ArtistDiscussion Thread: Art and the Artist

Is it possible to separate art from the artist? Should we separate them?

What would make you stop consuming an artists work?

Without thinking about it, we listen to music, watch movies/TV, and/or enjoy visual arts from not only people who are benevolent, charitable, and generally good-natured, but also people who are greedy, abusive, hateful, violent, and more; yes, that includes Christian artists. Where is your ‘line in the sand’? Do you find Elvis Presleys and Jerry Lee Lewiss physical relationships with minors unacceptable enough to stop listening to their music (they are just two examples of many)? Do antisemites like Richard Wagner break a moral barrier for you?

Part 1: Find at least one specific example of a musician who has admitted to, been convicted of, or credibly accused (i.e., not on social media or a blog) of behavior that you find objectionable enough to stop consuming their art. Provide your source(s).

Guidelines:

Please refrain from discussing lyrics in the post or replies.
Please refrain from discussing politics in the post or replies.

Part 2: Whenever we make such moral judgments, we often unknowingly contradict ourselves.

Think about the following questions to prompt your answer:

-Are you giving someone a pass? Why?

-Where are your convictions inconsistent?

-Think about why icons such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Frank Sinatra, Jonny Cash, and countless others get a pass, but we cancel people who do things like support social ideas with which we disagree.

-We listen to the music of James Brown and John Lennon despite both being domestic abusers, substance addicts, adulterers, and more, but we then reject music with lyrics that trouble us.

-To whom do you give a pass, and how does that align with your Christian faith (or belief system, if you are not a Christian)?

minimum 250 words

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ArtistDiscussion Thread: Art and the Artist

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