NOTE: Before I begin, I must say a few things. I originally wrote this report for my Politics and Mass Media class at my college. Since music is one aspect of mass media, I decided to center my paper around the politics of Marilyn Manson, the political response he has gotten, and the band's reaction to it. I definately do support Marilyn Manson for what they have done, I hope that my paper does reflect that. Also, if you want to comment on it, or see something that needs to be corrected., please e-mail me. Also e-mail me if you want permission to use any of its contents. It is open for public distribution, just as long as the copyright at the end stays is included, the Works Cited is included, and it would be nice if you gave me a link on your site. Still, if you do want to use it, please let me know. Now, I'm getting down off of my soap box, and read on! NEW ADDITION!!!: I am now including an editorial I wrote for my college's newspaper that I think that you all should read it. It's right after the report.
Rock music has always been thought to be a tool of the Devil. Bands like Black Sabbath and KISS have all caused parents and politician a like agony about how to deal with them and their supposed effects of impressionable children and teenagers. In recent years a new "menace" with a different twist has entered the world of music, and that band in Marilyn Manson. In some ways, the band is very political, like in their stage performances, and the response that the band has gotten is also extremely political.
Marilyn Manson's political stance is to bring and end to the "fascist Christian morality" in America. This mentality is present in just about all things Marilyn Manson. First, here is an example of a typical Marilyn Manson concert during their Dead To The World Tour during 1996-1997. Manson himself would come out and the band would perform a few songs. Perhaps during one of them, Manson would wipe his behind with an American flag while the crowd would go absolutely wild. Later during the performance and specifically during the sond "Antichrist Superstar, " Manson would stand on a high podium in front of banners decorated with the familiar red shock/arrow logo inside a circle. The whole scene is somewhat of a mockery of a political rally, which has often been accused of being similar to a Nazi rally, with the shock symbol analogous to the swastika.
Marilyn Manson has also released some political-esque t-shirts. One t-shirt has what appears to be an American flag withe shock symbol where the stars are supposed to be. The back has the words "American by birth. Antichrist by choice." Another design features Manson on the back wearing an American flag as a skirt, giving the finger with a tongue-in-cheek expression on his face.
Way back in the fall of 1994, Marilyn Manson released a document that could be thought of as a mission statement for the band of sorts. Here are just some of the political snippets for this document, entitled "Welcome to the Marilyn Manson Family. Reality Transmission M1.":
We are America's sh*t, and they should be ashamed of what they have eaten. Fortunalely, you have received this in time to escape the enroaching HOLOCAUST of the fascist christian (sic) morality . . . . I ams the all-american (sic) ANTI-christ . .
If you haven't yet realized that CHRISTIAN AMERICA's good-guy badges, pseudo-morality and selective judgement decides FOR us what's "right" and what's "wrong" according to what benefits them. (e.g. Don't spend your money on that, it's evil! Give it to jesUS (sic) ). . . . . $alvation1 F*CKING A-men.
Right now as a Family, as an Army we are a limited minority. LAWS bind us. But it is important to remember: the law is only what is popular. Not what's right or wrong. Marilyn Manson rejects the conventional morality and society's self-serving standards.
These are just some of the philosophies of the band, political and religious. Most of the previous ideas are the backbone of the band's message, especially during their earlier days.
Among the releases of Marilyn Manson, Antichrist Superstar would have to be the most political in my opinion. Still, most of their lyrics are not really politcal, and if they were interpreted that way, the religious aspects of the musics would have to be considered. Two songs on the album, "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" and "1996" seem to be the most politcal that the band has ever released. Here are just some examples of the lyrics:
I am so all-American, I'd sell you suicide/I am so totalitarian, I've got abortions in my eyes. ("Irresponsible Hate Anthem")
Anti-choice/anti-girl/I am the ant-flag unfurled./Anti-white and anti-man/I got the anti-future plan. ("1996")
In most cases, it is really difficult to analyze the politics, if any, in Marilyn Manson's lyrics, but there is more to the group than just its lyrics. Other aspects of the band that have been examined show that there is a political charge in Marilyn Manson, which has integrated their controversial religious stance and give their overall political structure.
Now on to the controversy itself, which is ten time more political than the band. Marilyn Manson has managed to anger politicians and parents all over America, or the world for that matter. No Manson concert is without the zealous protesters carrying signs, handing out pamphlets, and holding candlelight vigils. They have been banned from playing in Salt Lake City, Nevada, and in April 1997 Marilyn Manson became the first band to be banned from playing in an entire state.
The United States Senate had a sub-committee hearing in November 1997 about the effects of musical lyrics on children. "My [15-year-old] son was listening to Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar on the stereo when he died . . . the lyrics of "The Reflecting God" on that CD read as an unequivocally direct inducement to take one's own life, " stated Raymond Kurtz of Burlington, N.D., who is one person who testified at the hearings (D'Agostino 5) Here is what some politicians had to say about Marilyn Manson:
From what I learned of the content of their lyrics and message as well as their conduct on stage, [Marilyn Manson] are clearly bent on degrading women, religion, decency, while promoting satanic worship, child abuse and drug use. There people are peddling garbage. It's further proof that society's moral values continue to crumble- Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma
This is perhaps the sickest group to ever bee promoted by a mainstream company.- Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut (Manson 262)
Lobbying groups such as the Christian Coalition, American Family Association (AFA), the Parent's Music Resource Council (PMRC), and even People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have all declared their hatred of the band. All of these groups have misquoted Marilyn Manson, or even have downright lied about them. The AFA is especiall notorious for this. They has even managed to produce false, signed affidavits filled with lies. Some of the supposed allegations include drug distribution in the concert crowds, the holding of a satanic black mass, the rape of all of the women at the concert, and the mutilation of kittens and puppies at shows are just some of the ridiculous accusations made against Marilyn Manson byt the AFA. The band does not do any of these things. All of this propaganda has been posted on the AFA's website. (Manson 254)
As mentioned earlier, almost all of Marilyn Manson's concerts are met with opposition. Concerned groups write protest letters to concert promotors and and mayors of towns when they hear the Manson caravan is coming town. Once again, they have been banned in Salt Lake City, where they were offerd $10,000 not to perform (Manson 171), and the entire state of South Carolina also offered them money not to play. They are now banned from playing in South Carolina. Though, the protests are strong against the band's message, the band is usually allowed to play. Marilyn Manson has even taken concert venues to court because they were not going to be allowed to play there. The New Jersey Sports Exhibition Company (NJSE) wanted to take Marilyn Manson off of the bill when the OzzFest would be at Giant Stadium in June of 1997. Marilyn Manson took NJSE to court and won on the basis of free speech. That constitutional right has been their primary weapon in their battle against protesters and censors (Manson 266).
There has even been global political outlash against Marilyn Manson. During this past summer's Big Day Out festival in Australia, protesters were there in full force. In 1994, Marilyn Manson first release, Portrait of an American Family, was under an attempt to be banned in the United Kingdom by Parliament. MP John Blackburn described the album as "an outrage against society" and as "disgraceful." (Marshall 1)
Now, what does Marilyn Manson think of all of this? They don't seem to mind it one bit, except when an over-zealous protester decides to call in a bomb threat. To them, it is free publicity. As long as they are making headlines and getting on the evening news, people will hear about them. Of course the band is not going to tone their act to appease those who hate them! And why should they have to?
And how do they react to the outrageous accusations made against them? Usually, it just amuses them and adds to the pile of weird rumors that circulates about the band. Sometimes, a protester or politician just gets under their skin. Here's the reaction Marilyn Manson himself had to the politcians of South Carolina in a statement that he planned to make on MTV:
Once again, the so-called servants of God have proven my point with their hypocritical and hostile behavior. And once again they have illustrated their lack of separation of church and state and their disgusting similarities to Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, everyone suffers: We suffer, our fans suffer, they constitution of the U.S.A. suffers, and the pious right-wing politicians of South Carolina suffer because everyone now sees them for the fascist idiots they are. What do expect from a state that still flies the Confederate flag? You want a revolution? You'll get it! (Manson 263)
Time and time again, Marilyn Manson has been accused of being satanic. Manson himself is an ordained Reverend in the Church of Satan (CoS). The title was given to him by CoS founder Anton LaVey, but Manson does not consider himself a Satanist, and neither does any other member of the band. Some of the lyrics and artwork of the band do cause some people to question them. It's all in the interpretation.
The issue of drugs is an interesting one. Most members of the band admit to being blatant drug users, with cocaine as their drug of choice. In onc accusation, Marilyn Manson was said to distribute drugs amongst their concert audiences. The band's reaction: why would they do that if they could keep them all for themselves?
Some activist groups also have a problem with the t-shirts the band sells. The one shirt that has cause some controversy is on that supposedly says "KILL GOD, KILL YOUR MOM & DAD, KILL YOURSELF." The shirt actually say, "Warning: The music of Marilyn Manson may contain messages that will KILL GOD in your impressionable teenage minds. As a result, you could be convinced to KILL YOUR MOM & DAD and eventually in a hopeless act of suicidal rock 'n' roll behavior, you will KILL YOURSELF. So please burn your record while there is still hope." (Manson 259) The shirt is an reaction to the apparent suicides of teenagers who listen to Marilyn Manson. Manson himself has said over and over that if a person kills themselves over a song, that's one less stupid person in the world.
Marilyn Manson is just one example of rock's battle with the media. It is nothing new. Even pop stars like Madonna have angered parents and politicians. Marilyn Manson also does not mind getting so-called "bad press." If people hear about you, they might become curious, buy a CD, and gow to a concert just to see what it's all about. Still Marilyn Manson is amazing. There has never, ever been anything like them. As opposed to other shock rock acts in the past, everybody knew it was fake. One can't be sure with Marilyn Manson. Maybe that's why people are have such a diffcult time dealing with them.
WORKS CITED
D'Agostino, Joseph. "Satanic Band Ignites Movement to Rate Rock Concerts." Human Events 19 Dec. 1997: 5.
Manson, Marilyn. Antichrist Superstar. With Marilyn Manson, Twiggy Ramirez, Madonna Wayne Gacy, Ginger Fish, Zim Zum, and Daisy Berkowitz. Nothing/Interscope, INDT-90086 10, 1996.
Marilyn Manson-- Dead to the World. Videotape. With Marilyn Manson, et. al. Nothing, 1998.
Manson, Marilyn with Neil Strauss. The Long Hard Road Out of Hell. New York: HarperCollins, 1998.
Manson, Marilyn. "Welcome to the Marilyn Manson Family. Reality Transmission M1." Marilyn Manson's Misery Machine. 1996 Marshall, Terry. "Marilyn Manson Hits Nerve in the U.K.: MP Wants It Banned." Daily Insider 12 Sept. 1995: 1.
Copywrite: 1999 Jennifer Gottlieb, A.K.A. Dogma
This editorial orginally appeared on Thursday, April 29, 1999 in La Vie Collegienne, a weekly, student run newspaper at Lebanon Valley College. I wrote this editorial in reponse to the media speculation around the causes of the Colorado school shooting. Note: THIS IS AN EDITORIAL CRITICIZING THE MEDIA AND IN NO WAY IS MAKING FUN OF OR DOWNPLAYING THIS TRAGEDY. The same disclaimer from above stays in contact. If you want to use any part of it, e-mail me and the copywright stays intact. Got it?
1. Supposedly, the boys were into goth culture: Just because you wear a black trench coat, wear black clothing, and black is your favorite color, doesn't make you one of those people who look like Brandon Lee in The Crow, even though they are usually very cool people and there is nothing wrong with they way they dress.
2. They like the Internet and playing violent video games: Truthfully, most of the things on the Internet are not corrupting, but there are some tasteless sites out there. I like the Internet. I use the Internet on a regular basis. Supposedly, these kids liked to play around on AOL. As for the video games, sure, some are violent. There is a copy of the game Doom hanging around under my bed somewhere. I also like my shoot'em up/robot/spaceship game. I don't have violent urges to kill somebody. In my opinion, Pokemon is a far more corrupting game.
3. The music's to blame!!!! The music's to blame!!!: Oh my, everybody who has a Marilyn Manson or KMFDM Cd should have a file with the FBI. If this was a legitimate basis for judging a violent offender, Alcatraz should be reopened just for me. Seriously, music doesn't really make someone act violently. Maybe some of KMFDM lyrics were on the trench coat mafia's website. I could go into a long dissertation about KFMDM, but as a Cliff's Notes version, they don't advocate violence and they are possibly the most sarcastic band on the planet.
4. They like guns.: Oh, please, I say my eyes are rolling in the back of my head, is this going to add more fuel to the fire in protest of the Second Amendment?
As for myself, I wear black clothing, identify with some parts of goth culture, like video games and the Internet, enthusiastically listen to Marilyn Manson and KMFDM until my ears bleed, and dig guns. Funny, I am not going around to my classes waving a rifle around, wearing all the black I own, while carrying around a boombox blasting the words "The Beautiful People, the Beautiful People . . ", and the proceeding to kill everyone in my class, and, as a grand finale, sticking the gun in my mouth and ending my life.
According to the speculation by the mass media, these are all the reasons that contributed to the shootings. It goes much deeper than these superficial scapegoats. Has anyone questioned the homelives of these boys? Did they have mental problems or hang out with some sketchy indivuduals? Why didn't the parents notice the big pile of bombs in their sons' bedroom? Or even question the fact that this whole incident was a long time in the making?!
The mass media needs to think before it gives us information. Some things are usually easy to blame, and it makes the real causes almost untouchable. The media should've waited until they (here's a novel concept) knew the truth, and if the real reason is never found, it should be left that way. My deepest sympathies go out to all this situation has affected.
Copywright 1999 by Jenn Gottlieb, aka Dogma/Vicious Dumpling
Here are some developments that some of the questions I raised:
1. One of the boys was taking an anti-depressant medication called Luvox.
2. About two weeks later, other questions were explored. FINALLY!!!
Yeah, yeah, . . . . . . I know that we're all sick and tired of hearing about the horrible school shootings in Littleton, Colorado, but I do have something to day. The media was giving possible reasons behind the gunmen's motives. For the most part, these reasons were taken to be truth. This infuriates me beyond all insanity. Maybe it's not that bad, but it still angers me.
