The Light and Shadow of Giftedness Seen Through the Movie Michael: The Resolve Required to Raise a Genius
I recently watched the biographical film Michael , which is currently in theaters. Starring Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, the film is truly captivating. Without relying on CGI or composite shots, Jaafar has perfectly mastered the moonwalk, the spins, and even Michael’s unique mannerisms. Watching his overwhelming performance, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of "giftedness" running through their bloodline. However, when I watched it with members of GIERI (Gifted International Educational Research Institute), mostly in their 30s, their reviews were surprisingly divided. The reason lies in the narrative structure. The film concludes around the late 1980s during the "Bad World Tour" (when Michael was about 30), tracing back from his early childhood in the 1960s with the Jackson 5. For our members in their 30s, their primary image of Michael is heavily associated with the controversies and allegations that surfaced from the 1990s onward. They were expe...