Author Topic: An Essay on the Morality of Art by Bad People  (Read 116 times)

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Offline Michael Hardner

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An Essay on the Morality of Art by Bad People
« on: November 18, 2017, 08:03:20 am »
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/good-art-by-bad-people-why-it-shouldnt-be-thrown-away/article37006883/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=Referrer%3A+Social+Network+%2F+Media&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links

This walks us through the moral questions of the art of a Louis CK, Cosby and so on.  TD;DR -> The moral workaround, oddly, is to steal their work...

Thoughts ?  I am interested in this one because it pretty much transcends political affiliation.

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guest7

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Re: An Essay on the Morality of Art by Bad People
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2017, 11:09:27 am »
I always thought Adolf Hitler's paintings were pretty good.  Better than Churchill's. 

With the caveat, of course, that I am no expert. 


Offline kimmy

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Re: An Essay on the Morality of Art by Bad People
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2017, 12:25:11 pm »
If we disregarded everything created by someone who didn't measure up to today's standards of behavior, we'd find ourselves living in caves trying to figure out whether rocks are edible.

At the same time, I don't want to financially support anybody currently in the business who is a piece of scum.  I wouldn't pay a nickel to see Harvey Weinstein's next movie, no matter how good I heard it was. (but I might download it from Pirate Bay, maybe...)

I've probably mentioned Ted Nugent before.  The Nuge might be a deranged crazy-person and a loathesome person, but I still have Stranglehold on one of my playlists and listen to it pretty often.  It's not hard to separate the song from the singer, in that instance at least.  On the other hand I'm not sure I could watch a Cosby Show rerun and see Bill Cosby as "Dr Huxtable" instead of as the creepy sex abuser.  Harder to separate the TV character from Bill and his misdeeds when his face is right there in front of you.

I guess I'm veering off into a separate question. The author talks about stealing as a way of appreciating important art without rewarding creators who are awful people.  And I'm wondering whether having this information about the artist ruins your enjoyment of the art. In the case of Bill Cosby, yes... I don't think I could watch Bill Cosby without thinking of young women and Quaaludes.


There is a Judas Priest song called "Out in the Cold" that I always liked, but it took on increased meaning for me when I learned that the singer Rob Halford was struggling with leading a secret gay life while trying to maintain this image of a heavy metal tough-guy. After learning that, "Out in the Cold" seemed like it was about something completely different.

 -k
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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: An Essay on the Morality of Art by Bad People
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2017, 03:35:42 pm »
I think your POV is covered in the essay.

Side glance - the wife liked Priest and we watched the movie Rock Star, based on him getting fired for being gay and replaced by the singer of their tribute band.  We saw his comeback on the Ressurection tour too.

Offline Squidward von Squidderson

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Re: An Essay on the Morality of Art by Bad People
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2017, 05:23:10 pm »
If we disregarded everything created by someone who didn't measure up to today's standards of behavior, we'd find ourselves living in caves trying to figure out whether rocks are edible.

At the same time, I don't want to financially support anybody currently in the business who is a piece of scum.  I wouldn't pay a nickel to see Harvey Weinstein's next movie, no matter how good I heard it was. (but I might download it from Pirate Bay, maybe...)

I've probably mentioned Ted Nugent before.  The Nuge might be a deranged crazy-person and a loathesome person, but I still have Stranglehold on one of my playlists and listen to it pretty often.  It's not hard to separate the song from the singer, in that instance at least.  On the other hand I'm not sure I could watch a Cosby Show rerun and see Bill Cosby as "Dr Huxtable" instead of as the creepy sex abuser.  Harder to separate the TV character from Bill and his misdeeds when his face is right there in front of you.

I guess I'm veering off into a separate question. The author talks about stealing as a way of appreciating important art without rewarding creators who are awful people.  And I'm wondering whether having this information about the artist ruins your enjoyment of the art. In the case of Bill Cosby, yes... I don't think I could watch Bill Cosby without thinking of young women and Quaaludes.


There is a Judas Priest song called "Out in the Cold" that I always liked, but it took on increased meaning for me when I learned that the singer Rob Halford was struggling with leading a secret gay life while trying to maintain this image of a heavy metal tough-guy. After learning that, "Out in the Cold" seemed like it was about something completely different.

 -k

Seems that there’s a difference in your viewpoint that distinguishes music from the screen mediums, TV and movies. 

I kind of lean that way too....   I can listen to music by religious nuts...   Crazy Nugent and all sorts of people I disagree with,or who are even dirtbags...   but seeing a movie or TV show made by a dirtbag, or with them in it, seems different somehow.  Also, I have no idea of the views of people whose art I might own...   nor do I care...   although, I draw tha line at paintings by Hitler, unlike member bcsapper.

Also, I’ll listen to Nugent, but I would never go to a concert...   

Inconsistent?  I think so...   

Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: An Essay on the Morality of Art by Bad People
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2017, 05:25:31 pm »
I share the feeling of seeing an actor on screen who has done something morally reprehensible, and feeling distracted from the piece.

But not with directors, except maybe when their name is in the credits.  And really otherwise only personal art where you see a lot of the artist in the work.

guest7

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Re: An Essay on the Morality of Art by Bad People
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2017, 06:46:00 pm »

  although, I draw tha line at paintings by Hitler, unlike member bcsapper.



What do you think of his paintings?