A panel on Michael’s art at the University of Chicago

The Center for Black Music Research (CBMR), based at the largest arts school in the United States, Columbia College in Chicago, has arranged a major event to discuss the art and music of Michael Jackson. The conference will be held from September 23 to 25.

The title of this conference is “Limitless Genius: Michael Jackson,” and during it, students, music critics, and Michael’s collaborators and acquaintances will analyze and discuss the art, life, and contemporary era of the King of Pop. Attendance at these sessions is free and open to the public.

Monica Hairston, director of the studies department, said in response to why this event is being held:

“I realized that right after his death, people turned to praising and honoring him from a non-critical perspective—which, in my opinion, was truly wonderful. But now, months after that, we are ready to look at his legacy with a critical eye and understand the artistic process and that genius that worked hand in hand to create a legend.”

Last year, a conference about the music of Ray Charles Robinson was held and included live performances of his music. But at the critical music conference on Michael, his songs will not be played. Hairston explains the reason for this:

“Many artists have recreated Ray Charles’s music in a fusion style, and the audience is willing to listen to them. But people want to hear Michael Jackson’s songs the way they were created. They are unique artistic, auditory pieces based on studio tools. And I don’t think people want to hear them without those studio sounds. Maybe over time that taste will change, but for now, it’s like this.”

Source: eMJey / chicagotribune.com