Today we are used to shocking lyrics and captivating looks. It seems like every artist now is striving to be so different that everyone is attracted to it. It hasn't always been this way. In the late '90s and early 2000s, most artists were trying to fit in with the other blonde, elaborate pop stars the industry was spitting out. When there was an artist who wasn't always happy and sang about PG rated subject matter, he was blamed for what was wrong with the world, especially teenagers. In his article "I'd Sell You Suicide: Pop Music and Moral Panic in the Age of Marilyn Manson", Robert Wright delves into and debunks claims that rock music, particularly that of Marilyn Manson, is a major cause of adolescent suicide. the title of this article says a lot about the content. In one line the author summarizes the premise of the article. We can understand the title in a more complex way by dividing it into three parts. The first part of the title is “I would sell you suicide”. The phrase embodies the popularization of violence and suicidal themes in music. It speaks to parents' concern that punk/goth music convinces teenagers to commit suicide by glorifying suicide in their lyrics. The next section would be “Pop Music and Moral Panic.” This refers to how adults were shocked by issues that were becoming mainstream, through music; themes such as sex, drugs, violence and self-loathing. However, parents think that since their children listen to music, they will try to copy the activities that singers/bands have written about. The last section has the deepest meaning and really sums up most of what the article is trying to say. The phrase "In the Age of Marilyn Manson" has two meanings. The first is that Marilyn Manson was the premier entertainer who... middle of paper... didn't know the bad things in life. Manson made great strides in advancing the way America looked at those who are harming young people. It shows neoconservatives and overly concerned parents that just because someone is different and sings about heavy topics doesn't mean they're evil. Marilyn Manson and his music are a solution to the American need for oversensory. Manson opens our eyes to conservatism and demystifies the taboo terms of sex, violence, drugs and suicide. Essentially, Manson is the parent we should all be. We should talk to our children about sex, drugs and even violence. We should make them feel like they are not alone in their thoughts/feelings and that there is someone who understands them. If we all thought like this and practiced it, maybe the teen suicide rate would decrease and people could see the bad in themselves and stop pointing fingers at rock stars..