Many, many faithful readers have sent missives taking the Lady of the Manners to task for her seeming dismissive air toward a current musical icon; “Why are you so down on him?” these faithful readers cry. “Here, read this interview with him! He seems Goth, why do you keep saying he isn’t?!” In light of these touching questions, the Lady of the Manners decided she had better take a stand and answer the question once and for all.
Marilyn Manson’s *MUSIC* is not Goth. It would more properly be categorized as metal. Fun concerts, full of over the top spectacle, but *not* Goth.
Now, what about Mr. Manson himself? That is the concern some faithful readers seem to have. As to that, well, the Lady of the Manners doesn’t have a definitive answer, nor would she claim to. However, based on the interviews with Mr. Manson that the Lady of the Manners has read, the evidence does seem to mount up. He has a striking, decadent, and dark personal style. He’s espoused an interest in decaying and (again) decadent ideas and themes, and prefers to present a highly stylized image whenever he is in the public eye. And, according to interviews with his friends and romantic partners, he is a perfect gentleman; courteous, considerate, and well-mannered. All of which means, in the Lady of the Manners’ book is that, yes, Wednesday and Pugsley, Marilyn Manson IS a Goth.
(The Lady of the Manners is sure that Mr. Manson has been waiting with bated breath for the Lady of the Manners’ validation of his gothness. Sure of it, she tells you, and don’t you try to convince her differently.)
Now, the thing that amuses the Lady of the Manners the most about this whole topic is the fact that the Lady of the Manners is considered an arbitrator of gothness by some, while other people are rather dismissive and suspicious of the Lady of the Manners’ whole existence. In fact, one posting board embroiled themselves in a heated discussion/ flame war about the Lady of the Manners’ “Friends don’t let friends dress like The Crow” column. The posting board was for enthusiasts of The Crow; many of them took affront at the Lady of the Manners’ statement that dressing like The Crow is just the teensiest bit of a cliché in the Goth scene (apparently, many of them didn’t read the part of the column that says that if that’s what truly makes you happy, then go right ahead and do it). Not only did some of them get a wee bit indignant about the whole thing, but started casting aspersions on the Lady of the Manners’ gothic credibility. (The Lady of the Manners’ favorite comment about that was someone who was *convinced* that the Lady of the Manners was actually a balding, middle-aged man. The Lady of the Manners laughed and laughed and laughed at that, then went and had a cup of tea.) Continue reading