Art vs. Artist

[improbus]

This is the first name that sprung to mind when I saw the thread title. Ultimately I try to appreciate the art independent of the artist, though sometimes that is easier than others.

What complicates the issue with Kanye is that his music is intensely personal (and massively narcissistic). So, it is hard to divorce him from the music.

[OldRightHander]

It depends what art form we're talking about and what the content is. I give a lot of leeway to actors since I'm relating to the character being portrayed more than the actor. The same goes with most authors. If I like the content of the book, I can overlook quite a lot. With music it's sometimes different. I'm a Christian and I listen to a few Christian artists. I hold them to a higher standard than someone whose music is not overtly Christian. In short, if your music espouses a certain world view that I hold, I kind of expect you to make a fair attempt to live up to it.

[*BaseClogger*]

An example would be a drug addict writing a song about being high. I will be turned off by that song.

What does this mean?



Like this song? What about songs that are less explicitly about drugs (cuz that's a lot of em)?

[Ravenlord]

I just want to know how you write something that loud and heavy and beautiful all at once.

talent.

46 years ago people would call it "Revolution." the dirty secret is there's about a dozen metal bands world wide who write amazing lyrics and arrangements but are ignored for their genre, and about five dozen non-metal bands whom are ignored for their aggressive but non-metal lyrics and out-of-genre arrangements.

[Ravenlord]

my vote's for art. there are some artists I despise on every imaginable level and they have two or three pieces I not only like, but love. there are artists whom are way out the realm of what I enjoy, but on average have half-a-dozen pieces I think are great.

example, I HATE Nirvana, but "Our love is all we are" from the song "All Apologies" I think is one of the greatest lines ever written. at the same time (on the ignored side),
"We dared to ask for more
But that was long before the nights began to burn
You would have thought we'd learned
You can't make promises all based upon tomorrow
Happiness, security are words we only borrowed
For is this the answer to our prayers, is this was God has sent?
Please understand this isn't what we meant

The future couldn't last, we nailed it to the past
With every word a trap that no one can take
Back from all the architects who find their towers leaning
And every prayer we pray at night has somehow lost its meaning
For is this the answer to our prayers, is this was God has sent?
Please understand this isn't what we meant"
ignored because of genre. . .never mind their offspring is beloved.

[Kingspoint]

How much does your opinion of an artist (musician, actor, director, painter, etc...) as a person affect your view of their art? I tend not to care about the person and only about the art. I think I am in the minority on this one.

As an actor, quite a bit. It effects the acting. It's the reason Old School Hollywood controlled all aspects of publicity. I've read many a direct quote from older actors describing how foolish and self-absorbed an actor must be to open their mouth about anything outside of their craft.

Any other type of artist, I don't care.

[Roy Tucker]

As an actor, quite a bit. It effects the acting. It's the reason Old School Hollywood controlled all aspects of publicity. I've read many a direct quote from older actors describing how foolish and self-absorbed an actor must be to open their mouth about anything outside of their craft.

Any other type of artist, I don't care.

I'm like this too.

Though, the saving grace for most artists is that when they are just starting out, their art is the thing you get to know first and is what attracts you. Then, if their career has legs, you get to know them as a person as well. Sometimes this is good and sometimes not as good.

[vaticanplum]

As an actor, quite a bit. It effects the acting. It's the reason Old School Hollywood controlled all aspects of publicity. I've read many a direct quote from older actors describing how foolish and self-absorbed an actor must be to open their mouth about anything outside of their craft.

Any other type of artist, I don't care.

I strongly disagree with this. A lot of actors are very intelligent and curious people, prone to examination of human nature and principles. There's no reason they shouldn't be at liberty to speak about things "outside of their craft". And I'm not exactly sure what you mean by it affecting the acting. Are some of them self-absored? Sure. So are a lot of people who don't act for a living.

It also sounds like you're limiting "actors" to those who work in Hollywood, which is a pretty narrow definition. The great majority of working actors in the world are outside of that sphere.

[dougdirt]

It also sounds like you're limiting "actors" to those who work in Hollywood, which is a pretty narrow definition. The great majority of working actors in the world are outside of that sphere.

To be fair, no one really cares about those actors on the grand scale of things to the point where what they do off the stage matters. Even great broadway actors aren't known to the common "Joe". But they all know who Dustin Diamond is.

[Kingspoint]

A lot of actors are very intelligent and curious people, prone to examination of human nature and principles. There's no reason they shouldn't be at liberty to speak about things "outside of their craft".

They show a lack of intelligence when they allow their image to distract from the role they are trying to portray.

[*BaseClogger*]

When did this thread turn into a discussion of porn star politics?

[vaticanplum]

They show a lack of intelligence when they allow their image to distract from the role they are trying to portray.

Not if they're saying intelligent things.

I would argue that people who can't distinguish between a character and a public persona are the ones who need to evaluate their intelligence and grasp of reality.

[SunDeck]

I was conflicted about Cat Stevens, especially at the time he supposedly (it sure sounded like it to me) supported the Fatwa against Salman Rushdie in 1989. He says he never did, but he's made awful comments about women as well, so I decided I wouldn't listen to his music any more.
Then a friend pointed out that the music I loved was not by Yusef Islam, but by Cat Stevens, an identity which had been left behind. So, with great relief, I put Stevens back into my list of beloved singers from my childhood.

Honestly, I'm not sure my own feelings about Cat Stevens were justified. His music was wonderful and when I was a kid I didn't know anything about him, any more than I knew James Taylor was beating up Carly Simon, or that Bing Crosby had terrorized his kids physically and mentally. But I still love their music and I can't change that.

[Kingspoint]

Not if they're saying intelligent things.

I would argue that people who can't distinguish between a character and a public persona are the ones who need to evaluate their intelligence and grasp of reality.

So, now you resort to name-calling? You must have used all of your intelligence to come up with that one.

[Larry Schuler]

Just imagine you're an artist you don't know and his name calling is a safe anonymous criticism.