to not want to listen to music made by paedophiles?

[TheFeministParent]

Only DH keeps playing Gary Glitter Christmas song and the occasional bit of Michael Jackson.....

[Animation]

Michael Jacksons pedo-activty WAS considered benign wasn't it?

[TheFeministParent]

R Kelly...dodgy man, dodgy music!!!!!!!

[GruffalosGirl]

I have rather odd logic on this according to my DH, as I willl only listen to MJ music made in his pre-child abuse days, so thriller or earlier. I would also never buy his music as it would give money to him/his estate.

[onimolap]

Separating the art from the artist (or in this case the music from the musician) is a pretty long running issue.

If it matters to you, then refuse to listen (liking/disliking the music doesn't really come in to it).

But if approval of the artist comes in to it, where does one draw the line? Murderous rappers? Drug abusers? (George Michael? Coleridge?)

[Ryoko]

I think MJ was just a very strange disturbed guy, he thought he was Peter Pan FFS (can't blame him with his upbringing) I don't think he was a kiddie fiddler at all, just miss understood, his desire to remain a child by hanging around and acting like one confused by the media with sexual desire for them, personally I think he was still a virgin, I get the feeling the whole thought of sex disgusted him, too much like being a grown up.

So I think you are being unfair on him and he was truly a musical genius who's songs influenced many, he was all so involved in a lot of charity work which helped a lot of people.

[christmasheave]

I find it easy to draw the line when it comes to child abusers.

I am happy to condone artists who use drugs as frankly a lot of the good stuff in terms of art, music and poetry would never have happened if the artists weren't off their tits.

I've not come across one piece of art of music that has been enhanced by the creator abusing children. That seems incidental. Una Paloma Blanca being case in point.

As for listening to artists, I will never deny that MJs work in the beginning was groundbreaking, but that doesn't mean I would be prepared to overlook his actions with children whether it was proven or not. Gary Glitter is easier - I never liked glam rock to start with.

[pagwatch]

Kiddy fiddler is a term which always makes me think that the person using it either has no experience of abuse and doesn't really 'get it' or is a bit of a cunt.
One or t'other.

[Ryoko]

What about the other reason, people who can't spell pedophile, peadophile what ever it is, it's easier to write.

[CraigRevelPan]

YABU - so don't listen to music made by men convicted of offenses against children.

omni beat me to it. I separate the art from the artist, so Michael Jackson, Gary Glitter, R Kelly, no probs, though I haven't played RK or GG in years and won't start now.

So, no-one should listen to Wagner due to his political views?

MJ was a pop music and dance choreograghing wizard - a bit loopy yes, and one or two of his records were rubbish, but I 'grew up' with MJ and still have lots of his stuff on my i=pod. Anyone denying themselves due to his "being a peadophile" are mixing things up.

[pagwatch]

I will add that as an option c. Good point ryoko.

And perhaps I need to add d which is illiterate counts.

I need a spreadsheet....

[pagwatch]

Hahaha. Counts!

Fucking iPad....

[onimolap]

I take it you don't watch "Tommy" then.

I'm surprised about the acceptance of drug abuse, when that is such a life wrecker too, not to mention other crimes, especially those associated with the rap scene.

Incidentally, most if GG's output predated the charges made against him, so I don't think anyone claims they are a factor in his creativity (can't see why anyone would, actually).

[YuleBeLucky]

I guess I just find it really hard to hear, say, 'Bille Jean' - a song from my childhood - and think 'Paedo alert! Turn it off!'

My brain doesn't work like that.

I'm not defending MJ, btw. He turned out to be a right weirdo. But I did love some of his music.

I also listened to a lot of hip hop growing up, and although I might not agree with the lyrics nowadays (I can clearly remember how much I LOVED 'Fuck the Police' or 'Cop Killer' as a teenager, for example), it doesn't stop me loving those tracks for nostalgic reasons.

[tethersend]

It's not only the songs we have to worry about

[Kaloki]

Never sure about this. With GG and MJ it's easy for me, as I don't like either of their songs. However, if someone I did like turned out to be criminal.. not sure.

There are already a lot of artists (painters etc) that I like the work of, but know they are dodgy as all hell. It's a bit difficult really.

I think for me personally, whether it is wrong or right, if I liked an artists work prior to finding out about the artist, then I will stilll like their work. But if I find out about the artist first, then it is harder to forget and value the art for it's own sake.

It also depends on whether you think the meaning of art is decided by the artist or the viewer. If the latter than the art is more personal to you, and it's easier to ignore the crimes of the artist.

[TheFeministParent]

Ryoko Sat 27-Nov-10 14:16:34
What about the other reason, people who can't spell pedophile, peadophile what ever it is, it's easier to write.


paedophile. not pedophile or peadophile.

[TheFeministParent]

For me sexual violence of any sort puts me off, Pete Townsend would be included.

[Bue]

Pedophile is a perfectly legitimate spelling. (If you're from my part of the world, anyway.)

But sort of beside the point, I know.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

What about the Rolling Stones? (Bill Wyman) What about Jerry Lee Lewis? What about Jimmy Page / Led Zep? Roman Polanski films? Vladimir Nabokov?

Where do you draw the line?

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

Sorry take off Vladimir Nabokov - didn't mean to include him - was still there from a broader point I was making but decided against.

[PrematureEjoculation]

YABU. many of the people i admire for their music undoubtedly had sex with underage girls and boys.

it doesn't change the music. it would perhaps, influence whethe i wanted to pay tp listen or not - if they are alive.

[Lovecat]

Am I the only person here who will admit to liking GG's music? I was a child in the 70's and I thought his stuff was at least as good as Slade and The Sweet - and I liked that the Glitter Band had 2 drummers.

Doesn't make me a paedophile sympathiser and tbh I find it difficult to get really outraged about this issue - as his music wasn't actually spliced-up samples of the children he abused, can we not divorce one from t'other?

[said]

I'm with you Lovecat. Chuck Berry was dodgy as well but I wouldn't stop listening to his music. MJ and RK I can easily give a swerve

[TheFeministParent]

Jimmy Page? come on spill.