“Hearts and minds will win the war” is a phrase first used by Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey to counter the Black Flag Rebellion in 1895, but it remains a key tenant of modern politics as the alternative right branches into what has been dubbed the “memetic revolution” by the political fringe of /Pol/ on 4Chan. Each opposing side has adopted their own branch and style so as to draw in more supporters, with image macros of Pepe the Frog or Wojack ‘Feels Guy’ to the more elaborate movements orchestrated as a means of generating publicity and notoriety. This rebellious uprising, headed by figures such as Milo Yiannopoulos runs contrary to the long-haired antics of Shia LeBeouf and his gang of celebrity cronies.
Paul Joseph Watson and Milo Yiannopoulos have each individually stated that “Conservatism is the new counter culture,” as cult television show Million Dollar Extreme found a devout audience in the fringe members of the right-wing community. Trump’s campaign was built upon the prospect of him being an underdog in a corrupt and corporate government, with Hillary Clinton trying to emulate the struggle that Trump displayed so well. Clinton expressed the class struggle from a feminist perspective, trying to prove that she was an underdog and was devalued in the political landscape due to what was between her legs. Sanders was the third viable candidate for the presidency and played up the socio-economic struggle from a purely Marxist perspective, trying to engage his fans with a fight for a socialist regime. Shia LeBeouf’s protest is also intended to represent a civil uprising against what many perceive to be a fascist regime.
Only one thing is certain in uncertain times – no one is sure which direction is up, down, left or right.
Many are uncertain how far left the Democrat Party is or how far right the Republican Party is.
Everyone is rebelling without knowing what they are rebelling against. Uncertainty sweeps a once certain nation and emotions run rampant as everyone fights for what they believe in, where everyone feels misrepresented and underrepresented. The disenfranchised from the left and the right have pounced on the term ‘counter-culture’ in an attempt to capitalise on the disenfranchised.
The true counter-culture is far from disenfranchised, but those within the counter-cultural sphere are simply just fed up with the left and right divide, given that the true divide sits between authoritarian and libertarian.
Marilyn Manson, a prominent icon in the rock and roll industry spoke out against both Trump and Clinton, saying that he wouldn’t vote for either. Although it’s clear that Manson isn’t by any means an expert on analysing or predicting the political climate, he is in fact a counter-cultural force, and everyone is trying to claim the title. What does the counter-cultural king say about the 2016 presidential election? He didn’t vote. Does this differ from his past political views? Not really.
Whilst Manson admitted to voting for Obama during a 2009 interview, it was the first and seemingly last time that he has voted.
Marilyn Manson is the stage name to Brian Hugh Warner and despite the grotesque stage antics which have involved open sexual acts and debauchery on tour, what he holds is an intense knowledge of the world which he has displayed in vicious debates with FOX News anchor Bill O’Reilly.
Manson once stated, “Politics in this country is all about what happens behind Oz’s curtain,” which rings true in the day and age of Wikileaks and Julian Assange.
The teaser trailer to the release of his new album features an orange tinted figure in a blue suit, with a red tie and tiny hands, but missing a head. Manson sits on a throne tearing out pages from the bible as the figure lay bleeding on the ground. The symbolism for Trump’s decapitation is a persistent theme with his antagonism of right-wing Republicans, although does fail to account for the notorious Clinton.
One can assume that over the album, which he has promised is his most overtly political, he shows off the true views of the counter-culture. With the drugs, partying, extravagance and bombastic boundary pushing, we can only assume that he remains yet another libertarian pissed off at the system and refusing to bend and compromise on principles to Trump, Clinton or Gary “Bake That Cake” Johnson.
Say10 is scheduled to be released later this year.
You can stay up to date with Marilyn Manson here.
To remain in the loop with anarcho-capitalist views, news and cultural perspectives, you can find my page here.
David McManus
Latest posts by David McManus (see all)
- Doth Protest Too Much: Gooney Tunes - June 22, 2017
- Doth Protest Too Much: Australia Communist Collusion - June 15, 2017
- Doth Protest Too Much: No True Anarchist - June 1, 2017
