As I wrote below, it's hard for me not to feel ambivalent about artists like Leni Riefenstahl, Diego Rivera, or Frida Kahlo, who are tainted by the choices and associations they made in their lives.
It got me to thinking about other artists whose work I respect, but who I have trouble with on a personal or political level. How much of my perception of an artist's work is influenced by my knowledge of the artist? I like to think I can separate these things, but is it entirely possible? There are other examples.
Most of what I've read about Picasso, for example, confirms that the man was a pretty ugly person who treated others, especially women, abominably. Then again, I knew I didn't like most of Picasso's work long before I knew anything about him as a man. I still think he's the most over-rated artist of all time.
Perhaps a better example is Frank Lloyd Wright. Many of his building designs are stunningly beautiful. But if you try to find out much about the man, you'll learn that he was arrogant, condescending, demanding, rude much of the time, and sometimes quite cruel to family, friends, employees, and even customers. This doesn't diminish how I view his work at all.
I'm a big fan of U2 even though I find their lead singer Bono unbelievably, obnoxiously pretentious much of the time. I confess that this does sometimes influence how I see their music, but I can usually overlook it.
In the field of sports (which is a form of art, I think), it's impossible to deny that Ty Cobb was both one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, and one of the meanest sons of bitches of the 20th century. I don't think even the most obnoxious sports celebrity in the papers today can come close to that guy. The man belonged in prison, frankly.
Can anyone think of other examples like this?
Many of Frank Lloyd Wright's building designs are stunningly beautiful. They were not practical. They lacked closets, for starters, and if you complained, he'd tell you to pare down your wardrobe. Those who bought his houses later (I spent my early years down the street from a couple of his first) simply had to ignore the faults and bask in the glory of living there.
It is said that the roof of the corporate hq he designed for Johnson Wax leaked directly onto S.C. Johnson's desk. His response? Moving the desk would upset the balance of the room...
Babs, Martin Sheen, Dixie Chicks, Roman Polanski - liked how I put them all in the same category?
If its true that FLWright was cold and ugly to his family and friends, then I would have to say his architechture reflects that. I grew up spending a lot of time in doctor's offices that were FLW offshoots...and every house that uses his architectural style strikes me as cold and unwelcoming. Aesthetically pleasing if you like to look at caves and landscapes, but horrendously uncomfortable as actual living spaces.
As for examples of art I like but cringe over the artists politics : just off the top of my head, I was the biggest fan of the Scottish New Wave group, "Big Country" only to find out that the leader, Stuart Adamson, was a BIG time Greenpeace advocate. I see Greenpeace as just one of the milder ecoterrorist groups, not worthy of political influence, but just bullies to those who advocate capitalism. But, man! Stuart had a NICE voice!
I guess he died a proper artist's death : committing suicide in a Hawaiian hotel.
D.W. Griffith sort-of qualifies, though he did, in fact, repent of "Birth of a Nation".
I went through a similar experience with indie musician Ani DiFranco. I love her music, but haven't listened to her since hearing her 9/11 blame America piece. It's unfortunate - I think she's one of the most talented musicians and lyricists performing today, but I can't hear her voice, or see her picture, without feeling the rage in my gut.
The problem is, if I were to give up all of my favourite artists because of their political views, I'd be really bored because all my shelves would be empty.
Oh, I forgot - the late singer Kirsty MacColl, best known for her duet with The Pogues on 'Fairytale of New York' (best Christmas song... EVER!), like too many artists, was a Castro apologist. In fact, her best-of collection, 'Galore', features a photo of her in full Castro regalia, lighting a cigar with a burning U.S. dollar. Absolutely despicable on so many levels, and yet... as soon as I hear her voice, all is forgiven.
Viggo Mortesen as Aragorn. He's more dumb than obnoxious politically, but oh, his acting...
How about the German rocket scientists--undeniably brilliant, chose to support an evil regime because it would allow them to pursue their intellectual interests...
Roman Polansky, good one. I was disgusted to see him recognized at the Academy Awards last year. He's not even that good of a director.
If we're going to talk about athletes too, we may as well include politicians, and anyone else who excels at their job despite their personal failings. All sorts of public figures get passes for their evil actions, and that just goes to show that no one really likes them for themself, but rather for their accomplishments.
Roman Polanski...He's not even that good of a director.
I have to disagree with you there. Not about how revolting he is, but about his talent. 'Chinatown' alone qualifies him as a great filmmaker. Too bad about that child-rape thing.
Well, i stead of glorifying those artists and writers and other 'stars" in the arts or sports , how about we start supporting the work of those artisrs, writers, poets, sports-stars, who arent people with major personal flaws? Instead of listening to Ani Di Franco, why not check out Amy Mann, for example, instead of the Dixie Chicks, why not Allison Krause, and so on and so forth......... Just my 2 cents
David:
That is, respectfully, a load of horsecrap. There may have been a very few actual Nazis in the group, but most of these men were decent people who got caught up in a situation they couldn't avoid.
The German research started about the same time that Hitler took power, but all the scientists knew was that the German army had hired them to work on rockets. Willy Ley's Rockets, Missles, and Space Travel gives an interesting "insiders's" picture of the start of all that. It's an excellent history of early rocket research, as well.
And yes, I do know Von Braun as a member of the NSDAP. It was one of those "offer[s] you can't refuse." {wry grin}
George: listen to better musicans... Heh...
George: listen to better musicans... Heh...
Hey, I still maintain 'Fairytale of New York' to one of the best damned songs ever.
Speaking of other musicians, Living Colour is back with a new album. Now if only the Pogues would come back, I'd be a happy camper.
P.S. - Similar left-leaning politics from both those groups, but nothing that gets in the way of the music.
Living Colour has a new CD out!? Kewl!! Gotta check it out.
Time's Up is, I think, one of the most under-rated albums of the 90s. Way better than anything the grunge movement ever put out...
Yeah, I've heard Vernon Reid has some pretty "out there" positions, but the man plays a mean axe.
Q: How many members of U2 does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Four. Three to change the light bulb, and Bono to explain the significance of the event.
In October 2001, Radiohead sent out an email to their fan club saying that 'we don't need a Republican with oil on his hands protecting us from the world.'