Subculture and Marilyn Manson

                                         Subculture and Marilyn Manson

" Oh my GOD! look at the piercings on his body?" " look at his clothes...all black! HE"S A GOTH!" " Hes  a satin worshiper!" " He may be weird, but he makes good music!"...These are the comments that ive always heard in high school about singer and songwriter Marilyn Manson. His real name is Brian Hugh Warner and he began his musical carrer in 1989. His persona is contrary to everything that our mainstream society considers normal. From the way he dresses to the lyrics of his songs he represents a break away from the majority and is therefore part of a subculture. A subculture is a group of people that contain a culture that is different from the main culture in a society. Many other people dress the way he does in  our society and can relate to his music and the way he carries himself. According to the book entitled Popular culture By Raifored Guins and Omayra Zaragoza Cruz, Dick Hebdige states that " Subcultures are generally condemed, in mary Douglas' words( 1967) as ' contrary to holiness' and levi-strauss has noted how, in certain primitive myths, the mispronounciation of words and the misuse of language are classified along with incest as horrendous aberrations capable of ' unleashing storm and tempest' ( levi-strauss, 1969). Similarly spectacular subcultures express forbidden contents ( consciousness of class, consciousness of difference) in forbidden forms ( transgressions of sartorial and behavioral codes, law breaking, etc) They are profane articulations and they are often and significantly defined as ' unnatural'. The terms in the tabloids press to describe those youngsters who, in their conduct or clothing, proclaim sucbultural membership ( 'freaks', 'animals..who find courage, like rats, in hunting in packs) would seem to suggesr that the most primitive anxieties concerning the sacred distinction between nature and cutlture can be summoned up by the emergence of such a group. " ( 356) Based on the facts in popular culture, it is safe to say that our society doesnt like when people question what is considered normal and are contrary to what society deems as normal, but then again who is to say that dressing in all  black isnt the norm? Is it so wrong to have body piercings? or sing about suicide? what is normal? Why are the people who aren't like the majority considered freaks and animals like the tabloids proclaim?

Subcultures make up our society and if there weren't subcultures everyone would be the same and our society wouldn't be diverse and filled with unique individuals.Marilyn manson is a great additon to our society and contributes greatly to the subculture that he has created. He is a great musical artists and he isnt afriad toexpress himself in his representation and his music. Some of the songs that i like that he has created are entitled personal jesus, sweet dreams, and beautiful people. Here is a link to some of his music videos enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypkv0HeUvTc&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6fyhZ0G5E