'The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles' & Howard Gossage - The Socrates of San Francisco

[puck]

I have absolutely zero time to try to fit these two quizzical puzzle pieces together before I have to run off to work, but I thought I might leave this thought here in hopes someone can make sense of it — or downright refute it — before I can.

I picked up a book not two weeks ago titled The Book of Gossage, which is half-biography, half-homage to Howard Gossage — a famous figurehead in the advertising world during the Mad Men era. He was called "the Socrates of San Francisco," was wildly inventive, an innovator in the field, and a public figure to boot.

The new Manson track — "The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles" — made me think of this immediately.

I have to run, but I'll revisit this thread with some more thoughts on how these two might be connected.

[Shangri-LIE]

Don't jump the gun, but we look forward to your thoughts. Don't lead us to temptations. It could be fatal.

[kk_15]

Mephistopheles is a demon commonly featured in German folklore. He originally appeared in literature as the demon in the Faust legend, and he has since appeared in other works as a stock character version of Satan. Heads up.

[YoureAlreadyHere]

Dr Google is in this bitch!

[Shock Hazard]

AKA the antichrist or thought provoker, like Socrates, roams in LA.

[Nemoris Inferioris]

ACSS + HW = TPE?



Mephistopheles flying.

Looks like Cupid...

MM's visual of "Cupid Carries A Gun"?

[Shock Hazard]

It does not look like Cupid. if anything Lucifer, but it depends on your perception of what looks 'demonic.'

[Nemoris Inferioris]

It does not look like Cupid. if anything Lucifer, but it depends on your perception of what looks 'demonic.'

What i meant was, MM's song is "Cupid Carries A Gun", which might represent the Evil side of Cupid. Perhaps not. It does look like Lucifer. Which is another word for Satan, Devil, Evil, whatever. Cupid Carrying a gun with him, and Shoots people to fall in love. Which may be perceived by MM as a Evil figure. Which might look similar to that ^. Put a Bow/Gun in its hand, what would you see.

Cupid Also had wings.

[Shock Hazard]

Cupid carrying a gun is more of a modernized depiction of the figure. Since love is considered irrational, the bullet wounds instead of arrows just as well penetrates and inflames the heart. Typically cupid has a young boyish figure. I guess from another prospective he could be a grown man with devilish horns and claws, but it may distort his whole image.

To be technical, Lucifer was not the same figure as Satan, but had similar treatment. I think the Mephistopheles demon here is meant to represent all that opposes good like the Antichrist, along with the irrationalities of love. Probably treated individually from Cupid but all part of the main theme Manson has always perpetuated. I guess we'll find out more once the lyrics are released.

[The Empirical Guy]

Cupid Carrying a gun with him, and Shoots people to fall in love.

I've got a crush on a pretty pistol.