ABSTRACT
Michael Jackson’s renaissance (occasioned by his death at age 50) is the most encouraging event to happen in pop culture over the last quarter century. All summer long now, every where you go, Jackson’s music rises from car speakers, P.A. systems, spills out of strangers’ headphones. It’s a better day when “Pretty Young Thing” compliments the sunshine or contradicts a rainstorm. And yet, the haters persist: after reining-in its cynicism in response to the public’s grief and surge of interest in MJ’s music, the media vultures are going back to their trash-talk and calumny. But popular affection for Jackson continues; resistance to media fiat is proof of democratic good will in action.
