Job Discussion Forums

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 7:53 pm Post subject: Marilyn Manson in class?

Well, the students were asking about this guy. Some think he's cool. Some think he�s the antichrist. Some think he's ugly.

I think that anything that sparks this number of opinions should probably be turned into a class activity. But I don't know anything about this guy. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Justin

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Manson and his 'cult' were simply part of the huge swarm of changes that were overtaking U.S. culture in the late 1960s and early 1970s. A unit on 'revolution' could examine any one of these changes, in the U.S. or in other countries that have experienced great social and cultural upheavals.

Start here by consulting the many sub-links: http://www.answers.com/topic/charles-manson

You can even bring up the topic of the Beatles and their supposed 'influence' on Manson!

XXX · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 8:55 pm Post subject:

Not CHARLIE Manson, but the two bit 90's Alice Cooper knock off. There is a difference.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 10:16 pm Post subject:

Okay- I bought a CD, and I've been surfing the net. I don't think it's going to become part of my usual listening program, but Alice Cooper knock off is unfair. The lyrics (well, some of the lyrics) are kind of interesting. At least he's anti-consumerism.

The photos make me a little queasy, though.

Regards,
Justin

PS- We already did a reading on Charlie. That's what brought up the topic of Marilyn...

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Oooops! Those two guys always get mixed up in my aging brain...

Rolling Eyes

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

Good music I reckon,
there was a show on MM on MTV just the other week. The rise and rise of Marilyn Manson. Not bad.

Have you thought about Kiss btw?
they're pretty cool to do in class too.
Not for the music, but to look at the show.
And do something on Gene Simmons.
He's got some really interesting points of view, and lifestyle.

I'm sure you can find good audio files/interviews on the Net, and otherwise heaps of sites with info on this guy.

Dajiang

darkside1 · Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 86 Location: Glasgow, Scotland

You will certainly get a discussion going as MM has been blamed for acts of teenage violence in both the US and UK.

He appears in Michael Moore's film 'Bowling for Columbine' to try to refute claims that his music was the inspiration behind the shootings in Columbine High School.

Manson was also cited by the prosecution in a case here in Scotland in which a 16 year old boy was convicted of brutally murdering his girlfriend (when both were 14 years old). The prosecution claimed that footage in a MM video of an actress being ritually slaughtered was the blueprint for the crime.

I am not saying I agree with these claims - it seems to me that there are other reasons why some young people turn to violence in today's society- but you should be aware of the controversy surrounding MM.

However, MM and his music should be a winner as far as getting students to air different opinions goes.

Chasgul · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 168 Location: BG

You can usually rely on songs like 'the beautiful people' to get a general discussion/argument going as most people have opinions on beauty/surgery/cosmetics etc. Just be sure to play the impartial referee and stop the discussion if things start to get a little too heated.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject:

Okay, I did it and it went pretty well.

I opened the class with a quotation on the board:

"I'm grateful that I have two middle fingers...I only wish I had more."
Brian Warner

Then had them speculate about what kind of person Brian Warner must be, before telling them that he's Marilyn Manson.
Had them brainstorm all they knew about MM, and list it on the board. Then had two groups of students read two different articles, one from a fan page, one from a religious right page, and discuss the truth of the "facts" they'd all listed on the board.
Followed up with the section on MM from Bowling for Columbine, with content questions, and speculation on what MM is really like. ("must be" for deduction is our chapter grammar point...)
Finally, listened to "The Beautiful People," which caused a little confusion in metaphoric language. ("the size of your steeple? A steeple is part of a church- does this have to do with religion...") But we eventually got it sorted out Very Happy

All in all, I highly recommend it. Marilyn Manson is fun in class.

Justin

PS It's an upper intermediate level class, focusing on taking the IELTS and getting 7.5 or better in July. I probably couldn't have done all of this with a lower level, but I'll bet there's a way to use it...

younggeorge · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 350 Location: UAE

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:19 pm Post subject:

Erm, yeah, it probably is, but one of the women in class gets her lessons paid for by her company. They stop paying when she gets to be "advanced." So we've been upper int for a good long while....

Tell no one,

Justin

younggeorge · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 350 Location: UAE

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

He was Paul from the TV show the Wonder Years.

That surprised me, too when I first found out about that!

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Was Paul the geeky one with glasses?

steven_gerrard · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 155

Yeah Paul was the geek but it wasn't Marilyn Manson- that was one of those great urbn myths which spread like wildfire but was completely untrue.