the NachtKabarett

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All Writing & Content © Nick Kushner Unless Noted Otherwise
In collaboration with Gilles R. Maurice

A major theme in The Golden Age Of Grotesque was a hearkening back and drawing influences from various points in history, including the present, which were grotesque, decadent and debaucherous, as well as those which were deemed as such. One of these which is the most prominent, both in history as well as Manson's inspiration for The Golden Age Of Grotesque was the art and artists who were deemed as "degenerate" by the rising Nazi party in 1930's Germany. Though not always drawn from so explicitly, this has always been a major theme in Manson's art; the dichotomy and constant battle of expressionism and censorship. A theme which still exists in America today. Although art may not be banned today (at least not often successfully so), the suppression of progressive, new and innovative ideas in art and expressionism exists very much so. And if not by banning, by self-imposed societal standards as to what is "beautiful" and "ugly", something which can oft be just as dangerous and damning. A theme which Manson has always fought against.

In Europe, and specifically Germany, after World War I, the growing apathy of the youth and the increasing disillusionment towards the government after their betrayal unto them by being led into the most horrific war ever known to man up until the time, gave rise to the most progressive movements which the art world had ever seen. The youth which were filled with feelings of disillusionment and apathy, used this rage, their ennui, or boredom, to their advantage and begun such movements such as cubism, dada, surrealism and expressionism. Unlike how it's viewed and taught in schools today, art to them was something tangible, something that affected change, it was an escape, and for some a necessity in keeping sanity. Virtually the entire civilised world was in a state of disarray after World War I, and the art movements of this time reflected and expressed this global disposition. Art, with such incendiary movements such as dada, became ugly, became shocking; art was the artist's revenge against the world who had led him astray and beaten him down and its ugliness and harshness was the mirror that reflected the degradation of the society around him, it was the artist as the prolific and incendiary creation of the society he lived in.

But not everyone is able to find their salvation in art, nor did everyone appreciate the scathing and grotesque reality which was often depicted. And though the artist was able to portray society and save himself it did not however save the plebian aggregate masses, who needed a more literal and immediate solution. The world economy had compleatly deteriorated (as this was the time of The Great Depression), currency and money had become literally another form of toilet and wall paper. When the Nazi party came to power, through terror and blackmail namely, it was promised that all said problems would be alleviated and Germany would be restored to its great and empiric state, something which was also done. Though in the process, in restoring all which was purely and patriotically German, anything deemed un- Germanic or unglorifying to the fatherland was demonized, villified and ridiculed. Most familiar and recognizeable were the book burnings of works deemed un- Germanic and the mass persecution of the Jews. But along with these came the persecution of art and expressionism.

Shortly after coming to power and the Nazi's restoration of German patriotism came the persecution of art, entertainment and those who participated in them. Many and most of the progressive works of art were deemed "degenerate", confiscated and either sold, burned or set on display as a ridiculed spectacle in what came to be known as "degenerate Art" Museums. Works of artists such as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Max Ernst, Edvard Munch and, two of the most notable of the era and to our purposes here, Otto Dix and George Grosz. The traveling "degenerate Art" museums were some of the greatest and most progressive art exhibitions which the world has ever seen or known, yet ridiculed and demonized in place of the praise they were deserved. Paintings were often auctioned off, vandalized or hung askew in mockery.

This is where the term LOW ART GLOOMINATI comes into play with Manson's lyrical poetry. LOW ART as a synonym for "Degenerate" Art, which is purposefully evoked as an empowerment to expressionism; by demonizing oneself beforehand, it leaves little rest for any one possessing critical and belittling eyes to condemn. Which is also in itself a belittlement towards this belittlement of progressive art; to empower it through its evocation. And 'GLOOMINATI' as a play on the words, the prefix gloom juxtaposed with Illuminati to insinuate Marilyn Manson as a dark, overly sinister misery spreading entity, which again is done so sarcastically as they bring nothing but joy to myself and anyone else who gets "it".

The photo in the middle of The Golden Age Of Grotesque album booklet is Manson is made up in Black Face. Black face was a type of theatre makeup in the early Vaudville and American theatre where, before blacks were allowed to act, a white was made up with black face paint with a white ellipse around the mouth and occasionally white circles around his eyes. The principle involved is similar to men dressed in feminine guise in the Shakespearean days when women were not allowed to partake in theatre acting. And the same in traditional Japanese theatre today.

The fact that Manson is dressed in Black Face is representative further of his art being deemed as "degenerate" by judgemental society, just as black culture was deemed as "degenerate" and forced into dimminuative servitude throughout American history, yet also embraced by white culture simultaneously. Just as today when 70% of the consumers of rap music, a phenonenom from the streets of black culture, are from young middle class whites. The dichotomy of fascination and demonization.

Also hearkening back to Manson stating that, "I will be called 'degenerate,' but I will not allow my art to be labeled as such!" This "degeneracy" is not a literal one, just as the art in the "Entartete" Kunst, "Degenerate" Art exhibitions of Nazi Germany were in context and reality anything but degenerate. They were some of the greatest and most progressive works of art ever on display but villified and belittled as "degenerate" because that's what those who were in power ingrained this fascist morality and standard of beauty unto society. Just as Manson has fought against the today self imposed "The Fascism Of Beauty" which society willingly imposes upon itself. Manson gazing into a mirror, mockingly and uncaringly of of society's fascist standards, admiring his own "degenerate" beauty.

Along with works of art and literature that were banned, confiscated or burned, the Nazi intrusion in German life also extended to music and entertainment. Both swing and jazz were banned, demonized as "degenerate", labeled as "Nigger-Kike" music. Nightclubs and record stores were raided to smash the perpetuation of them and the dissuade interest through fear and terror. Similarly, forms of theatre such as Cabaret and Vaudeville were also deemed as such, with night clubs and theatres who housed such performances either raided or shut down. The term "Swing Heil" Manson sung in Doll-Dagga Buzz-Buzz Ziggety-Zag was a mantra coined during this time period, as a mockery toward the Nazi "Sieg Heil" which sought to smash and efface them. Two films which portray this quite well are Swing Kids and Cabaret, more of which can be read about in The CELLULOID section.

Again, a the theme of the war between expressionism and censorship which has always been integral to Manson's art. And much of the imagery Manson portrayed within The Golden Age Of Grotesque is evocative of this very time period. With these particular examples Manson identifying with the persecuted, which Manson is no stranger to from religion and entertainment. Along with Blackface, Manson playing the saxophone on The Golden Age Of Grotesque and live in the Grotesk Burlesk is another facet which is evocative of those forms of entertainment which were deemed "degenerate". The saxophone being an instrument synonymous with Jazz music makes this a befitting reference.

Along with elements of musik, art & performance which were deemed "degenerate" by the Nazi Party, conversely Manson's art and The Golden Age Of Grotesque is full of elements evocative of Nazism portrayed and used in a "degenerate" manner thus bringing together the dichotomy of "good" & "evil", expressionism & fascism, black & white, Marilyn & Manson.

Thematically, Manson's mock portrayal of fascism and Nazi imagery is reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin's highly controverisal 1940 film, The Great Dictator, in which he ridicules Hitler & the Nazi party by satire, using comedy as a means to warn the world of the very real dangers of the impending fascism of the late 30's. And Manson has done so in a very similar sense in regard to the parallels of repression today, both by religion & government but also to decry the imposition of self-censorship which is forced and ingrained into society today. The ensued ambiguity is also quite reminiscent of Boyd Rice's performances, an important influence for Manson from whom he also borrowed his Celebritarian Double-Cross.

Other watercolors by Manson emerged since then with references to Hitler and the swastika :