The Helter-Skelter History of the Manson Murders
The article explores the unique concept of time within Charles Manson's family, which played a significant role in their radicalization and violent actions. Manson's rejection of conventional timekeeping created a sense of living in an 'eternal now,' influencing the family's mindset and actions. This perspective on time is linked to broader themes of politico-religious extremism and the cultural context of the era.
- ▪Charles Manson's family operated under a unique concept of time that influenced their radicalization.
- ▪Manson rejected conventional timekeeping, leading to a mindset of living in an 'eternal now.'
- ▪This perspective on time is connected to broader themes of extremism and the cultural context of the 1960s.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
“Now is the time for Helter Skelter,” Charles Manson is said to have said, and then the family went out and committed two nights of violence that meant to “shock the world” and “instill fear into the establishment.” But given the paradoxical notions of time that shaped the family’s communal life, it’s remarkable that they knew what he meant at all, not to mention that this unusual temporal pronouncement had for them the force of law. But apparently, they did, it did, and it matters: Distinct notions of time factored into the family’s radicalization and rooted whatever authority Manson had for its members.Article continues after advertisement What we will call “family time” was no less striated than the space at Spahn’s, and it too was causally connected to the family’s crimes.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Literary Hub.
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