Separating the art from the artist

[JazznFunk]

If their free expression alienates enough people to destroy their career, that is of their own doing. It's a pretty entitled and naive attitude to think what you say in public shouldn't affect your livelihood. .

I didn't say it shouldn't. I'm saying that it doesn't always destroy a career. I'm also saying that certain artists have done so and continued to flourish despite making their stances. Usually the choice of whether a career is allowed to flourish or flounder isn't necessarily up to the artist or the fans - it's up to the gatekeepers, as was the case with The Chicks.

 

[Paul New]

I won’t knowingly do anything that benefits eric clapton, nor will I buy a tesla.

Does that answer your question?

 

[c-ba55]

Well, do you still enjoy listening to Michael Jackson songs? I do. Even P.Y.T. The art just exists on its own, and we don't have to know anything about the artist's life or intentions in order to evaluate it.

 

[BuddhaFingas]

Yeah, you kind of misconstrued the point. Singing/vocalizing one's beliefs is not the issue. Yes, everyone should be able to voice their beliefs whether in song or in speech. The issue is being told to 'shut up and sing' as a means of saying 'don't voice your opinions which go against the establishment - just entertain us, or we'll destroy your career if you continue to express your beliefs.' That's the 'shut up and sing' that is dangerous.

As is the reverse, which has been a bit of a thing for some acts lately: "You don't like my opinion? Well, you came to the wrong show!"

In both cases it's a misguided view of the performer/audience relationship, at best.

 

[lionsdenblog]

Sweatty Teddy could blow up the moon and Stranglehold is still a kickass song.

Tom Cruise jumped on a sofa and I was taught never to jump on furniture. But MI films are fun.

I do my very best to compartmentalize someone’s work product from their personal life. Especially if I don’t know them personally.

Tom Cruise is crazy as a fox, but I am always entertained by his movies.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

The problem with threads like this, even if they start out completely non partisan, is that they open the door to partisanship. The moment the first person says “I don’t listen to ______________ because of their politics” it’s inherently politics by proxy because those views are either widely known or easily searchable. I’m going to save our volunteer moderators a whole lot of cleanup duties and close this now.