Many believe that listening to an artist’s music or consuming their media, even when their criminal history is known and well-documented, is to value your own enjoyment over the trauma experienced by the artist’s victims. Others also believe that in many cases, the popularity of the art itself is what enables misconduct in the first place. This past March, Heidi Stevens of the Chicago Tribune wrote: “Jackson’s access to young fans and pliable parents was a direct result of his fame, which was a direct result of his art. His music brought children into his orbit. Same with R. Kelly. If the allegations are true, their art was bait.”
Many people see art as an extension of the artist. Josephine Buccini ‘21 explains, “I think it’s a gray area, but it is wrong to give money or directly support an artist that is problematic. I think that you directly support an artist by buying or using their art.” Hollis DuPont ‘21 agrees, saying, “I don’t think the art can be separated from the artist because the artist’s experiences and beliefs have created both the art and the position they put themselves in. If the artist had grown up differently or known different people, they may not be committing the same crimes or even creating the same music.” She continues, “While it is unfortunate that musicians can commit such crimes and still be accepted by the public, most music is created from those experiences.” Many consider consuming an artist’s work as a direct contribution to their public exposure and popularity. Without it, they would not have become famous in the first place.
Tracy Rosenberg ‘21 also highlights the extremely personal connection between artists and their music. She states, “We cannot separate art from the artist. Just because someone is a good artist doesn’t mean we should overlook everything else about them, good and bad. You can’t separate art from the artist because art is such a personal thing.”
For some, the question of whether or not art can be separated from the artist is a more nuanced issue. Doctor Melanie Subacus, Middle and Upper School Classics teacher, states, “This is such a tough question and I pose it a lot when I teach courses at Villanova. I used to think ‘yes, art can speak on its own, and it can and should be separated from the artist.’ But more and more, I think that while we can’t assume the intent of the artist, their politics matter when we decide if and how we should teach them and display them in public.”