Mourning Mighty Men: Funerals for Icons
Over the past few years, the world has lost many talented musicians and artists: Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, and most recently, Prince.
In June, 2009, Michael Jackson died and his funeral was televised for the world to see. His career was memorialized with television shows reenacting his life, covers of his songs by famous artists, and blasts of posts on every social media platform mourning his loss.
In January, 2016, David Bowie also passed away and many thousands of people payed tribute to the late singer/songwriter/actor/creative ambassador. Although his funeral was not televised for the world to share their grief, there was a memorial concert where his songs were covered by many talented artists for the world to enjoy and remember him by.
And the most recent loss of the music industry is Prince who died April 21st, 2016. His musical genius has yet to be televised formally in a TV special but social media has erupted in pictures, concert clips, and images of the late talent. As more details come forth about the funeral arrangements, the world will be eagerly waiting for their cue to watch and remember Prince.
It is an odd thing to think about, a televised funeral for famous people. What would I have to do in my lifetime to achieve this status? Would I have to be a millionaire, a celebrity, change lives, or all of the above?
Media events, such as the funerals and media presences noted above, are strange to conceptualize. Media events are affairs that exist for purpose of media publicity — and they are not strictly events such as funerals, but also weddings, coronations, etc.
Another element to be tied into these legends is that they showed the world there is no correct way to be a man. Prince and David Bowie were famous because of their avant-garde style and unapologetic presence that came with their fluid fashion. They challenged the hegemonic ideology of stereotypical masculinity and in no way prescribed to the mainstream standards of manly men.
Hegemonic ideologies are those beliefs that are affirmed in a society or culture where few people can change/challenge those ideas. These men did just that. They challenged tradition thoughts on masculinity and brought androgyny and femininity to the public view.
Not only did David Bowie and Prince reimagine what it means to be a man in the 20th and 21st centuries but their music and charisma resonated with millions.
The musical legends the world has lost are commemorated in the media to bring together millions of people of whom their music and their messages have touched.
“Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people.” -Prince
