We are in a period where it seems like our heroes are constantly falling. Those artists we have loved and/or praised have transgressed various lines or have been accused of doing so. So, who do we have left? And how do we go about experiencing and connecting to the art and entertainment they produce?
First off, I do not believe that people have gotten worse, that suddenly pure and wholesome industries have now become infested with those who have committed destructive and illegal acts. Rather, we have the access and concern to make the smallest parts of these artists’ lives public. While money often buys privacy, it is simultaneously true that tabloids, reality TV, cameras, etc. make it hard for anyone to hide. What we recognize is that often the moments in these artists’ lives that move to the forefront are those with highest entertainment value or interest; events or characteristics on the extremes of good and bad, as long as they are “exciting” in the view of the public.
We have seen the complicated lives of some of the most popular figures in different industries: from Harvey Weinstein facing multiple accusations of sexual assault, to XXXTentacion’s death and taped confessions of murder and domestic abuse, to cheating scandals among various actors and actresses. As we travel deeper into the personal lives of those within the music and film scene, the more transgressions or questionable things we unearth. This is of course due to them being real humans (shocking, I know) and also often because of the culture and lifestyle so rampant within these fields. Though it is easy to idolize these figures, (and this inclination is wrought with its own issues), we are not asking them to be our friends. We are not asking them personally to be parts of our lives, or are we? With our friends, our idols, the politicians we support, we often are expected to have opinions on their moral character, and this is a part of our assessment of our need or lack thereof to support or to be involved with them. If we decide that the art created is the main focus, is it possible to separate the creator from the art? Do we need to?
The next question is how do we go about conceptualizing beautiful and moving art that some say has been created by monsters? How is it that we can have such pure and moving experiences watching or listening to media that has been created by industries wrought with problems of pettiness, sexism, hatred, or abuse? It is one of art’s strongest appeals and most important features that it can make us think and feel, allowing us to connect to the world and others, think in new ways, and even deal with our own issues. Despite who has created the art, the truth is this goal can still be achieved. If we can draw a line between the morality of those who have created the art and our personal experience with the art itself, we can allow this experience to remain pure and impactful.
This of course means that it is still our job as consumers in conversation and evaluation to speak about these films and songs in terms of their personal impact and merit as they stand alone, not in terms of our perception of the moral character of their creators, unless we explicitly draw that line or decide to take on that lens.
Though we may be able to draw the line in our uses and our conversation around this art, one of the biggest problems seems to be our expression of monetary support. 1 million Spotify streams translates to about $7,000, making 10 streams of one artist’s songs add up to about 7 cents of revenue. This revenue is then of course split up among many groups. A study done by the Future of Music Coalition found that contracts with major labels often give artists about 11–13 percent of royalties from their albums, even dropping to 5 percent depending on contract clauses. This is all to say that though we may find where we put our money to be important, our actual contribution to the artists themselves is extremely minimal, and specifically in music it is about a drop in the ocean.
This is not to say that we should ignore the unacceptable acts that artists commit, nor that we should praise them or generalize their character based on their art. Rather, we as consumers and audience members have the choice to be entertained in the way we prefer, with the knowledge that our choices have the biggest impact on us alone. When we speak about these artists, it is best that we draw a line between the art and the creator as well as how it impacts us. Just because they have talent, does not make them any less human. Maybe we shouldn’t rely on the information we are given through media to help us really understand those that create the art we admire. We can never avoid forming opinions, but it is important to note that we can never achieve anything close to a sufficient knowledge of their full character.
It is clear that movies and music have shaped our views on the human condition. This may be why we have such a desire to determine the moral character of those creating them. If we use art to get through our struggles and to process our own lives, or refer to music as therapy, then essentially who are we hiring as our therapists? Can the advice be good if the therapist is deemed unreliable or not trustworthy? Are we getting advice on humans from monsters? I don’t believe it is that simple. Rather we are just getting the experiences of and are learning from people who are dealing with the same complexities that we are.
The most intriguing part of this whole debate is that, despite all that I just said that is logical and rational, what art often expresses is not this at all. Instead, what connects us to it is art’s ability to reveal and change the soul. This music, film, and art is raw and real because it often comes from places of extreme joy or extreme sorrow. And within this are real people who have felt real things. This is what makes the experiences that we have with art so impactful. Not because it is pure but instead because it is tainted. Its imperfection is what allows us to connect, and what allows it to be a mirror for all of us. So maybe we shouldn’t be looking to artists as our idols, but rather as our equals, with stories we can learn from and relate to.
