Biography of Sarah Jessica Parker

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Think of Sarah Jessica Parker, and the first image that comes to our mind is that of the bright pink Cosmopolitan cocktail; the same one she revolutionized in Sex and the City – flashy and cool, with a tangy dash of lime. Ever since she made her appearance on our TV screens as Carrie Bradshaw in SATC, most of us have remembered her for just being Carrie, completely disregarding the fact that she’s been in showbiz for nearly 35 years. Call it what you want to, but the now-iconic character that she played, created such a lasting impression on the audience that it is tough to separate the two.

On exploring her career graph, one just can’t help but notice the fact that Parker is an entertainer who is best described as old-fashioned; a performer in the true sense, someone who actually sings and dances. She does not carry that I-am-a-star aura everywhere she goes, and it is wonderful to see an actress at least seemingly comfortable in her own skin, skinny arms, disheveled hair and all. With all the emphasis on physical attributes in Hollywood, it is refreshing to see a star who in her own words “digs her flaws”.

Now, SJP is also a producer, an entrepreneur and a mother who does a fine balancing act. To all the women who expect an Alexander McQueen-clad princess in Manolos, retreat right here, because, here’s Sarah Jessica Parker, who’s so not Carrie.

The New Yorker from Cincinnati

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SJP was born on March 25, 1965 in Nelsonville, Ohio. Her parents were Barbara Parker, a teacher, and Stephen Parker, a journalist. Her parents divorced when she was quite young, but she still affiliates with her father’s Jewish ethnicity. Her mother went on to wed Paul Forste, who became young Sarah’s father in the truest sense.

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It wouldn’t be wrong to say that SJP had humble beginnings. Her family included seven siblings and her parents who brought her up in an intellectually stimulating environment, although they weren’t what one would call ‘moneyed’. She remains fortunate to have the kind of upbringing she did, with her parents encouraging her to pursue ballet and drama, and pushing her to read The New Yorker.

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Her mother, even with their limited means, taught young Sarah never to underestimate the importance of dressing up to the occasion, a quality she is still thankful for.

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SJP was a student at Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts, School of American Ballet in New York, and later went on to attend high school in New Jersey and Los Angeles.

Stepping onto the Big Stage

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Sarah Jessica Parker’s first Broadway appearance came in Annie, a story about an orphan set in the Depression era. She began with a smaller part, and went on to grab the lead role in 1979.

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Her first TV role was in the sitcom Square Pegs in 1982 as an awkward teenager. The show didn’t last long, but young SJP had definitely “arrived”.

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Films followed almost immediately, with Footloose in 1984, along with Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, in which she starred alongside Helen Hunt.

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Her most memorable movie in 1986 as a young artist was Disney’s Flight of the Navigator, a cool sci-fi film.

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The transition from a gawky teenager to a gorgeous gal was smooth, as was evident in her next release, L.A. Story in 1991, which was a romantic comedy.

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Her next movie Honeymoon in Vegas saw her get a starring role opposite Nicolas Cage. This movie released in 1992, and SJP came into the limelight.

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Her 1993 movie Hocus Pocus was a minor box office success, but was slammed by the critics. In the same year, she acted opposite Bruce Willis in Striking Distance, where she played a police diver.

In 1994 came Ed Wood, director Tim Burton’s critically acclaimed movie in which she was paired opposite Johnny Depp as his girlfriend.

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She played the lead role in 1995′s Miami Rhapsody with Antonio Banderas and Mia Farrow, which received mixed reviews. Her next movie outing was that of the feisty mistress in The First Wives Club, released in the year 1996. In 1997, SJP acted in the comedy ‘Til There Was You.

SJP has also had a flourishing stage career with her plays Sylvia, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, in which she acted with her husband Matthew Broderick, and Once Upon a Mattress.

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Her recent movies include The Family Stone (2005), for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Comedy. Another romantic comedy, Failure to Launch with Matthew McConaughey released in 2006. In 2008, she then produced and starred in the indie film, Spinning Into Butter.

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She was last seen in 2011, on the big screen in the movie I Don’t Know How She Does It.

Enter Ms. Carrie Bradshaw

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To call the HBO series Sex and the City (SATC) as the highlight of SJP’s career would be the understatement of the year. SATC is more or less the reason behind SJP’s phenomenal popularity, and vice versa, in all fairness. So here’s how it all began – the show’s creator, Darren Star thought she fit the bill, sent her the script, she was initially hesitant, but came around to star in it, and later went on to become its producer as well. While the world saw her prancing around in pretty dresses and sky-high heels, SJP worked 90 hours a week, six months a year for each of the six seasons.

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The first episode of SATC aired on June 6, 1998, with the opening credits showing SJP in the memorable pink tutu, walking on the streets of New York. Six brilliant seasons later, SJP was a sartorial goddess and the lone princess who managed to find her happy ending. She received five Emmy nominations for playing Carrie, before finally winning in 2004, along with winning four Golden Globe awards.

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Two SATC movies followed in 2008 and 2010, which earned moderate praise and garnered decent earnings, mostly thanks to the huge number of loyalists.

Just SJP

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Sarah Jessica Parker was in a relationship with Firstborn fellow actor Robert Downey, Jr. from 1984. They broke up in 1991, owing to his long-term drug abuse.

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She married actor Matthew Broderick on May 19, 1997 at a synagogue in Manhattan. She gave birth to their son, James Wilkie Broderick on October 28, 2002. The couple’s twin daughters, Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge were born through surrogacy on June 22, 2009.

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She endorsed Garnier Nutrisse hair color and Gap. SJP also has a fragrance line to her credit.

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Parker is UNICEF’s Representative for the Performing Arts, and is a member of Hollywood Women’s Political Committee.

Today, Sarah Jessica Parker is the epitome of savvy urban women, juggling motherhood and her professional commitments. Considering her celebrity status, she is as normal/abnormal as they come, refusing to surgically address her flaws and pander to the typical filmstar excesses. If that’s not a welcome change, what is?


Buzzle: Entertainment & Media

Demi Lovato to Join Britney Spears as Judge on X Factor

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Britney Spears and Demi Lovato are in New York today for the expected announcement by FOX that both starlets will have seats on The X Factor’s judges’ panel, along with show creator Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid. In terms of stepping up in star power, it’s hard to imagine that Simon Cowell could have hoped for a bigger jump than from Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger to Britney Spears and Demi Lovato. Whether the two new judges will be able to handle their new roles alongside a personality as strong as Cowell’s will be interesting to watch, but there is no question that the show is going to enjoy an initial ratings boost simply because of the star power involved.

The initial ratings surge for The X Factor could be a double-edged sword, however, as both Spears and Lovato are going to be under a tremendous media microscope in the early going. Fortunately for FOX, the show’s taping format should afford enough opportunities to piece together decent footage, even if Spears and Lovato struggle to find their groove as judges.

It’s safe to assume that neither Britney nor Demi envision themselves as providing the “train wreck” element that Paula Abdul often brought to the judges’ panel. At least, that is probably not how Cowell and FOX sold them on the idea of joining the show. Once production starts, however, Cowell and the show’s production team will ultimately determine how their young judges look to the rest of America.

Given the instability and personal struggles that both Spears and Lovato have faced in the recent past, it will be interesting to see just how much latitude the show’s producers will allow in showing an unfiltered glimpse at the personality of the new judges.


Buzzle: Entertainment & Media

Mad Men Creator Paid $250,000 to Use Beatles Song

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The closing scene from the most recent episode of “Mad Men,” the show chronicling the massive social change that occurred in the U.S. during the decade of the 1960s, featured main character Don Draper relaxing after a day of work with a rye whiskey in hand and the Beatles “Tomorrow Never Knows” playing on the record player. How much meaning the scene was supposed to convey is unknown to all but the show’s creator, Matthew Weiner, but from all appearances, Draper is coming to grips with the social change grudgingly and with no small amount of confusion. It’s not entirely clear that he doesn’t quite “get” the song, but the trippy sounds of the track is definitely a change of pace for the raised-in-the-depression, buttoned-down Draper.

Perhaps more interesting is that Weiner paid the hefty sum of $ 250,000 for the rights to use the song in the episode, an incredible sum by any measure, but especially for a non-network television show. Weiner, however, had no complaints, indicating that the song was integral to the theme of the episode. Noted Weiner, “It was always my feeling that the show lacked a certain authenticity because we never could have an actual master recording of the Beatles performing. Not just someone singing their song or a version of their song, but them, doing a song in the show. It always felt to me like a flaw. Because they are the band, probably, of the 20th century.”

Prior to getting approval, Weiner had to share details of the episode with Apple Corps, which owns the rights to the band’s music. Noted Weiner, “It was hard because I had to, writing-wise, commit to the story that I thought was worthy of this incredible opportunity. The thing about that song in particular was, the Beatles are, throughout their intense existence, constantly pushing the envelope, and I really wanted to show how far ahead of the culture they were. That song to me is revolutionary, as is that album.”


Buzzle: Entertainment & Media

Ways to Save Money on Your Pet

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The last time you were at the pet store, did you end up spending a small fortune on your furry friend? You probably went there for one or two small items, but ended up grabbing all those fun-looking, fuzzy toys on your way out, right? Well, never fear. There are plenty of ways that you can cut back on spending on your cat or dog, and the tips are a lot easier than you might think.

Toys
Cats and dogs are often like children; you buy them an expensive toy and they end up playing with the box it came in. If this is the case with your pet, go ahead and just buy him the box – metaphorically, of course. If you pay attention to your pet at play, though, you will find what makes him or her happy and what they just ignore. Some dogs, for example, really love squeaky toys but ignore ropes for tugging. Some cats love playing with ribbons but don’t like the laser lights. If your cat or dog likes a specific kind of toy, buy them a few of those but don’t buy more until they run out. If your pet likes to play with things that aren’t toys, like ribbons or socks, keep some of those handy and don’t buy toys at all.

Medication
You can save a bundle on medication for your pet by buying in bulk online. Of course, you should always see your vet before giving any medication to your furry friend, but once you get the prescription, there are a bunch of online suppliers where you can get your pet’s medication for cheap if you buy a big supply of them at a time.

Food and Treats
Food and treats for your cat or dog can be very expensive, and you usually don’t want to compromise on quality in order to save a few bucks. Lower quality pet food can be made with lots of fillers that aren’t very good for your pet’s health. Luckily, though, there are some great bargain brands. Compare the ingredient lists to price and find what works best for you and your wallet. Also, dry food is almost always cheaper – and healthier. Wet food doesn’t help your pet’s digestive tract at all, so you may want to switch to dry food if you can. There is also the option of making your pet’s food yourself. This is the healthiest way to feed your pet, after you do a little research about what is good for them to eat and what is not. However, even though this is cheaper, it can be very time-consuming.

Bedding
Bedding is a necessity, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy it from a pet store. Bedding from your local pet store can cost a lot of money, especially when you can go to your local department store and get blankets and pillows for much less. Dogs, especially, love fleece blankets, and you can always get some fleece and make your own. Similarly, you can get foam padding and make pads for crates and carriers without spending much at all.

Grooming
Grooming is a huge expense when it comes to your pet. If you feel comfortable trimming your own pet’s fur, you can absolutely do that at home. If not, there are ways to save. People usually have their pets groomed in the spring and fall, when shedding becomes intense. If you brush your pet every day, this will cut down on the number of times you have to bring him or her to the groomer.


Buzzle: Animals & Pets

Family Group Calls for Boycott of America’s Got Talent and Howard Stern

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In a recent letter to over ninety advertisers who are likely to buy time with America’s Got Talent, the Parents Television Council said the following: “Programs like ‘AGT’ have offered millions of American families brief respite from the otherwise-ubiquitous stream of violent, profane and sexually explicit content on primetime. NBC’s decision to add Mr. Stern to ‘AGT’ will probably result in a sharp increase in explicit content and we urge you to be mindful when considering a media buy.”

While that doesn’t openly require that advertisers refrain from buying air time with NBC, the message is clear. Of course, the Parents Television Council is probably only serving America’s Got Talent and Howard Stern by making these sorts of public overtures. Controversial, polarizing characters drive television ratings, regardless of the format. America’s Got Talent is going to remain a family show, except that now it is also going to attract a more edgy audience who wants to see Stern perform on prime time television.

And once he demonstrates the ability to navigate the confines of prime time television while maintaining his sharp wit and honesty, it’s going to be extremely difficult for advertisers to stay away. Even the promos for America’s Got Talent have an almost Disney-like quality to them. NBC has been playing up Stern’s edginess, but it will be his heartfelt honesty and everyman qualities that will win over the masses when the show premieres on May 14.

Whether Stern’s presence is enough to move the needle for AGT remains to be seen. But the potential is there for huge success and a completely new level of fame and recognition for Howard Stern.


Buzzle: Entertainment & Media

Kids Don’t Have to Ruin Your Marriage

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If you are one of those people who grew up not sure if you’d ever want kids, and now you find yourself married to the perfect spouse and thinking children might be in your not-so-distant future, you are not alone. If you are worried that having these kids will ruin your marriage, you are not alone, either. While it will take some work, and while it will certainly change your life, having a baby doesn’t have to ruin your marriage. You just have to get a little creative about how you think of spending time together, and you have to make the most of the time you have.

After Bedtime

Remember when you were a little kid and you used to complain about having to go to bed earlier than all of the adults? There was a reason your mom and dad made you go to sleep earlier than they did. They use the after-bedtime hours as adult time. This is the time for moms and dads to watch what they want on television, or to watch a movie not suitable for children. You might be exhausted when you put your kids to sleep, but enforcing a strict bedtime is good for the child and the parents. It gives the child a sense of routine, and a good night’s sleep, while it gives the parents some quality time together in the comfort of their own home.

Hire a Babysitter

Some parents may be wary of hiring a babysitter who is not a family member, but sometimes it is necessary if you ever want to get out of the house with just the two of you. Find someone you trust by asking a trusted neighbor or by consulting online babysitting and nanny searches. These internet babysitting profiles often run background checks and allow you to interview people before hiring them, which can put your mind at ease. Hiring a babysitter can really add up, though, from a cost standpoint. If hiring a babysitter is too expensive, see if you can trade off nights with the parents of your child’s friends. You take all the kids for a night one week, and then the next week, the other parents take their turn. This can be beneficial for everyone involved, because it allows you to spend less money while still being able to have someone you trust watch your kids, and your kids get to play with their friends every week.

Schedule Date Night

Those mommy calendars are no joke. When you have little kids running around, you need to schedule every minute of every day. Before kids, you probably had spontaneous date nights all of the time, but after kids, this can be much harder than it used to be. There is no shame in scheduling a date night. Put it on the calendar, and make sure everyone knows that you and your spouse are going out of town for a night, or maybe just dinner. It doesn’t matter what you do; what matters is that you do it alone.

Family Cuddle Time

While it’s definitely not the same as spending time alone, having quality family time every night is important for everyone. When you spend time with your kids, talking to them and sharing stories about your days and being excited about each others projects, this can foster a sense of companionship among the family. Even if you don’t feel like talking one day, pick a favorite movie or television show and cuddle up each other with a great blanket. You’ll feel great having spent quality time together with your family.


Buzzle: Children & Family

Surprising Uses of Everyday Foods

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Food is necessary to fuel our bodies, but sometimes we buy too much of it at the grocery store. When your produce starts to go bad, or when you’ve kept those spices around for just a bit too long, or when you thought you’d make a recipe out of all of those ingredients but just didn’t get around to it, there are many other ways you can still use your food instead of throwing it away. Surprisingly, it doesn’t involve eating it either.

Fruits

Before throwing away old banana peels, use them to shine up metals and leathers that you have. Rub the peel against the surface and then polish it with an old cloth. Banana meat is also good for reducing wrinkles. Dab a bit on those trouble spots, let it sit for a while, and then wash it off, and your wrinkles will disappear. Lemons are great to lighten skin and hair. If you have troublesome acne scars, dab a bit of fresh lemon juice on them and leave it overnight. You’ll notice a difference in the morning. Apple slices will help ripen tomatoes quickly when the two fruits are placed together in a paper bag, and orange peels are great fire starters for your next backyard fire pit party.

Vegetables

A slice of cold potato over your eyes can reduce puffiness and redness on your eyelids. Sit with the potato over your eyes as you would with slices of cucumber in a spa. Garlic removes splinters with ease. If you rub garlic over a splinter, it will come right out.

Oils and Condiments

Mustard can make you feel a lot better if you are suffering from a cold. If you use it like a vapor rub and apply it to your chest under a wet towel, you’ll feel better in no time at all. Butter can help you untangle all of those knotted necklaces that are in the back of your jewelry drawer. Just slather some on, watch the necklaces slip apart, and rinse them off. That high-calorie mayonnaise in your fridge that you are trying not to eat because it will ruin your diet is great for getting crayon off of the walls. The next time your kids draw all over, don’t worry. Slather some mayo on there and wipe it all away. Olive oil is a great product for your skin, as well as to quieten creaky hinges. If your dog or cat brings home fleas, using salt is a great way to get rid of them around the house. Just pour salt into the vacuum cleaner and around the baseboards. Let it sit, then vacuum the salt up. The salt dehydrates the fleas and kills them. Be sure to throw away the vacuum bag or empty the vacuum bin immediately, or some of the fleas can crawl back out.

Beverages

Everyone knows the trick of using club soda to get dark stains out of the carpet. But did you know it also works to get pet urine out of the carpet too! Beer is a great hair lightener. If you are out of lemons, try soaking your hair in beer before going outside. Just don’t forget to wash it out afterwards. That old 2-liter bottle of pop will work wonders if you need to clear out a clogged drain. Just pour it down the drain and watch the fizzes do their job of breaking up the gunk. Milk is great for stain removal, especially if your stain is some type of ink. Just soak some into the stain and watch it loosen up.

As you can see, there are so many other uses everyday foods have around the house. So next time, before tossing any food away thinking it is of no use, stop for a moment and think about all their uses mentioned here.


Buzzle: Food & Drink

Ads Featuring Ashton Kutcher Deemed Offensive, Pulled

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Ashton Kutcher is in the news a lot these days, both for his work on television and for his very public split with Demi Moore. The latest news featuring the 34-year-old actor is a flap over an advertisement he appears in for Popchips. The ad features Kutcher dressed in various garb and playing an array of characters, but one of those characters, in which he portrays the 39-year-old “Raj,” a Bollywood movie producers, has been deemed offensive by many.

In the ad, Kutcher appears in traditional Indian garb, and has brown makeup on and a mustache. The ad itself has been removed from the Popchips website and other online channels after it almost immediately drawing the ire of those who had viewed it. Anil Dash, the tech entrepreneur, was probably the most outspoken in his criticism, noting, “I can’t imagine I have to explain this to anyone in 2012, but if you find yourself putting brown makeup on a white person in 2012 so they can do a bad ‘funny’ accent in order to sell potato chips, you are on the wrong course.”

At this point, Kutcher himself has not responded to the controversy, but Keith Belling, founder and CEO of Popchips, posted on the company’s website to apologize. In the noted, he stated, “We received a lot feedback about the dating campaign parody we launched today and appreciate everyone who took the time to share their point of view. Our team worked hard to create a light-hearted parody featuring a variety of characters that was meant to provide a few laughs. We did not intend to offend anyone. I take full responsibility and apologize to anyone we offended.”


Buzzle: Entertainment & Media

Autobiography Vs. Memoir

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There are many similarities between autobiographies and memoirs, and often only the most discerning reader can tell the difference between the two. Whether you were assigned the book for a class or you picked it up at the local library because it looked interesting, knowing the difference between autobiography and memoir can enhance your understanding of the text.

Autobiographies

Autobiographies are different from biographies in that the author writes an autobiography about his or her self rather than it being written about them. Autobiographies typically cover a lot of ground in the author’s life. If you are reading the entire life story of the author until he or she wrote the book, you are probably reading an autobiography. The writing in these texts tends to be a bit dry, or less interesting, because so much time has to be covered from start to finish.

Memoirs

Memoirs usually tackle a specific subject or point in a person’s life. If the author wants to tell the story of his or her divorce or illness or any other time or event when the author’s life changed, he or she is probably going to write a memoir. Because it deals with one specific problem that is usually within the author’s recent memory, the writing style in memoirs tends to be more literary and creative, making it easier to read.

Similarities

Obviously, autobiographies and memoirs are nonfiction texts written by the author about specific events in his or her life. The biggest similarity is that the texts are all true. Many authors write autobiographical fiction, which means that the story itself is not true but is based on events that happened in his or her life. While this can be similar to autobiographies or memoirs, the fact that the latter are absolutely true in the eyes of the storyteller sets them apart. Both memoirs and autobiographies can also be very interesting to read, especially considering the events actually happened. As the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction, so reading nonfiction can entice many readers.

Differences

The differences between autobiographies and memoirs, then, are subtle. As stated above, autobiographies often cover a longer time period and, as such, are sometimes more difficult to read. If you are very interested in the history of someone’s life, you may want to pick up that person’s autobiography. If you are more interested in how someone dealt with a specific situation – maybe one you are facing in your own life – a memoir on the subject may be for you. In the same vein, memoirs often tackle tough subjects and don’t necessarily have to be written by someone who is already well known.

Deciding Which One to Write

If you are an aspiring nonfiction author and are thinking about writing about your life, deciding between writing an autobiography and a memoir can be difficult. The first thing to do is to think about the story you want to tell. If you want to tell the story of your entire life, go with an autobiography. If you can look at your life and pinpoint a situation you went through and you feel strongly that you’d like to share that experience with the world, go with a memoir.

From a sales perspective, memoirs are more likely to sell, especially if you are not a well-known celebrity. Celebrities can write successful autobiographies because people want to read their life stories from their perspectives, so they will generally sell well. Memoirs, however, apply to everyone who has been through a similar situation, making them easier to market.


Buzzle: Arts & Literature

Marilyn Manson Talks About New Album, Born Villain

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Marilyn Manson sat down with a CNN interviewer recently to talk about his new album, “Born Villain,” which was released yesterday, and offered a lengthy and interesting response. Manson is, of course, on a list of entertainers most despised by conservative and parents groups, having been blamed for countless acts of violence perpetrated misguided youth.

Asked about the new album, he noted, “Growing up going to Christian school and the concept that you’re born a sinner and you don’t really have a choice to change who you are has been hammered into my head and created the entire reason why I made art and made a band and made records called ‘Antichrist Superstar.’” he said.

Mason went on, “In any story, the villain is the catalyst. The hero’s not a person who will bend the rules or show the cracks in his armor. He’s one-dimensional intentionally, but the villain is the person who owns up to what he is and stands by it. He’ll do the things that are sometimes morally questionable, but he does it because it’s his nature to do it and it doesn’t fluctuate. It’s the fable of the frog and the scorpion, all those stories that just say, whatever you’re going to be, stick to it in confidence.”

Mason also talked about writing the album, on which he focused on recurring themes of guns and flowers, though does not know exactly why. Notes Manson, “I don’t know where all this came from essentially. Maybe it’s because my dad was in Vietnam and there’s an iconic image of the flower being put into the rifle.”


Buzzle: Entertainment & Media