Michael Jackson is perhaps the most elaborately self-styled pop star in U.S. History. From the beginning of Jackson's career which began in the mid-1960's as part of a troop called The Jackson Five until the present, Jackson has continually reinvented himself musically, spiritually, emotionally and physically. In the course of these multiple inventions, Jackson has existed as a child prodigy, sad clown, alien, megastar and of course, androgyne. Jackson's sexual ambivalency can be traced back to the earliest parts of his career where he styled himself as a veteran soul singer along the lines of Sam Cook even though he was only 6 years old. This adoption of various personae vastly different from his true inner self has been a constant throughout his life as he has woven in and out of various identities. His recent inventions involving extensive surgical alteration of his face are the ones which most highlight his androgyny. The extent of these alterations has not only erased many of the signs of his youthful appearance, but also his gender identity.
Michael Jackson
