance and let's hear no more about the freak that he was.

Hope to hell the rest of his family goes the same way

i have nothing bad to say about the king of pop!!, i think he is the hero to all people of color!!, for he come from people of slaves! i'am a person of first nations ! first nations & black people suffered alot!! slavery & residential schooling!? nobody can ever step in micheal shoes!!, no matter how many tried to beat him down!, he kept standing!! & trying!, he fought right from the beginning right to the end!!!, the wolrd was against him & he stood up with a smile!! ........... i want that kind of spirit!!! i will teach my kids that kind of spirit!!!, micheal will never ever be forgotten!! not in my life!! miss you so much !!, all we got is memories!!, thank you for making it great one's jackson's!!!

Whether you like it or not, Michael Jackson is one of the greatest men of the world. The definition of greatness may vary. But greatness also means how much impact and influence your persona have on ordinary people and how much they admire you based on what you do positively as a person.

blah blah bhalh

You nailed it.

MJ was and will always be the King of Pop!! Those of you who think they know him just by reading the news, media or even simply rumors should look at themselves first. There is only ONE JUDGE in this WORLD and we are not them. So shame on all of those who still criticize Michael Jackson when we should let him RIP. OH, by the way, about the so called child molestations, well if you watch the news EVERY DAY, you'll know that both those children who said those things about MJ, well today they BOTH RECANTED their stories and said that MJ didn't touch them!!!!!!!!!

Michael Jackson,

You were always my Number one FAN and I still mourn for your loss and can't believe it still. You will be definitely missed and I will always cherish all your CD's I have. You will continue to live on cause you truly are a KING. I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!!!!!!!!