Too many people disagree on
everything, however everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course there
are more against Manson than for him which is where extreme actions are taken
that are either ridicules or unconstitutional. When college students are fined
$250 plus court costs for simply wearing a Manson T-shirt, there are definitely
problems. (“Manson Shirt Wearer Fined”). This is a violation of the First
Amendment and has been labeled a form of religious persecution. The amount of
critics that Manson has is incredible, and society as a whole has been the major
instigator of the negative publicity Manson receives. In fact, a bill to shield
children from violent and sexual material in music, film, books and games was
shot down in Washington. (Dansby 55) These are some of the extreme measures
taken to try to shield the country from the unfortunate popularity of sex and
violence in American entertainment. It is this violence and sex, which has
helped promote Manson. This negative publicity is helping Manson however, as he
is being heard, and the more his is being heard, the more people he can reach
out to, no matter what negative connotation there is involved. “Recent attempts
by conservatives to ban his shows have made him the darling of the left wing and
a perfect example of the kind of controversy the First Amendment can bring
about.” (“Manson-Politically Correct?”). Now why is Manson under such heat? The
First Amendment does allow him the freedom to say and do what he wants to
provoke, but what exactly does he say? “I’m a controversial artist, one who
dares to have an opinion and bothers to create music and videos that challenge
people’s ideas in a world that is watered-down and hollow.” (Manson 56) Manson
has particular problems with the entertainment industry and the way society
reacts to the media. It was never more apparent with the Columbine shootings
last May. These are the criticisms that have caused the most controversy in
Manson’s saga. “I was dumbfounded as I watched the media snake right in, not
missing a teardrop interviewing the parents of dead children, televising the
funerals.” (Manson 57).
It is easy to criticize someone and put blame on them
because they seem like the easiest way out of a problem. Manson even postponed
his own concert because of the heat he was taking for the Columbine incident,
although there was absolutely no relevance between Manson’s viewpoints
influencing the two boys. (Eliscu 23). “Responsible journalists have reported
with less publicity that Harris and Klebold were not Marilyn Manson fans -- that
they even disliked my music.” (Manson 57). He also accuses the media of being
able to manipulate who and what influences the minds of the public. “They love
you when you’re on all the covers, when you’re not then they love another”
Manson sings in “The Dope Show” as a criticism of the entertainment business. It
can be compared to the coverage of the Clinton scandal, which although the media
had an obligation to televise, was also overdone, and left part of the American
public with a negative image of their leader. However, this does not stop Manson
from saying what he thinks, no matter how many people who may have problems with
him. “Whether you interpret the Bible as literature or as the final word of
whatever god may be, Christianity has given us an image of death and sexuality
that we have based our culture around. A half-naked dead man hangs in most homes
and around our necks, and we have just taken that for granted all our lives. Is
it a symbol of hope or hopelessness?” (Manson 57) These views are not accepted
because of his differences in religion and moral values compared to most of
America, which is predominantly of the Christian faith. No matter how strong of
a point Manson would make in his comments, there will always be a large
percentage of the population ready to disagree. If Manson were to say he loved
God, nobody would object, but because he has different views, and prides himself
of it, a majority of society looks down on him. Nevertheless, the nation also
gives anybody the right to say what he or she thinks, which is where the line is
drawn for interpreting the constitution. There are people who do accept his
views however. Foreigners who do not live under the same kind of society that
Americans do tend to have a more liberal view of Manson. “In America, the
attentions of the Moral Majority and the Fundamentalist Christian constituency
outraged by his professed Satanism and sex and drug-obsessed lyrical bent, have
ensured his status as Public Enemy Number one.” (Mille, Monitor Online).
