Deep Thoughts.

[cyrano]

So, recently after purchasing tickets for the DropKick Murphys show next month, I heard second hand anecdotal evidence that the boys in the band are unpleasant racists. Which... I confess, did not entirely surprise me, but it did disappoint me greatly.

And it got me to thinking. How much does the artist affect/taint the art? Where does my support need to be cut off? Do I pay money for a print of a painting made by somebody who believes in the power of the unfettered free market? Do I go buy a CD from somebody who won't associate with black people? Do I see a movie starring somebody with Zionist or anti-Zionist professions? Or directed by somebody who has sex with underage partners?

All this assumes that those professed beliefs are not visible in the art itself. If some Oi band is writing songs about all the god damned Jews, then that's a much easier choice to make.

I strongly encourage, even politely request, that you share your thoughts on the matter.

Comments

[kirbyk.livejournal.com]

This is a tough one. There's a _lot_ of talented people I dislike, and I find I have a varied response.

I don't buy books from vocal anti-gay advocate Orson Scott Card anymore, despite liking some of his work.

I will see movies with Tom Cruise or John Travolta or other scientologists, despite finding their believes ethically repulsive. Their presence is a negative, and certainly pushes a borderline movie into the no, but I still want to see the new Hairspray on DVD, for instance, and I really liked Minority Report.

I'm a little more anti-Mel Gibson, since he's a lot more personified in his film works, and I don't plan on seeing Passion or Apocalypto. But these aren't movies that I would probably like anyway.

I wouldn't stop watching reruns of Seinfeld because of Michael Richards, if I liked the show. I still like UHF.

I'm frequently annoyed when watching the Bionic Woman that anti-gay schmuck Isaiah Washington has a major role, but I'm still watching and modestly enjoying the show.

I guess, if I really want to consume a work of art, I'll hold my nose and do it anyway, but if it's borderline, these are reasons that cause me to choose something else out of my incredibly vast set of entertainment options.

On the other hand, if a conservative refused to see Lord of the Rings because Sir Ian was gay, I'd find that tremendously silly. I suppose if it was that, and he didn't like Fantasy much, and would rather get his yearly fill with Harry Potter, though, I couldn't fault him. Well, except for any criteria that eliminates the best living actor is probably just self-punishment.

I don't know if there's a coherent message, but there's thoughts for you!

It probably means more with small artists. Ian McKellan doesn't truly care if I go see X-Men 3. I have no idea if the Dropkick Murphys are large or small, truly, but if they're large, eh, it doesn't matter to anyone but you.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

and would rather get his yearly fill with Harry Potter
Except now Dumbledore has the gay. They'll have to watch the Narnia movies instead.

[roisnoir.livejournal.com]

I try to divorce the artist from the art where I can.
Of course, I'm less likely to support the artist in question if I think s/he is a complete ass, but I don't let it stop me enjoying something otherwise good.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

I also suspect that if they'd been an ass to me, or to somebody I knew, it would have a far greater effect.

[carabosse.livejournal.com]

From an interview with the DM's bassist, when the reporter asked about their reputation:

"It just continues to be the whole misconception in media that all skinheads are racists and we have a bit of skinhead following, a non-racist following. We made it clear from the start that we are completely antiracist, and we’ve done things, played shows to support causes such as the ARA (anti-racist action). It’s just the simple continued miscommunication and misjudgement of skinheads."

So in the absence of something more than second-hand anecdotal evidence, I think we can attend the show without worry.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Yay!
Which does not abolish the question, but does at least postpone it until Sean Connery's next film comes out. (:

[ashtoreth.livejournal.com]

It is possible to appreciate an artist without appreciating or supporting their social views. In the end, artists are just people and entitled to their bigoted opinions just as much as anyone else.

[odogoddess.livejournal.com]

I look at it like kharma - a matter of balance. For example - WalMart. I despise some of their corporate practices. HOWever... they employ many of my friends and relatives, they have helped feed and clothe many of my friends and family who are not otherwise be able to afford the high cost of goods, and they are among the first on the scene of some disasters, providing free food and water and other goods (like with Katrina) when other agencies have their hands tied with red-tape and committee meetings. So whilst I hate their corporate mentality, I also laud the good they do. I'll continue to point out their faults and link to articles about any bad practices, but I also don't feel guilty shopping there. It balances out.

Same with artists who espouse bigoted ideas. Do I like them otherwise, aside from their music or acting? Do they give to other causes that I *do* admire? I have friends who hold opinions on particular topics that are repugnant to me, but they are still my friends, because they have other off-setting graces. So it's a matter of balance. If the balance is to the negative, then no, I won't buy their records or watch their films. If the balance is to the positive, then I don't feel guilty about liking an artist and buying their films or cd's. In re: their negative traits, if it really bothers me, I might post about it, but explain why I still enjoy their work and why I still listen to/watch them despite their attitude.

[9thmoon.livejournal.com]

Speaking of art, I really like yours.

[9thmoon.livejournal.com]

If I can communicate to an entity why I'm not giving him/her/them/it my custom, I will do so and avoid spending that money.
If I can't communicate it... *shrug*

I try to be conscientious. I do. It isn't always pragmatic, but I do what I can.

[miss-friday.livejournal.com]

I was contemplating this issue the other day as well. Numerous great artists/scientists/philosophers have had (or still have) what average people perceive as abnormal or down-right repugnant person habits or views of the world. This I believe is the sacrifice required to have talent; you get to tap dance on the line separating genius and madness.

That said, as a consumer of art and culture, I have share the philosophy of Duke Ellington, "If it sounds good, it is good."

So even though Wagner and Charlie Parker were each dispicable human beings (in their own way), they created inspiring music which I love.

[handworn.livejournal.com]

History is stiff with examples of honoring one characteristic, or a few, in a person, while repudiating their other characteristics or actions. We admire the courage and boldness of Columbus and other early American pioneers, but hate the way they treated the Indians. We admire the vision and hard work and creations of Frank Lloyd Wright, while finding the way he treated his wife and children disgusting. We admit Pete Rose and Ty Cobb were truly great baseball players, but poor as people.

And the French essayist Michel de la Montaigne once wrote, "There is no man so good who, were he to submit his every thought and action to the law, would not deserve hanging ten times over." This may be a commentary on his times (17th century) or on the law, but it does raise the question of how much and why we demand heroes to appear to be good in every way.

[earthpig.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with the general sentiment...

If the product of an ass is good, unless the ass is TRULY repugnant, I will rarely boycott or avoid their work. I may very well try to make my displeasure with their position known, but I won't stop watching their stuff.

Another offshoot of this - if I *did* stop watching Bionic Woman because of Isaiah Washington, then it wouldn't be terribly fair to many of the other actors in the show who I *do* like.

It would *suck* to be an actor and have your very promising and fun show cancelled, just because the producers decided to hire someone with opinions that piss a bunch of people off, then viewers boycott, advertisers pull out, and the show dies. All for one person's off-screen comments?

I'd be pissed.

[thesteveyd.livejournal.com]

I think for me it would depend on whether I felt spending my money or time on whatever art or medium would help advance a view I disagreed with. I don't think watching Bionic Woman advances an anti-gay view just because Isaiah Washington is on it. It didn't with Grey's Anatomy either, but there was conflict on set that had to be resolved and Isaiah payed the price. He's free to speak his mind, Freedom of Speech and all that, but he does have to accept the consequences when people don't like it. If a song comes on the radio by a with some views I disagree with I'm not necessarily going to change it if I like the song.

Now if I thought that paying for the art was somehow advancing or encouraging the advancement of it then it's another story. Obviously if the work directly spoke or somehow contained some repulsive element to it then it's gone. Say a band records a bunch of songs that have nothing to do with anything I disagree with, but takes time between songs at a concert to say that HIV doesn't cause AIDS/Bush caused 9-11/gays go to hell, etc, then my entertainment dollar is giving them a platform for you to spread their nonsense. I think that's where I'm at with OS Card. He uses his position as a best selling author to spread his anti-gay views. I liked Ender's Game well enough (less so after reading this: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~tenshi/Killer_000.htm), but if me continuing to patronize his work inflates his head to the point where he thinks anyone cares what he has to say then count me out. This line is pretty fuzzy though. Does watching a Tom Cruise movie advance Scientology? That's up to Tom Cruise. If he goes on talk shows to promote his movie and then starts jumping on couches and ranting, then yes. So it's pretty case by case.