Middle School Editorial: Separating the Art from the Artist

Middle School – Alice Pulsinelli

Should we separate art from the artist who creates it? If a singer has opinions that differ from your own, should you never listen to their music? If an author has different views from you, should you never read a single one of their books? I like listening to country music on the radio, but I know that many country singers have political views that do not match my own. Should I refrain from listening to this music genre because I know this? At first glance, “yes” may seem like the simple answer to this question. However, I don’t think this question can be answered with a concrete “yes” or “no.”

The arguments that we should not separate art from the artist are straightforward. When you purchase their art, listen to their music or read their book, you are giving the artist at least a small amount of money. Additionally, you may be helping their opinions reach more people by increasing their popularity, which may lead to more people following them on social media. Businesses or companies are more likely to feature popular artists, thereby expanding that artist’s influence. Your choices in what art you read, listen to or watch have consequences rooted in what the artist who creates it will do with the influence you are supplying them with.

And yet, it is not that simple. You may not know if an artist is doing things you disagree with. It is not realistic to expect people to research every artist whose art they listen to, read or look at. Also, most art is not created by just one person. If a movie has one actor whose views differ from yours, should you never watch the movie? Not only that, but art can have value outside of the artist. Somebody can be doing or saying bad things and still create art with beneficial messages.

I don’t think it is necessary or realistic to forfeit art by any artist that has an opinion different from yours, but there is a line where an artist’s speech and behavior must be taken into account. Art cannot be completely separated from the artist but should not be completely tied to them either.