eclectic chronicles

 

Whenever I’ve come across any art created by Manson, whether it be writing, music, or painting… the one thing that always strikes me about it, is its honesty. That’s a rare commodity these days.

Here’s a man who’s done everything to give the finger to society-at-large, and still manage to get famous and make tons of money in the process. What’s not to like?

My mother still hides the autobiography I bought of him to protect me from the graphic images inside. I’ve been a long time Manson fan, here are a few things that I’ve learnt from him.

1. Don’t be a sellout

Being truthful is a precious commodity these days. It’s a generation of yes men. We’re all in love with agreeing for the sake of agreeing. It makes for pleasant conversations and relaxing smoke breaks. Don’t succumb to the norm. Don’t be okay with something that you’re actually repulsed by. Go ahead and voice your opinion. You don’t have anything to lose. It’s better to be a deranged man than a weakling.

Say what you mean and mean what you say, and though it may not be possible on all day or at all times, it’s worth striving for.

2. Break the stereotype

What’s the last thing you would expect coming out from a God-fearing, largely conservative, catholic society? That’s right. An obscene shock rocker who tears the bible on stage, pisses on his audience and produces music videos that are banned because they’re so obscene. Now, I’m in no way suggesting that you should do the same things, or condoning any or all of this; the point is that you need courage do it nevertheless. To stand up, to be counted, to be a freak.

In his own words, “I never asked you to be like me, I asked you to be like yourself and make a difference.”

3. It pays to be smart

They spray painted face and hateful lyrics may lead you believe that Manson is a lowlife who can’t help being himself. He’s not though. He’s a smart man. You would know that if you read his books, or heard his reaction to the high school shootings that were blamed on him. He’s very clear about who he is and what he does, he knows he did and continues to do the shock rock thing because there’s an audience for it. Sure, his music and art is outrageous, does that mean that he’s a raving lunatic? No. Far from it.

4. You can’t please everyone

For every fan that Manson has, there’s one more hater. And that’s not counting the conservatives, the religious nuts, and all the other so called defenders of society. American society had signs of decay even long before Manson even started creating his music — he’s a product of the same society after all, in a way, he’s a mouthpiece for things that no one wants to talk about. The point being that save for Opera, there isn’t one person who did well in life without stepping on a few toes or pissing someone off.

If you’ve got a unique point of view, you will be disliked, live with it.

5. There is no “private” life

A lot of us live under this illusion that we must protect our identities, keep our secrets secret. We’re too quick to forget our own mortality. In his autobiography, Manson makes an account of his grandfather’s sexual fetishes and how it led to the formation of Manson And The Spooky Kids. Did he have to? Not really. Did it change anything that he did? Not really. But as a fan, I would’ve been disappointed if he gave me some masked story of the things that led him to where he is. He made a choice to reveal himself. We’re all the same people underneath, we establish a connection when one reveals himself to another.

Thank you Manson, for making me believe that it’s okay to stand your ground, that it’s okay to be a misfit, that’s it’s okay to not smile for the sake of smiling, that it’s okay to not belong.