L.J. Thanks for your thoughtful, and brave, post. (I'll attempt to match your bravery here. LOL)
Folks, this is a discussion board, and people have a right to their opinions within the parameters of respect and common sense (and board rules). It is ok to have an opinion. It is not ok to bash people if their opinions are different from yours. Doing that just creates strife and negativity and is about as useful as arguing about politics or religion at a cocktail party. Within the aforementioned parameters, people DO have a right to express themselves.
In terms of the photos. . . .. I'm all for personal expression/expression of self. I also agree with L.J.'s "funny farm" remark, only I'd couch it more in terms of "a few fries short of a happy meal. " It would be great if we were all free (from abuse and criticism) to express ourselves. With that said, there are certain cultural norms that make for smooth functioning of human interactions. I would not wear shorts in an Italian cathedral, for example. Lots of Americans (and some others) do just that. I would not wear army boots to a wedding. And so on. Paradoxically, I would like to be free to do so, and I would still choose not to.
MIchael gets a lot of abuse from the press. His fans catch abuse, too, from those things that he does that seem. . . unusual. It's not right, but it does happen, at this moment in cultural evolution. He does not like being called "a few fries short of a happy meal." His choices are, to understand and conform to a minimal parameter of what is usually accepted, or not. If not, sadly, there will be abuse. Such abuse is NOT right, but it is reality. One must pick one's battles. If one's personal expression in clothing is really, really important to one's identity, then go for it.
It's a complex situation, but his choice of attire IS "problematizing." What we have here is a middle-aged, immensely talented rock-star who has basically been shredded by media for decades. This must be painful. Also what we have here is a middle-aged, immensely talented rock-star who chose to go out in an outfit that is not from his own culture, and in mainstream, American culture, looks very much like a dress. That's ok. But, on top of that (literally) is a fedora, a very male-associated item. This fedora is paired with a lacy woman's scarf, although Michael has not shaved and is sporting stubble. OK? This might, just possibly, have flown without the zorro mask, but. . . . . .seriously? I mean . . . . . . . really?
Personally, my vote would be for him not to have gone out that way, because the negative outweighs the positive in terms of media reaction, and this particular battle is simply not worth it.
This is my opinion, and I respect the opinions of others even if different from mine.
Victoria
