They say you should separate the art from the artist. I can’t do that. My childhood heroes have become monsters. Now I read that the song “I Am A God” by Kanye West should be played at your funeral. How the hell can you listen to the song without seeing the scum of a human being that Kanye has become? - Jörg Bad, Germany.
Dear Jörg,
Numerous letters have come in expressing, in no uncertain terms, disapproval of my fondness for Kanye West’s music. A lot of time and energy has been spent explaining the evil of Nazism, the harm of antisemitism, why it is wrong to sell t-shirts emblazoned with swastikas and why it is unacceptable to coerce one’s girlfriend into standing naked on the red carpet at the Grammys. On that matter, it seems, we can all find some common ground. I agree.
However, I want to challenge the notion that we can separate art from the artist. I’ve written on this subject before (#149), but I thought it might be worth revisiting. From reading your recent letters, it appears that some of you assume I hold this belief. To be clear, I do not.
Continue reading @ The Red Hand Files.
Nick Cave with another thoughtful and insightful letter, although it's worth pointing out that Cave, as an artist, is blessed with a perspective that most "normies" wouldn't have and so, while he's telling the truth, most people talk about separating the art from the artist in terms of enjoying art on it's own merit as they don't have the same relationship to it that an artist does.
ReplyDeleteImplicitly, it is suggested that such art is dangerous because it has the potential to corrupt an unsuspecting soul. While that is true of all art (I doubt that J.D Salinger really intended for Catcher in the Rye to inspire murder), it implies that the vast majority of people are stupid and unable to make up their own minds on an issue and so some authoritative figure must decide whether or not a piece of art is harmful. That really is a slippery slope. It is entirely possible to listen to music from the likes of Charles Manson, Boyd Rice and Death in June without turning into a swivel eyed loon. Similarly with the writings of Ezra Pound and Wyndham Lewis.
Naturally, this is a very subjective view and some have very strong views on the matter. While I understand, I do find it a little limiting.