“Separating the Art from the Artist”

Just my quick and casual 2 cents on this topic.

This is often a bit of a hot-button topic among music fans, especially as of late, as the more we’re routinely aware of scrutinizing personalities, whether it be actors, musicians, influencers, or creators.

Whether it’d be controversial views, derogatory remarks that surfaced, or worse things like sexual harassment, or all kinds of abuse.

But with a lot of audiences, it’s hard to break that para-social bond after finding that their favorites aren’t worth their respect anymore.

The closest things we sometimes can make up for it is to appreciate the work they’ve done, and not really cross the fine line of agreeing with the artist as a whole.

First, I think it’s good we don’t treat famous people as if they’re above the law or decency and justice.

In a way, it breaks that indestructible perfect status of an idol-like figure, I don’t desire it out of envy or some crab mentality, but because I kind of don’t like putting artists to such a pedestal.

Ever since I was younger, I’ve kind of learned to be more appreciative of the art than the artist who made it.

Back then, it was really out of smugness, being like “actually 🤓, I like this very obscure soundscape of my favorite artist” to all those peers on their idol groups.

But overtime, I’ve grown from that elitist identity, but liked how I had that separation mindset or whatnot.

So, yes, in some days, I’ve already set myself from separating art from artist, not in the means of justifying who they are, but by putting so few of my feelings towards an artist in the first place.

But ultimately, yeah. I’d rather stay away than actively making a statement on separating art from artist. After all, people can be uncomfortable about them, or even worse, you know, the victims.