Separating the art from the artist?

[ecclesvet]

Not a specifically feminist issue I suppose, but I wondered if there was any consensus on whether one should separate art from the artist.

This was mainly inspired by the furore over Chris Brown, although I can't say I'd really lose anything over that, since I didn't listen to his music. But John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Roman Polanski, Bill Murray, Sean Penn - should I no longer be a fan of their work, given the things they've done?

What has John Lennon done?

Domestic violence, although he later owned up to it and said it was wrong.

This is a really tricky one.

There are some artists that I avoid due to what they have done.

But I still dance around a bit when billy jean comes on the radio.

Maybe it helps if they are dead?

what has bill murray done?

People in the public profile try to keep thier dirty laundry away from the public eye because perception, rightly, very much affects how well they do in thier careers.

But Bill Murray? Really?

i avoid it if the artist is alive and could profit (in any sense but mostly financial) from me engaging with their work

thus is will listen to the beatles (lennon) but not watch a polanski film

i feel that misogyny is so pervasive, and kind of integral to the almighty-dude-artist mythos (picasso anyone?) that you'd be hard pressed to find one who wasn't an arsehole. regardless, i am loath to finance their arseholery whilst they are alive to enjoy it

What did Bill Murray do?

I love John lennon's music, but having read his biography, he was a selfish, puerile, narcissistic twit who treated everyone - colleagues, women, his own children - abominably.

What about Degas?

Hanging around backstage at the Paris Opera, watching the young dancers getting undressed, getting his rocks off at it all and he parlays that into a reputation as an Impressionist genius.

I don't watch Polanski's films because he has never taken responsibility for what he did.

Neither has Chris Brown.

I try not to financially support misogynistic artists but that can be difficult.

I find the people who think Lolita seduced Humbert stupid and dismiss them accordingly.

I didnt know that about John Lennon I am actually quite shocked

Oh no, not that discussion. Tis patently ridiculous. And to read it that way makes me laff a leetle bit.

The 'Nabokov must be paedo' line. So a sort of reversal of the q, really.

All along the death of the artist/ author line though.

Don't buy much music, tbh, and this household is still littered with bieber and thingy off camp rock.

It is interesting who is picked up to be an icon and what gets swept under the carpet or minimised to fit a particular ideal, though. So obv the cult of celebrity is powerful enough as a whole to prioritise image/achievement over abuse.

Bill Murray - accused of domestic violence by his now ex-wife; he denies it.

Correction: he doesn't deny it, he calls the accusations "devastating".

Sean Penn? What he do?

Penn committed DV.

I don't mean Nabokov. I mean the people who read that book and see Lolita as responsible for her rape.

Bugger. I liked him.

I guess I would avoid buying a gown by john galliano (sp)
I wouldn't accept a dinner invitation from mel gibson
I wouldn't agree to star in a roman polanski film

So I is good, yes?

chris brown pled guily to assault for the attack on rihanna (ended up with probation, community service and a year's anger management course i think). i think it's up for debate the extent to which he really accepts responsibility for his actions but i don't think you can put him in the same category as roman polanski...

i do kind of agree with madwoman's last para - i think some people end up vilified whereas others get a free pass.

Polanski pled guilty too. He just objected to actually going to prison.

I never use Gill Sans, Perpetua or any of the other typefaces designed by Eric Gill (not that anyone would really notice I suppose.)

I won't listen to Chris Brown at all, turned off the Grammies when he came on, change radio stations if he is played etc. I strongly feel that we, as society, must say how wrong and abhorrent it is and remove support from those who do it.

I know it won't make much difference but

But rihannas just released a song with Chris brown?! We never know all the details only what they choose to tell us.

Do you really need any other details other than that horrible photo of her taken by the police?

If she chooses to support CB by singing a song with him then fine, that's her choice. If she were a friend of mine I would support her even if I didn't agree with her (and yes, I've been there with a friend suffering from an abusive relationship). It still doesn't mean we should support him.

I firmly believe that domestic violence and abuse (and sexism) will only stop when men and women make it completely clear how unacceptable it is and how we won't tolerate it within our society.

Precisely comradejing