Marilyn Manson The Man Behind the Make Up
Manson: The Man Behind The Make-Up To some, he is a symbol of the apocalyptic end to our rational, domesticated, society, a representative of Satan and all that is tainted and wicked. He saunters onto stages wearing gothic make-up and jaw-dropping ensembles, often engineered so as to allow genital exposure. ... These vivid displays obscenity ignite a fire in many critics like Pastor Joe Schimmel, who claims in outrage that, “Marliyn Manson’s music represents the worst in music. ... Beyond the seemingly disgusting externalities that lead Schimmel and others like him to believe that Manson merely promotes a corrupt depiction of humanity, their lies a man whose mental capacity has been overlooked. Marilyn Manson’s condemners have dubbed him the Anti-Christ, claiming that his music encourages violent behavior, satanic worship, and pure evil, yet this conclusion has spawned from their failure to interpret the logic behind his message and personal beliefs. Manson’s brilliance and unique perspective on human manipulation in regards to organized religion is too often masked by his rough exterior, disturbing physical appearance, and the heavy metal instrumentation that distracts critics from the true meaning of his lyrics, and more importantly, his existence in the music industry. Marilyn Manson, originally Brian Warner, experienced a normal childhood and adolescence in Canton, Ohio. Occasional unsettling encounters such as the discovery of his grandfather’s collection of used dildos and bestiality magazines, only enhanced in the repulsive department by the fact that Manson still recalls witnessing his grandfather masturbating, disrupted his ordinary life. Manson blames his desire to rebel against his traditional lifestyle on the influences of Heritage Christian School, the facility responsible for providing his education until he moved to Fort Lauderdale in the tenth grade. While Manson opponents assume that his bitterness towards the Christian faith surfaced due to some sort of self-centered desire to attract attention and raise a ruckus, in actuality, it began because Manson felt deceived and disillusioned by the values authority figures instilled him. ... In sixth grade Manson recalled, “My teachers explained [the apocalypse] not as if it was an opinion open to interpretation, but as if it were an undeniable fact ordained by the Bible… Sometimes [Bible instructor Ms. ... ’ When no one answered, she’d lay into Catholics…lecturing us about how they misinterpreted the Bible and were worshipping false idols” (Manson 19). This initial exposure to and first impression of organized religion established the foundation from which Marilyn Manson, caked in misunderstood controversy, would eventually emerge. Before we can fairly say whether we agree or disagree with Marilyn Manson as a musician, as a person, as a public enemy, as a nonconformist, or as whatever other label we feel should be attached to his name, we must dissect the sheer genius behind the character he has created in himself.