Helter Skelter - Manson vs. the Myth Essay - 1631 Words

Helter Skelter - Manson vs. the Myth [1] â€Å"I walk your streets and am right out there with you,† boasted serial killer Charles Manson almost twenty years after being sentenced to life in prison (Emmons 227). Most people would probably dismiss this statement as the delusional ranting of a madman, yet, were they to examine the attention of and, possibly, the influence on society that Manson has had and continues to have, they would be forced to admit that there is some truth to Manson’s proclamation. [2] When Manson and his so-called Family members went on trial in 1969 for the gruesome Tate-LaBianca slayings, the media took instant notice of Manson’s â€Å"hypnotic† and â€Å"charismatic personality. Rolling Stone magazine plastered†¦show more content†¦In fact, Manson continues to be viewed as a revolutionary martyr today and has reached cult-hero status. One example of cultish â€Å"Mansonmania† is a T-shirt bearing a picture of his face behind bars, the slogan â€Å"Charlie Don’t Surf† (a famous line in the film Apocalypse Now) scrawled across the back (Rosen F-01). In San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district, where Manson first began compiling his Family, several stores sell baby clothing adorned with Manson’s image (Rosen F-01). [5] The killer is not only remembered through kitschy paraphernalia, but also through music and art. Over the past couple of decades, several popular rock bands have recorded cover versions of Manson’s songs. In 1989, alternative rock group The Lemonheads performed the Manson song â€Å"Your Home Is Where You’re Happy† (Rosen F-01). In 1993, heavy metal band Guns N’ Roses recorded a cover of Manson’s â€Å"Look At Your Game, Girl† on their album The Spaghetti Incident (Rosen F-01). Known for their shocking music and bizarre behavior, Nine Inch Nails recorded songs for their album The Downward Spiral in the Los Angeles mansion in which Sharon Tate was brutally killed (Rosen F-01). One of those songs was entitled â€Å"Piggy,† a word that was scribbled in blood on the victims’ walls. [6] The fixation with Manson has also been expressed through â€Å"finer† forms of art. In 1992, composer John Moran presented â€Å"The Manson Family: An Opera† starring