I must admit...
I kind of enjoy the new Marilyn Manson song. Now anyone that knows me knows I am certainly quite the enthusiast of any music that is goth and/or dark. Generally speaking, while I have defended Manson's previous work for being unique(though I have never been a fan per se) he is the representation of all things mall goth, and aside from a few good songs, he's the icon for teenage rebellious youths seeking any sort of outing that their parents despise. While he is a smart man, I do still believe he is nothing more than a self-carved model at an attempt for a graven image. Consider him to goth that Eminem would be to thug. Though to be fair, while I may poke fun at his 'try too hard' image, I question does it really need to make sense anymore? Or has it ever? I listen to everything from the dark and morbid to the hopeful albeit depressing. Though in terms of 'goth' fashion, it never truly seems to matter. Maybe I am coming into the scene a bit late, but I can't help but wonder what the fashion means to most of the people involved. I generally just wear black. It is a preference garnered by my personality. I own some clothes that have a small amount of metal on them, but I have never gone overboard. Last night I saw VNV Nation in New Haven. VNV is a rather dark and depressing duo, but they are hardly entrepreneurs who delve into the realm of fetish. That did not stop a vast majority of concert-goers last night from choosing to dress in tight leather, bondage straps, surgical and/or gas masks, and just general 'do kinky nasty shit to me and bend me over' attire. While on girls I can not say I truly complained, but I still wondered just why, or how, the dark personality of VNV's music can be translated to all out fetish ball. I may be questioning this due to the lack of any sleep in the past couple of days, or just my general curiosity in life about *everything*, but it is something I always have wondered about the goth culture since giving into my true self about 6 years ago.
With that said, perhaps it is better than Manson remain the center stage of all things mainstream goth these days. That way the parents can be angry about his messages(despite said parent's kids going to the all ages underground shows as well), and we will not have to have the fashion of real goth/industrial shows exposed to the mainstream world in which headlines such as "goth underground scene encourages fetishistic rituals" could be created. We have enough of a bad rep as is. Sad, really, since getting myself involved in the overall community, talking to numerous bands/DJs, and meeting people I can honestly say it is probably the most accepting and friendly community I have ever known.
With that said, perhaps it is better than Manson remain the center stage of all things mainstream goth these days. That way the parents can be angry about his messages(despite said parent's kids going to the all ages underground shows as well), and we will not have to have the fashion of real goth/industrial shows exposed to the mainstream world in which headlines such as "goth underground scene encourages fetishistic rituals" could be created. We have enough of a bad rep as is. Sad, really, since getting myself involved in the overall community, talking to numerous bands/DJs, and meeting people I can honestly say it is probably the most accepting and friendly community I have ever known.