# Should people avoid consuming art they enjoy from an artist who they dislike or disagree with on a personal level? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 13, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721 "2023-02-13T17:17:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/181 "2023-02-17T13:45:08Z")
You asked, I answered. “fawn” might have not been the best choice of word, but I prefer to not give my attention to artists who are close to the the “being a jerk” end of the spectrum of life. No, I don’t want to watch or listen to Bill Cosby’s work, even though I loved him as a kid (along with most American kids). And I don’t regret the knowledge because lack thereof wouldn’t change who he is. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/182 "2023-02-17T13:53:14Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Do you wish you didn’t know what you know about the artist, so that you _could_ enjoy their work? No. I prefer knowledge over ignorance. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Do you feel obligated to let other people know about the dark side of the artist, with the result that they may no longer consume their art? “Obligated” is not the word I’d use, but I certainly have no _qualms_ about doing so as and when I choose to. Certainly, “preserving ignorance” isn’t a convincing argument to get me not to. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/183 "2023-02-17T14:25:14Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > “fawn” might have not been the best choice of word, but I prefer to not give my attention to artists But that’s my point: to you, consuming art apparently _means_ giving attention to the _artist_; while to others, they’re not the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/184 "2023-02-17T15:27:39Z")
Maybe it makes me a bad person, but my enjoyment of art isn’t affected one bit by my knowledge of the creator’s sins unless the sins are somehow reflected in the art. I feel sorry for those that are so affected. With a little research, I could probably ruin just about any piece of art, music, literature, or film they love. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/185 "2023-02-17T15:38:37Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I feel sorry for those that are so affected. What a patronizing attitude. I don’t recall anyone seeking your pity. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/186 "2023-02-17T15:40:30Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What a patronizing attitude. It didn’t come across as patronizing to me, just sincerely sorry: “It’s too bad that some people can’t enjoy things I find enjoyable.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/187 "2023-02-17T15:42:17Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > It didn’t come across as patronizing to me, just sincerely sorry: “It’s too bad that some people can’t enjoy things I find enjoyable.” The final sentence–with its smug implications about the minuscule research others have done on what they love–really seals the deal. It’s not a thoughtful perspective on how we should deal with art at all, but rather just mockery of folks who take one side of the issue. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/188 "2023-02-17T15:43:27Z")
Never intended to say otherwise. I am me and you are you. The thread is interesting because of this fact; everyone has their own nuance on this particular topic. > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > my enjoyment of art isn’t affected one bit by my knowledge of the creator’s sins unless the sins are somehow reflected in the art. I feel sorry for those that are so affected. No worries. I’m fine with it. This lack of separation of artist/art for me isn’t just for terrible people. For example, I feel that one of the most angelic voices out there was that of Elis Regina singing “As Águas de março”…it made me sad when I learned that she died of a drug overdose. Whenever I hear her beautiful voice I remember this. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/189 "2023-02-17T15:46:06Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What a patronizing attitude. I don’t recall anyone seeking your pity. I apologize if it came off that way. I would be miserable if the art I love was limited to that created by those free of sin. I shouldn’t assume that’s the case for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/190 "2023-02-17T15:50:18Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > The final sentence–with its smug implications about the minuscule research others have done on what they love–really seals the deal. Yeah, I can see a problem with that last sentence, which seems to be saying that _every_ artist has something wrong with them if you dig deep enough. While it’s trivially true that nobody’s perfect, it’s certainly not true that everyone is equally heinous or that everyone has said or done things bad enough to “ruin” their creations if only you knew about them. > [@minor7flat5](#): > > The thread is interesting because of this fact; everyone has their own nuance on this particular topic. I lean more toward @Elmer_J.Fudd’s point of view, that “my enjoyment of art isn’t affected one bit by my knowledge of the creator’s sins unless the sins are somehow reflected in the art.” But the more I think about it, the more complicated it gets, and it leads me into surprisingly deep philosophical waters. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/191 "2023-02-17T15:51:23Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > It didn’t come across as patronizing to me It does to me, too. > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > With a little research, I could probably ruin just about any piece of art, music, literature, or film they love. Oh, by all means, _try_ and ruin Pratchett for me, I’d love to see this… ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/192 "2023-02-17T15:55:48Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I would be miserable if the art I love was limited to that created by those free of sin. I shouldn’t assume that’s the case for everyone. “Free of sin”? If you have to exaggerate what others are saying in order to disagree with their position, maybe reconsider your own. Nobody has said “free of sin,” that would be stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/193 "2023-02-17T15:56:20Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > _try_ and ruin Pratchett for me, I’d love to see this… I have no desire to ruin anything for anybody…nor am I willing to go to the effort. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/194 "2023-02-17T15:56:40Z")
Everyone has their thresholds. There are some that will burn the books of a jaywalker, and there are some who will consume the works of a rapist. Most of us fit somewhere in the middle there. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/195 "2023-02-17T15:58:16Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > There are some that will burn the books of a jaywalker, and there are some who will consume the works of a rapist. The thing is, only one of those statements is true. The other is an exaggeration. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/196 "2023-02-17T16:00:49Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Nobody has said “free of sin,” that would be stupid. I only used that as a catch all for what _is_ being discussed here. I’m really sorry my choice of words is irking you so much this morning. I probably need another cup of coffee. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/197 "2023-02-17T16:00:51Z")
So, your claim was just empty rhetoric, then. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/198 "2023-02-17T16:01:36Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Oh, by all means, _try_ and ruin Pratchett for me, I’d love to see this… I think he was a terrible person for having his unfinished works destroyed after his death\*. Not that that will keep me from enjoying his finished works, but I certainly will not be buying anything new. Bonus points for the creative and dramatic fashion in which they were destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/199 "2023-02-17T16:02:05Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I think he was a terrible person for having his unfinished works destroyed after his death\*. Whereas it makes me love him more… ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721/200 "2023-02-17T16:05:29Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I’m really sorry my choice of words is irking you so much this morning. Are you seriously apologizing for how I feel? C’mon, that’s silly. If you want to apologize, apologize for your own behavior. Otherwise, no apology requested, and the only thing I’ll gently request is that you write precisely and focus on the merits of different positions re: the OP. At this point, it’s looking to me like a hijack, and I’ll be done with it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-avoid-consuming-art-they-enjoy-from-an-artist-who-they-dislike-or-disagree-with-on-a-personal-level/979721.md?page=11)