Michael Jackson: A Modern-Day Mentor With a Child’s Heart

An article by S Walker Bryant

Michael Jackson’s immense love and attention toward children is a well-known fact. He had a childlike persona, and in his interviews he spoke freely about his belief that human beings should preserve their childlike innocence.

But what has not been discussed about this is that Jackson’s love for children and his ability to keep his inner child—was similar to the behavior of other geniuses of the modern era. His sense of humor and playful wit, his interest in children, his belief in God, and the fact that his God-given talent is a gift that should be shared among all people—these are the common points between him and geniuses such as Einstein, Picasso, and Stravinsky.

These unique individuals share a common trait in terms of creativity. Psychologist Howard Gardner, from Harvard University, gave this shared trait a specific name: “an alloy of childhood and maturity,” which covers all the behaviors of these geniuses, both in their personal lives and in their professional and creative work. In other words, all creative geniuses are a combination of a child and an adult.

Gardner says: “They may feel that this trait is an essential ‘must’ for their genius. They strive to preserve this alloy.”

For example, in 1984, Jackson spent a week alongside his actor friend “Jane Fonda” (Jane Fonda) and her father “Henry Fonda” (Henry Fonda) on the set of the film “On Golden Pond.” Fonda later, in a conversation with “Jay Cocks” from Time magazine, said:

“His genius is instinctive and emotional, like a child’s. If an artist loses their childlike spirit, they lose the creative essence. So Jackson builds a world around him to protect his creativity.”

“Gloria Rhoads Berlin,” who in 1988 introduced Michael to the purchase of the “Neverland Valley Ranch,” says:

“He saw Neverland as an opportunity to reach the childhood he had never experienced. He wanted this paradise to be for all the children of the world.”

Prince Elizabeth von Thurn und Taxis and her brother Prince Albert—both from the aristocratic Thurn und Taxis family in Germany—visited Neverland when they were children. They became acquainted with Jackson through their mother, Princess Gloria (Gloria), and met him.

Elizabeth Thurn und Taxis is one of the editors of the online magazine Finch’s Quarterly Review, which writes about top fashion, art, and the lives of aristocrats. In a new issue of this magazine, Elizabeth said:

“Michael had everything that a child’s heart longs for. We played for hours. He enjoyed playing with water guns and throwing water bags. He truly became a child. He didn’t care if his hair got wet or if his makeup got messed up. He enjoyed the game, and that was all that mattered. We were child enough to enjoy that children’s paradise, but we were grown enough to remember those moments and understand that it was an exceptional place.”

Being like children—when innocence and liveliness are present—is a good trait, but it becomes a bad one if selfishness and retaliatory behavior come into play.

For example, composer Stravinsky, although he loved the world of children, did not behave like a child. He fought with him for confrontation and humiliation of an enemy. Some of the songs on Jackson’s album “HIStory” are sharp verbal jabs aimed at the former Los Angeles County prosecutor Tom Sneddon, who attacked Neverland in 1993. Especially the song “D.S,” in which he sings: “D.S is a dead man.” Some say Sneddon had a blood feud against Jackson. The attack on Neverland took place after the father of a family who had been connected to Jackson accused him of abusing his 13-year-old son. Other songs on this album target the sensationalism of yellow journalism.

Retaliatory behavior can be another kind of “battle,” and this was a known trait of Einstein. It is said that he had a child’s mind capable of understanding deep concepts of physical science. Like other creators—including Jackson, who also studied the lives of scientists—he placed a child’s soul and mind at the center of his approach.

Einstein found satisfaction in childlike traits such as curiosity and fighting against convention. Jackson also believed in confronting society’s norms. Once, when he was asked in an interview how he came up with his ideas, he expressed boldness as a tool for unleashing his creativity.

Stravinsky used rhythms and harmonies that excited him like a child. Even Picasso the painter had a childlike personality. The fragmented images in his works indicate the traits of a child. He created his paintings using the simplest geometric shapes.

Like Einstein, Picasso was also mocked by the media, and his behavior was described by them as “childish.” Howard Gardner, in his book “Extraordinary Minds,” also introduced Gandhi as having a childlike personality.

Writer T.S. Eliot also had such a personality. He enjoyed playing with puzzles and wrote poems for children. Like Jackson, who in childhood was seen as an adult in a child’s body, Eliot conveyed an excellent understanding of the philosophy of life in his books.

According to what the painter David Norrdal says, Jackson saw himself as a father figure for the world’s children—a supportive and benevolent hero for them.

Dancer Martha Graham tried to stay young in her personal life and her work. (Her influence on dance is compared to Igor Stravinsky’s influence on music and Pablo Picasso’s influence on painting.) She used her body as an instrument. The language she designed for the body is close to a child’s creativity and imagination.

Another dancer, Teyla Tharp, also believed that the feeling of innocence and being a child forever is the essential essence of dance.

S Walker Bryant has worked in the advertising and business industry for more than 20 years and holds a master’s degree in journalism. She has also served as editor of a business magazine.

Source: eMJey.com / leisure.ezinemark