I probably should be posting part whatever of my Maladjusted essay, but I've lost interest (drama can be exhausting), so here's something else to upset people instead. Recently, Our Mozzer as the @BRSChairman tweeted:
It sparked quite a few replies:Most of you say things that you think will make me have empathy. There is little truth in the conversations I have. Be yourself.— Chairman (@BRSChairman) March 24, 2016
Shoving aside the philosophical existentialism of identities (including pessoa), I'm interested in the concepts of truth, boundaries and attraction.
The Dramatically Delude Dozen of the #BRS frequently share divergent opinions, not least about issues relating to Our Mozzer and often about each other. Hence the various schisms over Faggate and Supremegate and the responses to my Jimmy Saville readings of Maladjusted songs. Only Morrissey knows the truth of his own actions, the inspirations for lyrics and fonts and the plethora of issues and rumors which surround him. The rest of us can guess or research, defend or reel back in bewilderment. Or try to understand.
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| Morrissey planning a holiday in the land of Skippy and Home and Away in a luxurious Supreme caravan. |
I can't claim to know what specifically led to the empathy tweet. Was it somethings that we tweeted or was Morrissey having a bad day with yes men? Maybe he felt the need to be challenged? Was the Mozziah experiencing a Monty Python moment? Is it that we see the Mozziah as our savior, to tell us there's nothing wrong with us? I mean, it's not like he cultivates a cult-like following, doesn't want to be judged etc. I dunno and I wouldn't expect an illuminating answer if I asked. Only Marcus replied with challenging questions, which were, of course, unanswered: just like prayer.Wouldn't it be nice to be in the land of skippy and Home and Away. I must book a holiday.— Chairman (@BRSChairman) March 24, 2016
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| Who would seek empathy from a fully grown man who rides a short equine? |
Anyway, the pessoa @BRSChairman doesn't was us seeking empathy from him. He wants us to be truthful and to be ourselves; although I'm sure that seeking empathy and being honest and yourself are not mutually exclusive.
Or I'll kill you
I must admit, that when I disagree with Morrissey or with Our Mozzer's pessoas, or even with other members of the #BRS, I tend to remain silent. I pretend not to have seen the tweet or post. Or, I reply with a tangential deflection.@BRSChairman— MozAngel (@LizzyCatMoz) March 25, 2016
OK I will. I don't always agree with your rather extreme black and white views about some subjects. But I admire your honesty.
One example of where I disagree with Morrissey and some other #BRS members is with a certain vegan t-shirt. I even felt a slight pang when Moby posted a pic of a man with illustrated arms wearing one (minus the Morrissey branding).
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| I agreed with the highlighted comment. |
You can buy this t-shirt at the Mporium and there are numerous non-Moz variations. OK, it's meant to be ironic. I get that. It's just something that I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing.
As a vegan, I can empathize with Morrissey wanting to reach for his arms cache shelved on the top bunk of his Supreme caravan at the Tweed Heeds South Big 4, as the stench of unholy murder drifts over from the evening's ritual BBQing. But I'm not a murderous zealot. And neither is Morrissey, nor, presumably, Miss Misery.
I just wouldn't want some crazed vegan doing a shooting spree at a Macca's like messed-up omnivore James Huberty did - especially if they were wearing a t-shirt like this or if the cops later found one in their closet.
I also wouldn't want veggies to do something like the recent lynching at Dadri, where a Hindu mob murdered a Muslim man and injured his son because they were thought to be eating dead cattle during Ahimsa (alas, they were wrong, it was mutton in the fridge and on not bovine), To quote The Times of India:
The real issue here is whether we will allow lynch mobs to enforce their dietary and cultural choices on others and let them get away with murder. Neither the state and central governments nor civil society should lose sight of that...
Christian Dior
A lot of people, including Mozziaphiles and members of the #DDD, have issue with many of Morrissey's pronouncements. I'm not talking about the hysterical responses in the media or the negativity at SoLow, but the reactions of people otherwise empathetic to Morrissey.
The thing is, Morrissey reads a lot, is apparently active on Twitter, spends a fair bit of time on YouTube, has a need to be heard and has identity issues, as played out via the pessoa. These things are referenced in numerous songs and interviews, TTY statements and Our Mozzer's Twitter personalities. What we have are a potent mix of exposure to many varied and conflicting world views and a complex, fantasy-prone personality.
As an aside, yes, conspiracy theories as we now know them did exist before the Interwebs became popular and any blithering idiot could create a website or a YouTube channel devoted to their own ignorance and paranoia. I mention this because in pondering Morrissey's interest in conspiracies, I wondered if they pre-dated his LA exile, but then realized that any well read, library, newsagent and book shop loafing oaf would have access to plenty of conspiracy theory literature. And I should know, because I used to be one.
So, what has this to do with a fashion designer? Let me quote a possibly overrated B-side ditty.
I could've run loudly and proudly
all forcible entry
and morally bankrupt
and never non-violent
and drawn to what scares me
and scared of what bores me
years alone will never be returned
It's a song that's a reflection on choices, including Morrissey's own choices for the pursuit of a career.
But I think the most revealing lines are what's I've highlighted in bold. Although the context of the lyrics claim otherwise, Morrissey is drawn to what scares him and scared of what bores him. Hence things like the videos with skin heads, the UKIP statement, the conspiracy theory stuff and Our Mozzer following Alex Jones on Twitter. And hence the I'll kill you tee.
It all adds to his mystique, but is a product of his adventuring and contrarian nature. He's drawn to what scares him and inevitably shares some of that with us. I think it explains a lot about Morrissey, Our Mozzer and the pessoa phenomena.
I could say more, but you get the general idea.
