But Some Do…

In the above clip, the protestor points out (as a parallel to people listening to Marilyn Manson and violent acts) that not everyone who sees a Lexus commercial buys a Lexus, but some do. This, to me, is the perfect argument against the media as an instigator for violence. You do not buy the Lexus ENTIRELY because you saw the commercial – you buy it because it fits with some part of your core values and wants. It reinforces something that you saw in yourself – it fulfills a desire. It does not create, however, the entire desire. There are many people who will see the Lexus commercial and pass on the car – really, they are Honda people.

This illustrates one of the problems with assuming a causal relationship between violence and the media. Not everyone who listens to a certain kind of music, or plays a certain kind of video will be violent – historical and societal factors will play into a pre-disposition for violent resolution to problems – and likely the historical and societal factors (such as bullying or abuse) will be more significant than something like listening to Marilyn Manson.

Still, I do not suggest that these influences are completely innocuous. Although I do not believe in blanket censorship of any kind of art, I do believe that there are appropriate ages for certain things to be introduced to any individual. Introduction to an artist like Marilyn Manson or Eminem needs to come at the right time of any youth’s life. Each child does go through a stage where they are very literal – Santa is real because they are told so, and maybe Platform 9 and 3/4s will get them to Hogwarts. But when they get older and with guidance from someone who can help them to think through what is being said and how to decode the nuance of metaphor and imagination, like Manson suggests, music like this can help them find a healthy outlet for unhappiness – the music does not judge them and they can pick the music they identify with. They can find an artist who shares an experience they identify with, and maybe it will help them work through their feelings in a healthy way.

The music is not about violence – if that is all the critics see then they are not looking deep enough. It is an outlet for anger, an outlet to express unhappiness, an outlet to work out complex feelings. I think any artists hope is that someone else will come along and listen and identify with this, and maybe it will help them feel better too – in a healthy way.