ok kiddies...marilyn manson is one of the most controversial artists of our generation, no? he has pissed off more people than, well...he's pissed off a lot of people. let's just leave the numbers at that. however, the man has a gorgeous voice, and his lyrics are as well written as any poetry you are liable to find floating around an editor's in box. his philosophies, while not very popular in many (ok most) circles, are eloquently stated, and he actually is trying to tell you something with his art. he isn't up there ranting about this "bitch" or whatever it is that the angry young people seem to be ranting about at any given moment. he believes in certain things and has the talent to express them to the world. now, i will be the first to admit that i think our friend marilyn has done and said a few things just for the pure shock value of it. with his position, who could resist? but that doesn't make the rest of his work any less in value.
ok...so why is this in rants, you ask? i'm getting to that. not too long ago in the land of hollywood there was a thing called the grammys, and at this award show in said land, a young whiteboy by the name of marshall mathers, aka eminem, was embroiled in quite a battle about his possible performance. the reason for the battle? our little whiteboy marshall is a raging homophobe. he is bar none the most outspoken gay bashing artist, at least in the recent group of fools running about with cds. several organizations dedicated to keeping the gay community safe and lovely attacked the idea that he should be able to play at these awards. i agreed with them. free speech is a large concern, but in times when young men are beaten and tied to fences to die and set aflame atop tire piles, that sort of speech isn't free. it costs the gay community in personal ways. therefore, many of us opposed it. now, to our shock and disbelief, melissa etheridge has said that she supports him on the grounds of free speech, AND not only that, but elton john, the high prince of our little enclave, performed onstage with the little bastard. i thought it was an incredible statement for elton, though if i am correct in its true message, i do not know.
what does this have to do with marilyn manson? groups and individuals in massive numbers stepped up to the plate to defend said whiteboy, but when the national media blames marilyn manson music for the columbine high shootings, who stepped up? no one. when he is banned for "satanic" and "disturbing" lyrics, who steps up? no one. marilyn is a veritable pariah to many people. parents freak out at their children when the cd even comes close to their precious baby's ears. xians of all shapes and sizes have apoplectic fits over his lyrics. no one steps up to the plate for marilyn. no one that is quoted, visible, or noted anyway. the fans are arming for war everytime he is attacked, but damned if we are not ignored. marilyn, in a grand show of general coolness, just seems to absorb these attacks and gain power from them. he has survived thus far, and i doubt he will disappear anytime soon. he brushes the idiots off like flies, but still it plagues me...why can't these free speech groups defend him? does he have to be homophobic, racist, and misogynistic (and yes that is probably spelled wrong...fuck off...i'm sleepy) to be defended? it seems as though that is the very case.
...thus spake the munkies and it was good.