Lamb of God By: Marilyn Manson

The words of the song hold a very true and almost hard message to except. Marilyn Manson is talking about how being on TV allows an individual to be seen as something higher than" a normal” person; being seen as a god (higher figure). I find this message to be interesting because it seems to be true that an individual in the public eye is watched closely compared to a person who is not. It is almost as a person on television has a point of view beyond a person who is not on television which is completely inaccurate.

When said, nothing is going to change the world, regarding the dependency on electronics; ironically which is now taking over the world. The idea of holding someone in a higher status because they are on television is absurd. It is not wrong to see someone to be higher, to look up to a person if there is a good reason for doing so. Not just because there famous or because they're on television. I believe that there is hope for the world and that it can change, depending on how the world wants to change.

If you die when there's no one watching
and your ratings drop and you're forgotten
if they kill you on their TV
you're a martyr and a lamb of god
nothing's going to change
nothing's going to change the world

If you die when no one is watching is saying depending on who you are in the entertainment industry is a clear measurement of how the whole world will take ones death, because it will be broadcast to the world. If they kill you on their TV you're a martyr and a lamb of god, this statement to me means a couple of things; one being that someone can be killed on TV by viewers (no longer being in demand) or the TV being the thing that “kills” them. The phrase the Lamb of God is a biblical reference for “who takes away sin of the world”. The term in this situation is completely out of context in regards to the meaning of the song. I also think the statement if you die and no one's watching is also saying that one cannot change things without the ears of mass media. In the entertainment field to have one's voice heard (as in any field) the audience must be willing to hear what is said.

The song has an impact message to individuals for different reasons all over the world; considering the video has an impact on me and on the singer who lives in France. I chose this particular video clip instead of a music video to show the strong emotion behind the words without bright lights and flashy imagery. The expression behind his tone has an impact on the message. The meanings of the song are almost endless. The meaning will change with the viewer and the viewer’s experience of the song.

What is important?

The other day I was asked, what is important to me? This question is one that I have been pondering for some time; the answer is not one that is easy to come by. For there are so many things which distorts away from what is really important and what is just there. Is money really important to me, no not really, I would like money in order to survive but it is not what drives me in life. What is important to me is deeper than materials. Education is extremely important in self growth which I hold to be dear. As thinking beings we have our minds which is one of only things that is with a person for the rest of their life and the mind should be further expanded. Berkeley who was a philosopher believed that the only things that existed are ideas and minds.

Enlightenment is also very important; enlightenment of learning from another and as a response teaching them something of ones self. There is a large world out there and to start to understand this world one must first try to understand the individual people. It is people who make the world and it is the people who will destroy the Earth if they do not take care. Each person has an experience of life to make the whole picture of the world. In other words each person and living being adds to the experience of the world.


Beliefs are what most live for they are what people die for. Beliefs are what shapes lives, they are what can destroy lives as well. Everyone has a set of beliefs that is lived by no matter how different they are from each other they are there. My beliefs are self growth through knowledge, creating what I find to be beautiful through emotion, culture of other people as well as learning from people and learning about people. There are many things that I find to be important and most of them I find to lie within beauty for life. The beauty of the earth is a gift giving to life. The way in which human life takes care of planet is a direct reflection of human culture. To sum up what is important to me I would say it would have to be the beauty of life incorporated into emotion and the expression of that emotion to other people.

The Scream

This painting stands for what society does not want to see; fear of something different. The figure in the middle is poverty, his is the struggle of the different, and he is what does not want to be seen. The man (alien) is seen to be less than a person. There are two upper class looking figures in the back; they are portrayed to be humans not aliens. The “humans” in the back are the ones who looked down on the “alien”, they are the ones who make the man in the middle to be an alien. The figure in the center is an alien because he is feared; he is not what society wants. The “alien” is dehumanized by the society he is within. He is dehumanized for the fact that he is not the same. Marilyn Manson has a song talking about the same thing, the song is the Nobodies.




In this video Manson is basically saying that he is nobody because that’s all he can be in society and remain to be himself. Sometimes to stay true to ones self is parallel with being exiled from society. There are many examples of people being outcaste for what they feel to be right; even as an outcaste one must do what feels right for that person.

The reason why I chose to tattoo The Scream on my back is because I feel that the different or even the feared need to stop being ignored and should be seen to all. The point to this painting and to the Manson video is saying no matter if one is seen to be nobody or an alien they well still continue to be who they are even if that means they are no longer seen to be human. I chose these images in the hopes that people can see that the differences are not as big as they appear.

Nine Inch Nails "right where it belongs"

Big Mac Attack!

The image is implying that the person who is on the hospital bed is there because of McDonalds and it is even more interesting that there is the famous McDonalds arch in the fading beats of the heart monitor. This image says a lot about the culture in which we live in. This ad about McDonalds says worlds about the health in America. The ad as a story focuses on the harm that fast food “McDonalds” can have on a person. Not that they well become obese or unpleasing but that eating from McDonalds can lead to death or “A Big Mac Attack” (heart attack). The main concept utilized is cause and effect, the America culture has turned into a country that feeds themselves in easy ways will come with a cost. The meaning defines this picture; the image is what adds the dramatic effect to the massage. The widely know McDonalds arch also has an extremely effective impact on the connection of McDonalds and heart attacks. The ad is brilliantly executed allowing the viewer to understand the message of the image without having to spell out the meaning. The ad does not come out and directly make the connection between heart attacks and McDonalds but all the elements of the image say just that. The McDonalds arch on the heart monitor, Big Mac Attack and a man on a hospital bed all point to the true meaning. The elements of the image put together blatantly state the meaning that is truly being put foreword; McDonalds will kill.

Sex Appeal

The unofficial Calvin Klein ad is definitely utilizing sex appeal. The manner which sex is expressed is more than appropriate for the American culture. The man and the women have both their tops and pants on. In this image the sex appeal is within the expression each of them holds in their faces and body language. To answer the question of if the ad is effective in sex appeal would be dependent on what is being sold. The name: Calvin Klein is attached to the image selling sex to the name (logo). The ad would be for Americans and living in America Calvin Klein is known for the association of their product to the name; sex. The main point of this Calvin Klein ad is to further make the connection between sex and sexuality through (appeal) with their name. The two in the ad appeal to the emotion of intimacy, they are both clothed so the emotion is coming from their body language and expression each holds. To me that has more of a true feeling of passion in comparison to if they there just half naked. More clothing in this particular instance is directing the viewer to the ideas of passion, love, and free will. Verses some of the other ads which portray extreme sexuality and some were all most pornographic. The way in which this image is portrayed tells a story of emotion through subtlety, more through the look in the models eyes and in the body language. The words are not overly meaningful; the meaning of this image is in the image and emotion behind the two individuals. Both the words Calvin Klein and Escape are only backing up what the image is saying on its own. The words are making the association of brand name, image and product.

Observation: Contrasting

There is a large open space with nothing more then the typical elements found in a park. There are trees, grass, and one defining street light. The eye is captured by a defining elements which is some what out of place; the stairwell. A light coming form underneath the ground, this light gives life to the scene. The way which these items are placed is very interesting considering there line up gives the photograph Passage by Philippe Mazaud depth. The stairwell is closest to the viewer then the tree behind it and finally there is the street light. This allows the observer to see the picture is not one dimensional; drawing the eyes backwards in the distance. The lighting is also a vary important element the black and white contrasts more than usual. The majority of the photograph is black (or a very dark gray) so the street light is a main focal point. All paintings/ photographs have a source of light, in this case it is coming from the street light. The street light is only emphasizing the other contrasting point, the light from the stairwell. The street light is highlighting the stairwell. it is making the stairwell and its light source the most important element to this particular piece of art. Another emphasized contrasting area is the horizon which is a mountain (hill) that is completely blacked out; in contrast to the lightness of the land before the horizon. This technique tricks the eye into looking where the artist wants. There is an overwhelming amount of black allowing the light to truly define the image. giving it life.

Reflection: Hope

As I take a step back and look at the photograph it truly makes me think of the one lonely light; which remains shining brightly in a hole of darkness. The image is over taken by darkness and the light is a sense of hope. Although it is surrounded by darkness the light does not loose its power but the power is gained from the hope that there is some form of light; hope, inspiration or driving forces. The image has a very powerful message; there is always more than what first meets the eye.

When all appears to be dark, there is a light that shines from the darkened point which is feared of being over taken by a cloud of dark haze. The light which I refer to is not only talking about this image but is also manifested in life. All appears to be lost in the dark, there is always a way to pull from the “light”, to find a way to continue or at least the ability to see that not all is lost in the dark but that there is also a light to stem from. I believe this to be true in this image (piece of “art”) and in life as seen in the image there may be more darkness but by far the light is the overpowering force from within. The light I find to also have an element of mystique; the viewer does not truly know what this light is, it is not clearly portrayed, leaving the deep meaning to the viewer.

Argument: What is a light?

The color pallet or lack there of is the first element which defines the point of view within this photograph. The lack of color only shows the image to be “black” and “white”. ( this is photograph is using the same lighting technique )

The image is presented to be a very harsh image despite the lights which are poking out from the stairwell and from the street lamp. This actually does not soften this photograph, it adds to the severe undertone of this image. The point of view which is seen in this image is that there is always a light on out there. If one looks at the emotion which is felt, there is nothing out there but darkness making a person feels alone and abandoned from the world. If there is a shadow of light, one defining point changes the emotional state from abandonees to feeling as there is something out there; a form of light. A park usually would not make a person think about these things but the lighting concept truly gives this image this point of view. The overwhelming black is fear, the unknown and what most people spend their life running from. The darkness is what is not wanted to be seen and very hard for most to come to peace with. The light is what is strived for; it is that thing that most spend their life looking for. The image gives hope to anyone who is striving for that “light”, for someone who feels as they only can see the darkness there is the light out there. A person may have to search in the dark for this light but its there. Even at a dark park which would be lost in the “darkness” if not for the light.