Eccentricity

Eccentric is defined as being different, odd, non-conventional or strange. However being eccentric isn’t entirely bad, it influences the society and makes the society realise that there is much more to life. There are several well known eccentric in the world today and in the past that give off such an influence.

One of these people is Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. Michael is looked up upon and inspired by hundreds and thousands around the world. He not only delivers messages through song, but also stands proudly for what is right and what he believes in. With his multi-billion dollar fortune, he shocked but captured the world with his concern and charity to the unfortunate, young generation. His love for young children captured the music industry especially, for they never saw something like it before. Unfortunately, there is a horrible downside to Jackson, and that is his several facial and skin adjustments. Since day one when Jackson altered his nose, the media hasn’t left him alone and just got worse, so did Michael. It seemed obvious to realise that Michael had issues, over 15 years he underwent so many changes. His fans began to question what he was doing to himself, some believed that he was over paranoid about his appearance and got carried away. These plastic surgeries scared Michael’s life, because the media never let go and were onto every thing Michael would say or go.

Another artist in the music industry is Marilyn Manson, the dark lurker. He almost fits the definition of eccentric perfectly. Manson’s style is looked upon very weird and differently, he certainly doesn’t appear as an average guy. His style of clothing, make up and appearance. Majority of the society disregard him as a psycho or a degenerate. He formed Marilyn Manson & The Spooky Kids in 1989 with the express intention of “exploring the limits of censorship’. The original line-up consisted of part-time journalist Manson, Daisy Berkowitz, Olivia Newton-Bundy and Zsa Zsa Speck, later joined by Sara Lee Lucas – all the band members assuming forenames of female icons and surnames of famous murderers. Bundy and Speck were replaced at the end of 1989 by Gidget Gein and Madonna Wayne Gacy, respectively.

In keeping with their controversial image, they were the first band to be signed to Trent Reznor and John A. Malm Jnr.’s Nothing label. Support slots with artists such as Suicidal Tendencies, Meat Beat Manifesto, Murphy’s Law and the Genitorturers brought them considerable local recognition, in the form of the 1993 “Slammy” Awards and sundry other baubles.

In December 1993, bass player Gein was replaced by Twiggy Ramirez. Reznor acted as guest musician and executive producer on the band’s 1994 debut album, with half of the tracks mixed at the house of the infamous Tate murders by the Manson family. In March 1995, Lucas was replaced on drums by Ginger Fish. Berkowitz also departed in June 1996 and was replaced by Zim Zum. Antichrist Superstar included the American hit single “The Beautiful People”, and reached number 3 on the Billboard album charts. By 1998, they had become one of the biggest bands in the USA, assuming virtual cult status, a position aided as much by their notoriety and propensity for upsetting US right-wing and Christian groups as by their music. Mechanical Animals was a huge American chart-topper that also placed the band in the UK Top 10 for the first time.

During the recording of the album, Zim Zum left and was replaced by Johnnie 5. The highly articulate Manson was forced to morally defend himself when, in April 1999, two alleged fans, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, murdered 15 of their classmates at Colombine High School in Denver, Colorado. The band was forced to abort their nationwide tour, although fans were rewarded with the release of a live album. Manson addressed many of the issues raised by the Colombine shootings on the band’s new album. Holly Wood was another impressive collection of articulate and deceptively melodic industrial rock that belied the moral majority’s one-dimensional portrait of Marilyn Manson as a corrupting, atonal degenerate.

Another great example of eccentric people is the Osbourne Family (Ozzy Osbourne’s family). This particular family has their own show which is similar to Big Brother. Every member of this family is very eccentric. They’re appearance is very awkward and un-casual. However, just because they are different to other families, doesn’t mean they aren’t a family. They have their own ways of getting along with each other.

The mental patient characters in the text Cosi relate very much to the definition of eccentric. Every single one of the characters has something odd or weird about them. However the point reaches across again (just like the mentioned above), although they may have their differences from society, doesn’t mean they should be underestimated to perform a specific task or action. This is proven in the play where they rehearse several times for a play, mean while the owner of the institution doesn’t believe they will perform it to satisfaction, but in the end the patients end up pulling it off very well and proved themselves.