How much effect does an artist's personal life or insanity have on your ability to enjoy their art?
I'll be the first to admit that I love the new Dixie Chicks album [my official review is in process]. And yet, with all the hype, they're still saying things like this:
"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism." [source]
First of all, it kind of seems like they keep saying ridiculous things to get publicity. It might or might not be conscious, but I think it's actually limiting them. Like many other entertainers and artists, they are building a career out of being outrageous rather than being known as great musicians. Saying things like this will definitely attract certain groups, but I wish that they would just let their talent speak for itself.
Is it right that the Dixie Chicks have taken so much flack for being un-patriotic when we watch movies featuring actors who's lives center around their rejection of Christ?
It's disturbing to me that Christians will freak out over the Dixie Chicks, and then live their own lives like Christ is still in the grave. And yet, I'm not quite sure how to handle them. Was I mistaken to hand them my money in exchange for their cd?
Can you truly detach good art from a bad artist?
One of the beauties of a real faith in Jesus is the amazing freedom we have for good. We were not given freedom to become slaves to this world, but to joyfully become bondservants of a living, creative, Love. However, we live in a fallen world. Even the greatest art falls short because it is created by sinful hands.
Why aren't more Christians creating beauty and art? We have the greatest personal inspiration, so why are we settling for mediocre-at-best movies and music? Is my generation going to continue to hide in their homes? Who will stand up? Do I have the strength and maturity to trust Jesus and stand outside? Do you?
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things [phil 4:8]
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14 comments:
That one can detatch the art from the artist is one of the enormous fallacies of non-art world.
The one is neccessary for the other, both to provide appreciation as well as understanding.
Context is also intrinsically important.
And if one has something to say, one will say it, no matter the audience/economic cost.
I am not a Dixie Chicks fan because I am not a country fan, but I give them props for saying something not often said in country music.
"Bastille Day – July 14
St. Honore’s version of France’s national holiday turns the corner of NW Thurman and NW 23rd Place into an outdoor sidewalk festival reminiscent of the artist scene at Montmartre. Street artists, jugglers, mimes and a tap dancing saxophone player create a fun-filled celebration for all ages."
Sounds so fun, eh?
like allison, i am not a huge fan of the chicks (but i like country. i just don't like them because our silly canadian radio station overplays all their songs because they like them for hating george bush).
but as much as it might be a publicity stunt, she also just could have been telling the interviewer what she really thinks. and i agree, patriotism isn't for everyone.
detaching art from the artist is a tricky thing. i think it's good for each person to be able to experience the art just for themselves, to interpret it in their own way. that's the way i like to enjoy art. but the reason the art was created is very important. i know this because my own mundane creations mean so much more than some people see. however, i am a selfish person, and so of course it is my desire that people only enjoy my art the way i want them to. which almost destroys the point of art.
i'm sure if you and me and allison and pamela and maybe a few other people got to arguing about art, we'd never come to any sort of conclusions. and that is of course, the nature of art.
no you cannot completely detach an artist from their work.
detaching the art from the artist shouldnt even be attempted. it leads to making bad jugements about the art, and at best sounding like an arrogant idiot.
janice, it's not selfishness to want your art to be seen as you intended it - that should be the expectation. with a lot of art it is often nearly impossible to actaully understand it or read it correctly even if the artist is explicitly telling you, just because you're not the artist and you dont get it, but many things are explainable and w/o knowing who the artist is or under what circumstances she was working/influenced, there's no point in even looking at it.
thus develops the lovely debate of Public Art.
Thank you for the post, Emilina. Yet again.
Grant you: you can't detach a created thing from its creator as if it didn't have one. However, questions stand, such as: can good art come from bad people? is it right to support art that comes from artists who promote worldviews we oppose? can something "positive" exist in a "negative" context so that it can be extracted from said context and exist "positively" on its own? & etc. ...Questions that sound silly, but are both relevant and important.
...can Rose spell?... emElina. I knew something looked funny about that.
I think Rose has more acurately judged my question in this case. I am not advocating a separation of the art and intent of the artist, rather questioning the correct judgement in a case where I enjoy the art and yet disagree with the artist in a context that has nothing to do with the music itself. In these cases, how does one balance supporting the art, yet not the artist's views? Where do we draw the line? Here, with [i believe to be damaging, yet perfectly legal] outspoken Anti-American views? With blatant immoral conduct? With blasphemy against Jesus?
We cannot expect non-Christians to act like Christians, of course, but to what level should we support/not support them through our actions?
And even more important to me, what are Christians doing living such mediocre and irrelevant lives?
There are no easy answers, of course, as with all philosophical questions. But I am really enjoying this dialogue.
Besides, all these comments make me feel warm and fuzzy inside, even if they're not compliments.
Rose, my name gets spelled both ways. No worries.
Ah... yes. Blasphemy is a whole different bag of weed. At that point I would opt for not supporting the art or the artist.
Hm... but that might make me a hypocrite.
I have heard that Jason Statham, Jackson Pollock and various musicians are jerkfaces, but I still enjoy them... I think you can have something to say or do or create that adds to the world even if you are a jerk. Or do drugs. Or whatever the case may be.
i should certainly hope that bad people can still create things that other people can appreciate, because if that weren't true, then art wouldn't exist because we are all bad people.
i'm a double standard myself, because don't usually like to hear what an artist has to say about their work (unless they're a friend) because i want to enjoy it in my own way wth no interference. but again, with my own stuff, i interfere with other people experiencing my art. and i hate that about myself. but the world is full of happy contradictions. who knows why.
and i'm sorry, i just can't stop myself from saying this. but just because it's "anti-american" doesn't mean it's not true or valid or okay. not necessarily about the chicks but things in general. okay there now i can sleep tonight.
blasphemy is a whole different bag of weed...
not the analogy I would use, but ok.
I dunno where you draw the line. Even with blasphemy. For example I read the da vinci code, but refused to watch the movie (yes, it is blasphemy - even if its fiction). Perhaps some guidelines could be what kind of influence does it have, how powerful is that influence, and it is wise.
We Americans are obsessed with our rights, but something may be right (not wrong) and completely unwise. It is best to make wise decisions first, and not simply right and wrong ones.
Boycotting something (be it artist, movie, whatnot) is a personal decision. A piece of art, like a human being, is unique from yet inextricable from all the people who surround and give life to it. So it's another one of those fuzzy grey lines we all love to hate.
Yet I personally feel you can enjoy your Dixie Chicks cd without condoning their antagonism. (To be clear for Janice, it's not the fact that they're specifically anti-American, it's the fact that they're so antagonistic. It's the same for all the dumb southerners who, after 9/11 asked for "freedom fries" and badmouth the French. I just don't like haters.) Anyway, being able to partially separate art from artist is like being a friend to someone with a really screwed up life. You love them for the good things about them, but you're not going to lie to them and say you also like the parts of them that are unhealthy and need to change.
If Christians couldn't enjoy the good things in this world, then boy, we'd look like prudes, you know? (But for the record, I'm not a fan of country and so do not listen to any of it. That's right, the Portland girl can't get the Alabama girl to listen to country music. Haha!)
Em, congrats on starting a topic that got you more than 10 comments. It's been awhile, huh?
watch the dumb southerners comments... south carolinian and proud of it!
Oh you just mentioned freedom fries. That is one of my worst pet peeves. OOoooooooo such great anger!!
I suppose this conversation is interesting for me because my deal is not with anti-american or whatever, but with how art is percieved. I don't know exactly what hte Chicks did or wahtever (I sort of remember), but I know Josh and Em have heard Derek Webb, adn that man has some Rad questionyourpatriotism lyrics.
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