Marilyn Manson
Yes. It’s true. I call myself a lover of god, a lover of mother earth, a father of two, and a lover of marilyn manson. (who is your favorite musician?) He is, hands down, my favorite musical artist. I don’t feel the need to justify this love of his (this group’s) music. I think he has a fun, phenomenal sound with powerful lyrics. His albums are always emotionally charged and I’ve probably cried along with him on several of them. They have helped me through several struggles over the years. But what is interesting that many don’t see is the irony behind his hate of god. If you listen to his lyrics, 90% are about his heartache. his sadness. his depravity. In the midst of these albums and in the midst of him telling everyone that he is a worm….he has religious people from all over the country/world that express their hate of him… of their disgust of him…and how they just want him to go….away. That’s the irony. When someone is on the side of the road almost dying…internally bleeding the good samaratin picks him up and saves him. He doesn’t picket him, tell him he’s going to hell. He doesn’t preach at him. He doesn’t make him feel even lower.
I heard an interview with marilyn manson once where he was asked what he would say to the kids at columbine (here’s the video although it cut out his response). If you remember he was the one that was blamed because the kids that did the shootings listened to his music. His response was that he would say nothing to them. He listen and give them a chance to speak their pain, if they chose.
He is the champion to the deformed, malnourished souls that need a voice. In a world that prides itself on beauty he offers a chance to stand up and not care about your shamed X. There are those who cannot afford hope. There are those who don’t see the way out or are mistreated and abused. For these, Manson provides a means to speak and, more importantly, to feel.
The song Coma white re-enacts the kennedy assasination. In a statement released by his publicist, Manson said the video used the Kennedy assassination “as a metaphor for America’s obsession and worship of violence. “My statement was always intended to make people think of how they view and sometimes participate in these events.” Further, the video, “is in no way a mockery. In fact, it is a tribute to men like Jesus Christ and JFK who have died at the hands of mankind’s unquenchable thirst for violence.”
Yo, great post…
Musically, the guy is sick (sick as in “good”).
It is terribly disheartening to me that there are so many people who choose to spew hate at a guy who is so willingly transparent about the state of his soul.
-Having said that, I wonder if his work is too accessible to those whose age prevents them from truly understanding the meaning of the lyrics?
-Having said THAT, on what premise should we restrict a person’s ability to create?
-Having said THAT, shouldn’t there be limits?
-Having said THAT, are Christians justified in attempting to legislate “Christian values” to those who don’t believe as they do?
You know what is also disheartening matches? SOME of the same people who would crusade against the mere existence of Marilyn Manson probably know every lyric to every Toby Keith song ever written. It is ironic how Manson is burned at the stake for singing about his own angst and misery, but Keith is given a free pass when making backhanded comments about–and passing judgment on–entire people groups.
Well said!
I have never been a fan of Manson myself but I can respect his honesty. You are absolutely right about how we picket the wounded on the side of the road instead of picking them up and helping them.
I feel like in the past couple years my eyes have really been opened to what Christianity has become in America today. It is a dim shadow of the Kingdom that Jesus came to establish, and it does more to hurt and repel people than help and attract.
Todd, there are a lot of things that I don’t let my kids see or hear but I don’t believe in censorship either. “Christians” today are too concerned about making the culture comfortable for themselves and their children at the expense of those that are wounded. Why do we think that we have to stand up for our rights? Why not rather be wronged? Why not be like the one who when he was reviled did not revile in return? (btw, this rant isn’t directed at you Todd, but the Christian sub-culture. I know you were just asking some good questions)
sure sure. yeah yeah. i know there is a deeper message and there is meaning, and condemnation or no need for it or blah, blah, blah, but am i the only one who gets teary eyed looking at his eyes? i mean, doesn’t it hurt to put in contact lenses? it hurts to look at them. ow!
I don’t like Marilyn Manson. Don’t hate him at all. Just don’t prefer his music. And there is something that I find confusing and sad at the same time about him. I completely approve of baring one’s soul and being honest about how much of “worm” you may be. But Manson seems to almost celebrate this side of himself. I don’t see him offering any hope that there is anything better.
I grew up being taught by the church that I was so-called “worm.” And I think it is crap. God created me and somebody else is responsible for scarring me with evil. I had nothing to do with it. All I have to do is deal with it. God isn’t holding me responsible for that. I am not a worm. God created me and said it was good. I may be broken, but I am not a worm. I think this is what Manson fails to see.
thanks for the thoughts and opinions.
todd: I’m not big on censorship. This is true. But yet I had a hard time when my daughter learned of the torture of christ and I fail to read her the true bits of pieces of certain stories containing death. So am I ‘not big’ on censorship in word only? maybe.
i think creating should be limited only in it’s ill treatment of the human soul. and even that is subject. i struggle with creativity when it’s not driven from the true self (driven by money, greed, or irresponsible hate) and even that is subject. your points are good/hard/somewhat impossible to know. but not struggling with it is not the answer.
free:
I think manson makes a mockery of the state of his soul. “i joined the crowd that wants to see me dead. right now I feel I belong for the first time” I think feeling like a worm must be looked at face to face. ignoring it only makes it worse. acknowledging in gives you a starting place..and where does one go with it? you can mock it, you can love it, you can run from it, you can fight it. Most of us love it and thrive in it or are unaware of it (both lead to addictions). Running doesn’t work, it only lands you in the wrong places celebrating an absence of soul (as well as addiction). Yes. He celebrates it. And mocks it. I guess after a while pretending it doesn’t exist leads to a bigger tumor. I don’t think he’s right, but I don’t think there is a right when it comes to depression. It just is. And for me and many (i believe) singing about it somehow absolves it of it’s power.
I understand your point. It doesn’t do any good to run from our broken parts. I have heard Dr. Phil (you can’t help but hear the guy since he is all over the place, and he does on occasion have something really good to say) say that you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge. An obvious point. If depression or wormness is going to be dealt with, it has to be acknowledged, maybe even celebrated.
Good comments on this one—you always choose a good topic, Matches.
I like Manson—I don’t love him—but I like him. I appreciate the fact that he speaks out against hypocritical establishment. He calls himself a performer and is frank about his shows being entertainment. Visually, I find him disturbing and this intrigues me. I’ve “You-Tube’d” him plenty of times–just to catch banned videos (or versions) if nothing else. I think he’s original and pretty damn sharp.
Would I want to be in a room, alone, with the band? I’ll have to think about that one…I just remember seeing his Anti-Christ Superstar documentary and….wow. Maybe I’ll just stick to LISTENING to the music.