The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #173738 Message #4213764
Posted By: Stilly River Sage
19-Dec-24 - 05:43 PM
Thread Name: Songs about vigilante anti-heroes (e.g., Mangione)
Subject: Songs about vigilante anti-heroes (Mangione)
The story big in the news now (December 2024) is of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione. And a lot of legal scholars, news reporters, and pundits have remarked on the huge fanbase that has arisen following Mangione. Some are puzzled by the support of his act and offer of fake alibis and such by those followers. There are fan pages and posts all over social media.
I haven't looked into it closely, but in what I have heard and read, I haven't come across the terms "vigilante" or "antihero" to describe the response to Mangione, but that seems to actually be the case. He is like a modern day Joaquin Murrieta or Jesse James as far as a large swath of the public is concerned. Maybe a John Dillinger.
Despite his privileged background, Mangione was able to work up a lot anger and hatred for health insurance companies and the head of this largest one in particular. His murderous act spoke to millions of people who have been victimized by these companies. People who, like apparently most Americans, have a soft spot for the anti-hero.
This seems to be something that Mudcat can address musically. In several search attempts I found lots of murder ballads but the closest I come to a similar character is Jesse James (above) and his taking on the banks in his era or Bonnie and Clyde.
Similar figures (modern, historical, and fictional) include Robin Hood, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Michael Corleone (The Godfather), D. B. Cooper, Thelma and Louise, Tony Soprano. The character Keller in Lawrence Block mysteries. Stories where murder seems an acceptable outcome.