Trent Patton
Viewpoints Editor
An argument I have seen countless times online is whether one can appreciate art from a detested artist. Many say no, the art can not be separated from the artist, and listening to their music is no different than endorsing their abhorrent behavior. Others say yes, a terrible person can create art; at the end of the day, all that matters is that the art is commendable. Personally, this argument has left me stumped for many years. I refuse to consume any type of art from Marilyn Manson due to the fact that he has multiple, evidently supported allegations of sexual and physical abuse. In Manson’s 2007 music video for “Heart Shaped-Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand),”the content includes the alleged sexual assault of actor Evan Rachel Wood. Wood has gone on record stating that she had been “essentially raped” by Manson in the video. I would want to give him zero attention or money, so I refuse to listen to his music.
However, other controversial artists like Manson still have apologists who use the “separate the art from the artist” argument to justify their devotion to these garbage human beings. Kanye West still has a significant fan base despite the many racist stunts he has pulled in recent years. I have caught myself saying, “But he made the Graduation album,” which is a fantastic album created by a terrible person. So, what is the right thing to do?
Unfortunately, there is no black and white answer to this debate. I try to make an effort not to give any streaming time to these immoral artists. However, I may or may not have an illegally downloaded version of “Watch The Throne” on my phone (this is a joke, please don’t come after me). One of my favorite bands is The Smiths, but the lead singer, Morrissey, is a world-renowned asshole. He has many ignorant political opinions and is disliked by many, if not all, of his fellow artists. Does that make me a hypocrite? Yeah, a little bit, but one must weigh out their personal morals and the distasteful actions by an artist one by one. Everyone knows who Michael Jackson is, and many also know about the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland,” which alleges that Jackson was sexually abusing minors. However, the musical significance of Michael Jackson is undeniable; he is still remembered as one of the best artists ever.
Some people refuse to play any music from Jackson’s discography, and others can’t have a real Halloween without watching the classic “Thriller” music video at least once. At the end of the day, only you can decide how much your morals matter when consuming content from someone with known controversies.