Controversy

One of the images I am planning to use is quite controversial as it shows a man with broken legs crucified on an upside down cross. Obviously this contains a very macabre and disturbing theme and could also be controversial within the Christian community for the use of the cross. I use the upside down cross as a tounge-in-cheek reference to Satanism which heavy metal is often connected to and mean it as its original use which was an Ancient Roman torture device rather than a Christian symbol. I will also create a 'clean' version of this image minus the gore so as to create the option for my artist's album to be sold in mainstream shops.

The artist that my band is based on is Marilyn Manson who is well known for his shocking actions and images and that's why I am using images like this in my album art. Below are some of Manson's controversial images to show that my ideas fall within my genre conventions and aren't just pointless blood and guts.

  

The use of the cross symbol in these images caused controversy among the Christian community, especially the Holy Wood album art which showed a representation of Manson as the crucified Christ, and the logo for their 'Guns, God, and Government' Tour which featured a cross made up of guns.

  

The Antichrist Superstar album by the band also caused controversy due to its content and Manson's declaration that he was the Antichrist. The images throughout the album are also quite grotesque and disturbing.

 

During live performances of the song Antichrist Superstar from the album of the same name, Manson performs from a fascist style podium with a swatstika-like lightning symbol on it. This is supposed to represent the fascism of the modern media and Christian society and is made even more controversial by the Bible ripping that he performs as he sings.

 

Their album Mechanical Animals also created controversy due to Manson's costume during a lot of the songs featured on it. Trying to represent an alien type lifeform, he wore a full body suit which gave him breasts and covered up his genetalia completely. This shocking look caused much controversy in America and many shops refused to sell the album without a sticker covering the artwork.

A lot of Marilyn Manson's image is based around shocking images and themes and I am trying to incorporate this into my album art with the controversial images, although I will create 'clean' and 'dirty' versions of each to avoid issues.