Volume > Issue > Can Teenagers Survive Marilyn Manson?

Can Teenagers Survive Marilyn Manson?

TRYING TO BE ANYTHING BUT A NERD OR A NOBODY

By James K. Fitzpatrick | November 1997
James K. Fitzpatrick teaches in a public high school in the suburbs of New York City and is the author of four books. He has written for The Wanderer and The Latin Mass magazine.

I have never heard a song by this “Marilyn Manson” character. But I have read the horror stories about his “concerts” — about the salaciousness, homosexuality, and anti-Christian scatology that are central to his performances. His choice of a stage name that links the images of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson speaks volumes.

Many Christian parents are seeking some way to minimize his influence on their children, and I have no intention of calling for less vigilance. There is no place for this “music” in a Christian home. Do try to keep your kids away from it!

But what if you can’t? Certain children who want to listen, will. There are too many places — car stereos, portable cassette players, and the like — for them to gain access. It is not like the days when most homes had just one hi-fi in the family room.

What should parents do if they think their children have become part of the Marilyn Manson audience? How much of a family confrontation is in order? Are there cases when parents can ride through this phenomenon, look the other way and hope for the best?

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