Well, I like Marilyn Manson's music more but in no way do I idolize him. He has some pretty nice stuff in my opinion. At first, I thought he was just a poseur who was giving "Goths" a bad name but then I watched a documentary about him and now I see him in a different light.
While I don't approve of a lot of his "acts" to cause controversy, I think he is an intelligent man and is somewhat misunderstood. And back to his music, I really liked his albums "Mechanical Animals" & "Holy Wood" and a few others but that is mostly because his music has more of an industrial sound to it and that is something I like. I've heard better industrial rock bands then him but he isn't that bad.
So yeah, that's my reason why I prefer Manson over Gaga. Gaga's music I'll admit is catchy and I will also admit, I liked her songs "Bad Romance" and "Pokerface" but what you said is somewhat true, most of her music sounds the same. And that just bores me.
The only song of hers I heard that sounded a bit different was "Speechless" as it sounded a bit more ballad like then poppy. But still... Pop music doesn't really appeal to me. The only pop musicians whoever appealed to me were Michelle Branch and Nelly Furtado (during her neofolk phase).
Other than that, pop music isn't something I listen to all that much. But anyway, that's basically it. I choose Manson as his style leans more toward what I like.
I love Marilyn. Lady Gaga can go suck a f*ck.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.