seperating the art from the person

[telecom_goddess]

This was inspired by a couple of things...the ongoing thread about Roman Polanski and a book I recently read. The world if full of artists/celebrities of one form or another, be it music, movies, books etc. And when a celebrity does something that doesn't agree with someone they vow forever to never watch/read/listen to their stuff ever again. I think people need to learn to separate the art from the person.

Case in point....the all american band the Eagles. They started out in 1972 and are still going today, with breakups and reunions along the way. Now I've loved their music ever since I was 11 years old and heard Hotel California for the first time. I've followed their career path, and also became fans of individual members like Randy Meisner and Timothy B Schmit. Now I just got done reading a book by former member Don Felder....which describes in complete detail what utter assholes Don Henley and Glenn Frey can be.....to their own bandmates. They're dicks.....they have no good points in their personalities at all. BUT I still love the magic they can make when they get their shit together and sing.

Another case...Marilyn Manson. I HATE his music.....can't deal with him at all. However as a person I think he's intelligent and has interesting things to say.

What I"m saying just because someone does something I don't like it doesn't mean I'm ready to write them off completely.

And to quote Don Henley:
You drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown
Got your mind in the gutter, bringin' everybody down
Complain about the present and blame it on the past
I'd like to find your inner child and kick it's little ass

Get over it
Get over it
All this bitchin' and moanin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it, get over it

Asshole or not I still like what he has to say about some things

[AdminAssistant]

I get what your saying. Mel Gibson might be an alcoholic lunatic, but the man knows how to make a good action movie, and I will be seeing Edge of Darkness at some point. Bing Crosby used to beat the shit out of his kids, but I'll still sing "White Christmas." I don't always agree with Natalie Maines (her defense of the West Memphis 3 is *meh*), but I admire her strength of opinion and I like the Dixie Chicks. A lot of people railed on Maines for not toeing the line and changing her opinions to suit those of her fans, but an artist, popular or not, shouldn't have to hold the same opinions as their fanbase. (Actually, the documentary Shut Up and Sing explores this question quite thoroughly.)

More examples: Quentin Tarantino is a raging egotistical asshole. His personality doesn't change the fact that he revolutionized film narrative and is one of the most important filmmakers of the past 25 years. Martin McDonagh is also a huge asshole, but is also an amazing playwright and filmmaker, if In Bruges is anything to go by. So, yeah, I guess people don't realize that artists are people too.

[jackfaire]

God yeah this has always been a beef of mine.

Great example the Dixie Chicks. People told me, "Well if I don't buy their stuff then they won't be famous and no one hear their opinion that I don't agree with" (paraphrasing)

The thing is this was coming from people who weren't boycotting them but rather destroying all of their dixie chicks things they had already bought.

[telecom_goddess]

The Dixie chicks are a great example....they made their opinions known and they were sharing a very unpopular opinion. But really WHO CARES! Does it hurt anyone that they believe they way they do? No. And it's no reason to boycott them or destroy their stuff you already have.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I'm a brilliant example of separating the art from the person; I'm a Kiss fan. I despise Gene Simmons for being basically a greedy arsehole and for what he's done to make the band into a laughing stock. I don't like the band as it stands now and I wouldn't pay out the ridiculous amount of money that is offered now for tickets to go and see them. Do I still listen to Kiss CDs? Yeah. I'm listening to one now. Do I still hang on to my merchandise, my posters, my action figures, my comics etc? Hell yes. I still get a lot of enjoyment out of Kiss's music and stuff, why throw that away just cuz Gene is a dick?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Couldn't agree more. I myself listen to a lot of Rammstein despite their public image (which they've denied, for what that's worth). And even though they seem to have a problem with my country, it's damn good music

[elsporko]

I think its fine to enjoy a person's work, although I think there should be limits. Applauding a child rapist and calling for him to be free just because you like his work is outrageous to me.

[telecom_goddess]

I think its fine to enjoy a person's work, although I think there should be limits. Applauding a child rapist and calling for him to be free just because you like his work is outrageous to me.

Whether or not he's free my main point is don't completely disrespect his work and boycott it....he still did some excellent movie making.

[linguist]

how about if i think his movies are a bunch of crap? is that enough reason to boycott and disrespect his work?

whether i think that his crappy movies are a reflection of his being pretty deplorable as a person is beside the point.

[telecom_goddess]

how about if i think his movies are a bunch of crap? is that enough reason to boycott and disrespect his work?

whether i think that his crappy movies are a reflection of his being pretty deplorable as a person is beside the point.

If you truly don't like his work then you are entitled to that opinion...not everyone likes his work....I have no problem with that. There are movies out there that people love that I think are beyond retarded.

[Bloodsoul]

I'm reminded of Jerry Lee Lewis, now...

[telecom_goddess]

I'm reminded of Jerry Lee Lewis, now...

ah yes the guy who married his 13 year old cousin. THAT was pretty weird. But people still loved his music. I"m not a huge fan....but whatev

[DrFaroohk]

I think there can be some connections between the artist and his work. Take a song, for example. You listen to a love song, and it fills your heart with love. But then you find out that this love song was actually written about the singer molesting a thirteen year old boy. That's just ruined my opinion of the song, because now I know what the singer was really thinking when he sang it.

[Fryk]

In the same vein, Alanis Morisette's "You Outta Know" was enhanced for me when I found out it was about Dave Coulier.

[Skunkle]

This happens a lot in the furry fandom, people who hate certain artists because: he's a gun nut/right wing wacko (Jay Naylor), he chjarges too much (Adam Wan), she's a drama whore (Zeriara) etc. etc. I agree with some and disagree with others, but I shut up and enjoy the artwork.

Furry artist Frank Gembeck was arrested for downloading child porn. I still have his artwork. He drew nothing even remotely like that, so there's no connection. I don't like what he did, but unless an artist arrested for something drew that same thing, I don't see a connection.