Analysis of Article I´d Sell YOu Sucide: Pop Music and Moral Panic in the Age of Marilyn Manson by Robert Wright

Music is often considered “the universal language.” Throughout, history it has symbolized love, brought people together, and has been the cornerstone of many lives. In the 1950s, a new form of music entered American mass culture that drastically changed the culture of the United States (U.S.): rock music. In the U.S., it began as Rock ‘n’ Roll, a originally “black” music genre that was then taken and promulgated by white Americans. Post WWII, many Americans—especially teenagers—struggled with the newfound societal conformity and normalcy, and rock provided them a form of retaliation. From its beginning, Rock united the younger generation of Americans, stirring up a sense of community amongst teenagers and troubling many adults by their actions—heightening

Society blaming Goth music for teen violence is entirely arbitrary. They are blaming Goth music because it is dark and intense. “[Teens] being attracted to a very strange group of people and listening to very alternative music” (Dority 93). Parents see Goth music as a source for kids to be introduce to a dark and violent subculture. Parents see the intense songs by these bands and connect them with the rebellion of youths.

Consumers are aware of the impact of media on community behaviour as a whole. A conducted survey shows careless media reporting can trigger suicidal behaviour to consumers. The study concludes that the influence of suicide reporting may not be limited to harmful effects; instead, coverage of positive coping in adverse situations, like media reports about suicidal ideation, can have protective effects (Niederkrotenthaler T et al 2010). When grunge icon Kurt Cobain of Nirvana committed suicide with a shotgun to his head, it created an explosion for copycat suicides. After a month following his death, 18 suicides were recorded in Seattle including 28 year old obvious copycat who have just attended a candle light vigil a few days after Cobain’s body was found (Klass T 1996).

This reference shows how music lays a foundation of teenage values beyond school or parental teaching. A musical artist can influence a young mind by the chosen lyrics with greater effectiveness than formal education. Music can control or enhance moods. A good mood can get better or a bad mood can be worked through with the choice of music. A bad mood can also be enhanced by lyrics about suicide or violent behavior. Teens can also use music to gain information about the adult world, to withdraw from social contact, facilitate friendships and social settings, or to help them create a personal identity. (O'Toole, 1997)

The impact music had on teenagers was significant. Teenager’s developed a new style of music called Rock ‘n’ Roll, because the lyrics reflected and embraced their lives. High school sweethearts, fast-cars, and rebellion against authority resembled what teenagers craved the most. Parents disliked the message and influence behind the lyrics of Rock ‘n’ Roll, because they believed it caused juvenile delinquency. Parents hated the sexuality of the songs, the performers,

Popular music is often one of the best lenses we have through which to view our own cultural orientation. Many of the artistic and experimental shifts in popular music have mirrored changes in our own society. For instance, the emergence of Elvis Presley as a public figure would signal the start of a sexual revolution and the growth in visibility of a rebellious youth culture. Similarly, the folk and psychedelic music of the 1960s was closely entangled with the Civil Rights, anti-war and social protest movements. In this regard, we can view popular music as an artifact through which to better understand the time and place in which it is produced. In light of this, the state of popular music today may suggest troubling things about our society.

Yet with all the wonderful things that music can do for human beings, could it possibly be responsible for them committing suicide, or murder? In this paper I am going to explore the chaos that occurred in the 80’s and 90’s when heavy metal music faced accusations that the music and lyrical content was driving adolescent and young adults to commit suicide and murder. I will argue that it is not the music or the lyrics that result in such violent behaviors; rather, individuals with underlying psychological issues such as depression, or anger disorders tend to be more attracted to heavy metal music.

To this day, Manson receives mail in prison from young people wanting to join the family, and gets more mail than any other convict in the american prison system. Manson still remains relevant in our culture, with movies, documentaries, plays, and operas written about him. The popular rock band Guns ‘n’ Roses has also performed many of his songs. The reason Manson remains so relevant is because of the high profile victims he planned, including many celebrities and even President Ford. In the minds of the average american alive at the time, Manson has become a metaphor for pure evil, equivocal to the devil himself.

In an interview conducted by Bugliosi with one of the Manson Family members named Linda Kasabian, she told him, “...we always wanted to do anything and everything for him” (Kasabian). Kasabian went on to describe how many of the Manson Family members felt about Charles Manson. According to Kasabian, members of the Manson Family never questioned anything that Manson told them to do because of how influential he was in their lives. Members of his cult agreed to follow through with the murders, because he influenced and corrupted their minds with his unrealistic “Helter Skelter” theory, and they acted on this. Manson also compared himself to Christian religious figure, Jesus Christ, in an effort to persuade his followers to do his bidding. In an interview, Manson told the interviewer, “I may have implied on several different occasions to several different people that I may have been Jesus Christ, but I haven’t decided yet what I am or who I am” (Manson). Many of Manson’s followers were so loyal to him because they actually believed that he was the living embodiment of Jesus Christ. They followed and obeyed him just like the disciples followed Jesus Christ. This was also part of his methodology to build up numbers of people in the Manson Family. He knew that having larger numbers would ultimately make him more powerful and allow him to act on his idea of “Helter Skelter” leading to media attention and the start of a race war. Claiming to be Jesus Christ proved successful not only increasing the size of his family, but also persuading his closest followers to carry out the Tate and LaBianca murders. During this time, the Hippie Movement was strong and, ironically like Manson, preached love and peace like the teachings of Jesus Christ. The movement also stood for change and Manson used this, as well as its experimental drug culture, to control his

Hippies, at this moment in time, were gentle people, believing in peace, love, and sharing with others. This was an ideal environment for Manson to recruit followers. He started to gather a group of gullible girls who had lost. With a guitar, a nice voice, graceful mannerisms, and sweet talk with empty promises, Manson persuaded many young-adults to abandon their families and lives to join him. The beginnings of his “Family” took

“Heavy metal music has been a source of criticism ever since its’ birth in the late nineteen eighties” (Coss). Many people criticize this type of music because there is anger shown in the lyrics. Although the lyrics can be controversial at times, there is no evidence saying that heavy metal music causes violence. “Its’ controversial lyrics and harsh sounds have made it the target of much blame for psychological and behavioral problems in teenagers” (Coss). Parents of teenagers now and in past decades have worried about their kids listening to this kind of music. Most parents do not want their kids to listen to this kind of music; they are afraid that the music will lead to devastating effects in society. Another reason why parents do not like heavy metal music is that the music is extremely loud and ear shattering. Most people over

In life, music affects everything many people look at all the different stories of teenagers committing violent acts and have begun to wonder can violent songs make teens violent? With all the violent acts that music glorifies as of recently many psychologists and parents alike have begun to wonder why certain types of music cause their children and teenagers to become so violent. Because of the questions that violent songs raise and why teenagers have started to gravitate towards violent songs more than ever before. Some factors that could be reasons as to why violent songs have such a powerful effect on teenagers could be that: teenagers learn violence from their surroundings, teenagers can have a history of violence, and violent songs give teens a place to vent their frustrations at,

Music has more of an influence on the people in the twenty-first century than it ever has before. Teens, especially, are surrounded by some sort of it in everything they are around or do. Many disagree on how music impacts one’s mental state and behavior; however, all agree that the impact depends on how the listener feels before and how they allow it to influence them.

Manson, along with many other artists, fully embraces their first amendment right to free speech to get their message across. This message mainly appeals to younger generations who can relate to Manson's songs. Younger

The novel Sway by Zachary Lazar revolves around Charles Manson, filmmaker Kenneth Anger and the start of the Rolling Stones. Zachary Lazar mixes his own incorporation and what he thinks goes on the character minds with real life events. Throughout the novel Lazar details his thoughts with intense research and imagination causing the novel to flow elegantly. One main idea being the Manson Family. Lazar uses explicit detail to recall real life events and how and what the cult said during their horrid murders. In the chapter, Altamont, 1969, Zachary Lazar uses literary devices like imagery, ekphrasis, and dialogue in one of the scenes to maintain the idea of how powerful Charles Manson’s effect had on his cult.