The video for Marilyn Manson's song "The Dope Show" features shocking and bizarre imagery. Manson appears in white makeup and prosthetic breasts, referencing sci-fi films and meant to confuse gender norms. Scenes reference other controversial art works. Manson's unusual appearance and the video's themes of consumerism, fame, and drug obsession caused controversy. Actor Billy Zane makes a cameo further contrasting Manson with conventional good looks. The video employs surreal and disturbing imagery to highlight the album's themes of narcissism.

1. THE DOPE SHOW

2. 

The video starts of with manson in a white
field, which almost camouflages him into the
scenery, except his bright red lips and hair which
stand out to us. Which is then followed up by a
series of fast cuts which take us to random images
of electronic function, science images. Back to
manson walking, and then back to the strange
images.
The way in which he has already pretend
postmodernism is that the music does not actually
start yet, and when it does it portrays a distorted
techno scream, which links in with the images.

3. A lot of dark, hidden, mysterious images are being
shown on the screen which ties into the whole Manson
theme and his music.
 The song, “The Dope Show” came at the point in which
the band showed their shedding dark, nihilistic trapping
that had been seen on the previous album.
 The diverse chores and verses give off a “hybird” feel
which juxtaposes with the class rock sound which is
usually heard in his songs.
 However this weird contrast of images linked with
Manosn appearing in a strange costume is normal for
him as you would expect to see a lot of this stuff in his
other videos.


4. 
There are some close up shots in which you can
see that Manson actually has breast, despite the
fact that he is a man, also wearing a lot of make up
and contacts. Which shows a completely new post
modern intake in what we are seeing in a music
video. The song keeps with the album's themes of
narcissism and consumerism, as it shows off
bullying, idolisation and fame and what it can all
do to a person. Furthermore it shows the
obsession with drugs and the world we now live in.

5. The lyric “we're all stars now, in the dope show".
Declaires that even being seen as a freak is normal
and they’re popularity allows them to be famous
without question, as we have such an accepting
society of things as norms have changed.
 Intertexutal refrences are hidden as in scenes
reminiscent of The Man Who Fell to Earth, Manson
appears — red-haired, with his entire body,
including prosthetic rubber breasts, covered in
white latex paint, as an androgynous
extraterrestrial wandering around the Hollywood
Hills.


6. This bold moves, shows something quite unique and strange in
which we wouldn’t have seen in past years because it was not
acceptable to have such a confusion on your gender.
Actor Billy Zane makes a cameo appearance in the limo
sequence, showing us the two sides of normality. At one end
of the limo is manson, all alone while the other end we have
the normal, half naked girls pimped out with good looking
millionaire men, all having fun, drinks and laughing at
Manson. In this same scene, there features a parody of SPIN
magazine as SPUN and the national enquire.
Which shows intertexutual references that we are expected to
understands and laugh at. Also using one of the main themes
of consumerism.

7. 
The imagery used in the video employs direct
links to The Holy Mountain, (a sequence
involving the destruction of plaster casts of the
main character's body in a crucifixion pose.)
addition to this a sculptural pieces by German
artist Rebecca Horn are re-created such as
"Overflowing Blood Machine" in which Manson
is bound by long, red, blood flowing tubes. In
the limo sequence, "Cornucopia" a construction
which seems to join the mouth and breasts with
a self-nursing effect.

8. 
The video reached #16 on MuchMusic's 50
Most Controversial Videos, for Manson's
shocking appearance.