UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN Being a Michael Jackson Pilgrim: dedicated to a never-ending journey S2054620 9/15/2015 Fardo Ine Eringa Master thesis Religion and the Public Domain, Faculty of Religious Studies First supervisor: dr. Mathilde van Dijk Second supervisor: dr. Kristin McGee “Heal the world Make it a better place For you and for me And the entire human race There are people dying If you care enough for the living Make a better place For you and for me.” ‘Heal The World’, Michael Jackson (1991) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research has been made possible through invaluable input and support by several individuals. I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have guided me through the writing process of this thesis. First of all, I would like to thank Mathilde van Dijk, who has supported and motivated me both with her broad knowledge in the field of pilgrimage research and with her enthusiasm. During the writing process dr. Van Dijk helped me to structure my study and supported me with extensive feedback. I very much enjoyed our collaboration and it is our personal meetings and dr. Van Dijk’s thorough feedback that have made this study to the best possible outcome. I would also like to thank Kristin McGee, who has been a wonderful second supervisor and has provided me with helpful information in the field of popular culture. Moreover, dr. McGee has provided me with valid feedback both regarding the content of my study and my English. Furthermore, I would like to thank my family for the many brainstorm sessions and their assistance through personal feedback and support during the finalizing of this research. Last but not least, I would like to thank the Michael Jackson pilgrims who have contributed to this study. By participating to this research, these women have dared to make themselves vulnerable. I very much appreciate their willingness to open up to me and I find their personal stories truly inspiring. Through their accounts, these pilgrims have given me an insight in what it means to be a Michael Jackson pilgrim. Fardo Ine Eringa Student MA Religion and the Public Domain Being a Michael Jackson pilgrim: dedicated to a never-ending journey Table of Contents I Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Michael Jackson ......................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 ‘Michaeling’ as a religious experience? ..................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Methodology and research tradition ......................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Defining religion ......................................................................................................................................... 8 1.5 A working-definition of religion ............................................................................................................... 10 1.6 Secularization, Post-secularization and New Spiritualities ...................................................................... 10 1.7 Religion and popular culture.................................................................................................................... 12 1.8 From hyper-real religion to implicit religion ............................................................................................ 13 1.9 Celebrity worship as implicit religion? ..................................................................................................... 14 1.10 Reflection and preface to the next chapter ........................................................................................... 16 II Michael Jackson Pilgrimage in Context ....................................................................................................17 2.1 Michael Jackson pilgrimage in context .................................................................................................... 17 2.2 The phenomenon of pilgrimage............................................................................................................... 17 2.3 The Turners .............................................................................................................................................. 18 2.4 The cult of the saints ................................................................................................................................ 21 2.5 Creating the sacred .................................................................................................................................. 23 2.6 Contemporary Christian pilgrimage ......................................................................................................... 25 2.7 ‘Secular pilgrimage’ .................................................................................................................................. 28 2.8 Celebrity pilgrimage ................................................................................................................................. 31 2.9 Reflection and preface to the next chapter ............................................................................................. 33 III Virtual Soldiers of Love: the way Michael Jackson fans take action ....................................................34 3.1 Online behavior........................................................................................................................................ 34 3.2 The Internet and religion ......................................................................................................................... 34 3.3 Virtual pilgrimage ..................................................................................................................................... 37 3.4 Michael Jackson fans: an army of love .................................................................................................... 39 3.5 ‘Michael-iconography’ ............................................................................................................................. 41 3.6 Facebook and Michael Jackson ................................................................................................................ 42 3.7 Michael Jackson and the iconography of saints, gods and angels ........................................................... 43 3.8 Michael Jackson as an inspiration for artists ........................................................................................... 48 3.9 A Prayer for Michael ................................................................................................................................ 50 3.10 Virtual candles ....................................................................................................................................... 53 1 Being a Michael Jackson pilgrim: dedicated to a never-ending journey 3.11 Make that change: fan-based charitable and environmental efforts .................................................... 53 3.12 Motivated by Michael ............................................................................................................................ 56 3.13 Reflection and preface to the next chapter ........................................................................................... 57 IV Being a Michael Jackson Pilgrim ............................................................................................................58 4.1 The experience of Michael Jackson pilgrims ............................................................................................ 58 4.2 ‘Michaeling’.............................................................................................................................................. 58 4.3 The Michael Jackson memorial in Munich ............................................................................................... 59 4.3.1 A memorial for two: the cultural landscape of the memorial in Munich ............................... 60 4.3.2 Ein Denkmal für Michael: the mission of MJ’s LEGACY .......................................................... 60 4.3.3 Personal visit to the memorial in Munich ............................................................................... 62 4.3.4 Description of the Michael Jackson memorial ........................................................................ 62 4.3.5 Visitors of the memorial ......................................................................................................... 66 4.3.6 A conversation with Nena Snezana ........................................................................................ 68 4.4 Being a Michael Jackson pilgrim: an analysis of eleven pilgrim experiences ........................................... 70 4.5 Accountability for data-collection............................................................................................................ 70 4.6 An analysis of eleven pilgrim experiences ............................................................................................... 71 4.6.1 Motivation for becoming a fan/pilgrim (1) ............................................................................. 72 4.6.2 Experience of pilgrimage(s) (2) ............................................................................................... 73 4.6.3 Influence of Michael Jackson on