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I’d like to preface this by saying that this article was initially written for my schools newspaper. It was rejected and put in the discard pile. I don’t agree with this action and feel as if this is a topic that needs to be spoken on. With that said, I understand the fragility of the issue and urge you to recognize that this is my opinion and I had no intent of upsetting anyone in particular. This is also not a one way street, if you have an opinion converse to mine, DM me or leave a comment, I’d genuinely love to hear your opinion.
It has become a common phrase in both media and among music, fashion, and art fans to “separate the art from the artist.” Usually, it's used to justify an artist's actions or polarizing opinions. Quite frankly, it is ruining art.
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An obvious example would be Kanye West, who has been in the music industry for almost 20 years now. Looking at his discography, one could notice a clear shift in the sound of his music, from a more laid back, chill, and traditional kind of rap (The college dropout, Late registration, and Graduation) to a more aggressive and experimental kind of music (808s and Heartbreaks, My Beautiful dark twisted fantasy, The Life of Pablo, and Yeezus.) This switch can be inferred to be from a series of accidents and tragedies, including the brutal car crash that he suffered in 2002, and the death of his late mother, Donda West in 2007. Since those incidents, he has been diagnosed with a slew of mental disorders, the main standout one being Bipolar Disorder, which has not only altered his music, but also his personality. In effect, he has preached his opinion on some very controversial topics such as slavery and harsh views on the Jewish community
This is exactly why parting the artist from his art is a complete mistake. His music is an extension of who he was in that moment, and while I disagree strongly with many of the things he has said publicly, to separate the two would devoid his work of meaning. It would disrupt the yin and yang that is Kanye. I believe that in order to fully understand a piece of art, whether it’s music, clothing, or a painting, you must know who the artist is to fully understand the message of their work. You can’t have a voice, without a body.
Looking back into the depths of music history, you can find a slew of artists whose art is a direct representation of who they were, more specifically grunge bands. While drugs were no new thing for any band at the time, Alice and Chains were known for their casual use of hard drugs to help boost their creativity for their music. The lead singer of the band Layne Staley, was a known heroin addict and often credited it to some of his talented lyricism on their magnum opus record, Jar of flies, to the drug. This however had a converse effect on his mental health. “Drugs worked for me for years, and now they’re turning against me, now I’m walking through hell, and this sucks.” He told Rolling Stones Magazine in 1994. (Link to article )
If you were to go and listen to Jar of flies without the knowledge of his crippling heroin usage, you would probably come away from the record with a very different, possibly shallower perspective, compared to if you took into account who the artist or musician was, and his struggles. The artist's actions outside of when they are creating art, help us to understand their purpose and who they are even better. All of the good, bad, and despicable parts of an artist should be called into question when looking, listening, or watching a piece of art.
“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.”
Robin Williams perfectly captures the notion of why you shouldn’t separate the art from the artist in this quote. Art is not meant to be beautiful all the time, when intended, art should represent pain, sadness, and grief. Separating the creator from the art robs the artist of their authenticity, and in turn trivializes the meaning of their creation.
Sources
https://quotecatalog.com/quote/robin-williams-we-dont-read-a-zpWwRbp
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/final-days-alice-in-chains-layne-staley/
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i thought this was well-written, so sorry it wasn't accepted by the school publication. glad you have continued to write and share your thoughts. any rejection is even more of a reason to channel yourself creatively. cheers to you and all the best!