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

[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.