welt.de
German Premiere of "Michael Jackson: A Life on Stage" Focuses on Artistic Achievements
The German premiere of "Michael Jackson: A Life on Stage" portrays Jackson's career from the Jackson 5 to his "Dangerous" world tour, highlighting his artistic achievements while acknowledging personal struggles, but excluding later abuse allegations.
- How does the musical integrate different elements, such as music, acting, staging, and narrative, to create its overall impact?
- The production blends English songs with German dialogue, highlighting the artistic side of Jackson while acknowledging his struggles with addiction, perfectionism, and his difficult relationship with his father. The use of a versatile stage and costumes faithfully recreating Jackson's style enhances the immersive experience, creating a dynamic portrayal of his career.
- What is the central focus of the "Michael Jackson: A Life on Stage" musical, and what specific aspects of his life and career are emphasized?
- The musical "Michael Jackson: A Life on Stage" premiered in Germany, portraying Jackson's journey from the Jackson 5 to his "Dangerous" tour, showcasing his iconic hits like "Thriller" and "Bad" with original choreography. The show uses three actors to portray Jackson at different ages, incorporating scenes from his life through flashbacks during an MTV-style interview.
- What are the potential implications and criticisms of the show's decision to exclude certain aspects of Michael Jackson's life, and how might this affect audience reception and critical assessments?
- The show's decision to omit the later abuse allegations, focusing instead on the artistic achievements, sparks debate about the separation of art from the artist. This selective narrative raises questions about how audiences will reconcile Jackson's legacy given the controversial aspects not included in the production, impacting how his artistic contributions are perceived.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The review frames the musical overwhelmingly positively, emphasizing the production's high-quality aspects (costumes, choreography, acting) and highlighting positive aspects of Jackson's career. While acknowledging his struggles, the review minimizes their weight compared to his artistic accomplishments. The headline (if there was one) likely also contributes to the overall positive framing.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and descriptive, though the frequent use of superlatives ("atemberaubenden Choreographien," "überragend gut") leans toward a positive assessment. There is no explicitly loaded language, but the overall tone is overwhelmingly positive.
Bias by Omission
The review omits mention of the child sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson, stating that these accusations emerged after the Dangerous tour. This omission is significant because these allegations are a major part of Jackson's legacy and public perception. The justification offered by Stage Entertainment—that a moral evaluation is left to the audience—does not address the potential for this omission to create a misleadingly positive portrayal of Jackson.
False Dichotomy
The review presents a somewhat false dichotomy by focusing heavily on Jackson's artistic achievements while acknowledging his personal struggles only superficially. This framing risks presenting a simplistic view of a complex figure, neglecting the intertwining of his personal life and artistic output.