You Can’t Separate the Artist from the Art (and I’ll ex… — Transcript

Can I just skip to the end and say, oh, huge shock, the over-simplistic solution isn't actually a solution? Okay, everybody, so I really need to stop saying that I'm done talking about certain things or that I don't plan to do future videos on certain things because I swear every single time I do that, something ends up happening, usually in my own comment section, that makes me go, crap, I do need to address that now, don't I?

certain things because I swear every single time I do that something ends up happening usually in my own comment section that makes me goes crap I do need to address that now don't I bus is the case with the concept of

Such is the case with the concept of separating the artist from the art. It should not come as a surprise to anybody that the reason I feel the need to talk about this is because of J.K. Rowling, but as with the last few times I brought that up, I really don't want to dwell on her specifically. I want you to recognize that she and the discourse and conversation around her are the impetus for this.

her specifically but recognize that she and the discourse and conversation around her as the impetus for this so when I did my video talking about where Harry Potter is going to continue to fit in my life and on this channel I saw a

So when I did my video talking about where Harry Potter is going to continue to fit in my life and on this channel, I saw a lot of comments that were variations of, "Well, we need to separate the artist from the art." And it wasn't so much the sheer volume of them, but the high percentage of those comments that presented it like, "Oh, well, you just separate the artist from the art. This is why I always separate the artist from the art." They were treating it like it's a cure-all, like it's a fix, like it gets rid of the problem.

from the art this is why I always separate the artists from they're treating it like it's a cure-all like it's a fix like he gets rid of the problem I can't tell how serious people are with how flippant you're using the

I can't tell how serious people are with how flippantly they're using the idea of separating the artist from the art, but you can't actually do that. The first thing is, there were some people in comments who seem to be taking the reason that we need to separate the artist from the art is because if we don't, then we are in a situation where everything eventually gets canceled. We're not allowed to read anything or take any art by anyone because everyone's human and everyone is flawed, and as those flaws get exposed, we'll never get to enjoy anything ever again.

don't then we are in a situation where everything eventually gets canceled we're not allowed to read anything or taking any art by anyone because everyone's human and everyone is flawed and as those flaws get exposed we'll never get to enjoy anything ever again

Now, that's a false binary. You give me a binary where either we completely ignore the artist or we must get rid of everything, I'm going to say no, the binary doesn't work. Big shock coming from me breaking a binary, hmm. That entire thing is hyperbolic and that's nonsense. Only people with no concept of depth or nuance whatsoever would claim that. So you need to banish that idea from your head that if we don't separate the artist from the art, then we can't enjoy anything ever. And I will kind of circle back on the enjoyment of these things in a little bit, but that's the first thing.

that entire thing that's hyperbolic and that's nonsense only people with no concept of depth or nuance whatsoever would claim that so you need to banish that idea from your head that if we don't separate from the artists from the earth then we can't

Next up, I need to clarify something because a lot of folks in the comments also seem to be equating separating the artist from the art, which I don't think you can do, with death of the author, which is something I support very highly. While these are two concepts with a fair amount of overlap philosophically, they're not actually the same thing.

of folks at the comments also seem to be equating separating the arts from the art which I don't think you can do with death of the author which is something I support very highly while these are two concepts with a fair amount of overlap

So what death of the author is, it's the idea that the originator of a piece of art, their interpretation of the art they create, is no more valid than anyone else's, and their interpretation of the work does not supersede or invalidate the interpretation of anyone who partakes of that piece of art. Like, as an example, if you were to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the author of that, C.S. Lewis, wrote it very strongly as a Christian allegory. Those themes are all over the book; they're very clear.

work does not supersede or invalidate the interpretation of anyone who partakes of that piece of art like as an example if you were to read the lines of which in the wardrobe the author of that seus Lewis wrote it

But if you read that book and your interpretation of the work is that it's not about faith or religion, but it's actually about broken family units, and Aslan is meant to represent unity and putting in the work to be together, whereas the White Witch represents the fracturing of the family dynamic and how that splintering can poison things and force them apart even further, death of the author says you are allowed to have that interpretation of the work. And just because it isn't the interpretation that the original author, C.S. Lewis, had doesn't mean you don't get to have that. You get to have that because it's your experience.

units and Aslan is meant to represent unity and putting in the work to be together where's the white which represents the fracturing of the family dynamic and how that splintering can poison things in forcings apart even further death of the author says you are

That's death of the author. Now, what death of the author definitely doesn't do is it doesn't address anything about who the author is as a person. It only deals with interpretations of the work that that author produces. And this is why it's not the same thing as separating the artist from the art, because pretty much anytime anybody invokes the idea "separate the artist from the art," what they are advocating that you do is to not think about the person behind the art. It's not about their interpretation of the art; it's about ignoring who they are and only looking at the art in and of itself.

that's death of the author now what definitely author doesn't do is it doesn't address anything about who the author is as a person it only deals with interpretations of the work that that author produces and this is why it's not

So, wow, that and death of the author are philosophical cousins; they're not actually the same thing. And that is why I can be in favor of one and not the other. So there's a couple of problems with separating the artist from the art. First off, it treats art like it exists in a vacuum, like it's something that was just there. It was always present, and who created it is irrelevant. And that is a very odd way to think about anything because no piece of art just exists.

about their interpretation of the orgasm it's about ignoring who they are and only looking at the art in and of itself so wow that and death of the author are philosophical cousins they're not actually the same thing and that is why

Harry Potter was not a story that existed out in the universe that happened to be channeled through a vessel named J.K. Rowling but could have come from any other source because it exists in a vacuum on its own. Now, I'm not claiming that anybody actually believes that to be the case; I know they don't. But to try and separate the artist from the art is to treat art as if that is the case, as if it doesn't have a source, as if it doesn't have a meaning, as if it doesn't have influences and background, good features and bad, that are instilled in it from the person who created it.

there it was always present and who created it is irrelevant and that is a very odd way to think about anything because no piece of art just exists Harry Potter was not a story that existed out in the universe that

And to me, first off, that's a very naive and kind of disrespectful way to consume art, any art, whether it's art you like or you don't. And one of the things that's really frustrating about this for me is people tend to invoke it when they want to take part in a piece of art that they enjoy created by a person who they take issue with, especially in the back of my head what I know: you won't do that for a piece of art you like created by a person who matches your moral values more closely. You're not going to separate that from the artist, but you will for this.

don't but to try and separate the artist from the art is to treat art as if that is the case as if it doesn't have a source as if it doesn't have a meaning as if it doesn't have influences and

So it's not about actually trying to enjoy the piece of art unto itself the way some people will claim that it is. It's about trying to placate your own conscience, and it's a cheat. An artist's beliefs, whether they are as evident in the text and as allegorical as in something like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, or if there is no intentional projecting of the author's beliefs in the narrative or the characters, regardless, their beliefs, their worldviews, their upbringing, their way of thinking and seeing the world is why the story exists in the form that it does. The art does not exist absent the artist.

things that's really frustrating about this for me is people tend to invoke it when they want to take take part in a piece of art that they enjoy created by a person who they take issue with especially in the back of my head what I

Now, I know that this is a fact that, especially if you find out things about an artist that you don't like as a person, makes things uncomfortable, and I understand that that is not pleasant and that's not a nice thing to go through. But I honestly think it's something most of us need to go through. It's part of being an adult. Like, I'll give a pass to kids reading Harry Potter. I don't have expectations of them to have grappled with the issue of J.K. Rowling's transphobic beliefs. I don't expect a nine-year-old to grapple and have come to terms with that.

not about actually trying to enjoy the piece of art unto itself the way some people will claim that it is it's about trying to placate your own conscience and it's a cheat an artist's beliefs whether they are as

I'm not even entirely sure I'd expect a 19-year-old to. I'd like to, but I'm not sure I can set it as an expectation. But a 29-year-old, 39 and up, you don't get to just duck out on being a mature consumer of art because it makes you uncomfortable. And the sad reality is that coming to terms with some of the people who created pieces of art that you like might mean you don't enjoy that piece of art anymore. It may, in fact, taint it for you, and that sucks.

way of thinking and seeing the world is why the story exists in the form that it does the art does not exist absent the artists now I know that this is a fact that especially if you find out things

And look, I stand by what I said before. I have not gotten rid of my Harry Potter items. I have not stopped reading Harry Potter to my daughter, but my own personal enjoyment of those things is less so. I know that it sucks. I've made the choice to hold on.

being an adult like I'll give a pass to kids reading Harry Potter I don't have expectations of them to have grappled with the issue of JK Rowling's transphobic beliefs I don't expect a nine-year-old to grapple and have come to terms with that

I'm not even entirely sure I'd expect a 19 year old - I'd like to but I'm not sure I can set it as an expectation but a 29 year old 39 up up you don't get to just duck out on being a mature consumer

of art because it makes you uncomfortable and the sad reality is that coming to terms with some of the people who created pieces of art that you like might mean you don't enjoy that piece of art anymore it may in fact

taint it for you and that sucks and look I stand by what I said before I have not gotten rid of my Harry Potter items I have not reading Harry Potter to my daughter but my own personal enjoyment of those

things is less so I know that it sucks I've made the choice to hold on to these things in the way that I'm choosing to do so regardless of that because they do still have value it is tarnished but

tarnishment does not make it worthless again it's not a binary just because it's not perfect doesn't mean we should throw it away but you may also end up coming to the decision that you need to and that's fine that would be a mature

moral choice so part of what frustrates me when I see people make the argument for separate the artists from the art is that when I made my video about Harry Potter that was not something that was done spur the moment and my point in that was

not I'm never gonna think about who JK Rowling is I had had internal debates and conversations with friends and people who mattered me trying to figure out how I was going to move forward I didn't toss it off as I will just

separate the areas from the art in order to avoid having to do that because that is immature and I would argue even irresponsible to yourself and to the appreciation of any piece of art life is complicated and being an adult

means not ignoring and ducking out and avoiding for your own comfort the complications and that sucks being the adult sucks I know that but you still need to do it for yourself for your growth for your appreciation of things

for your understanding of anything how can you claim to appreciate a piece of art if you are ignoring where it's coming from and if by learning to come to better understand where it comes from if it makes it harder for you to enjoy

that then that is part of the complicated reality of life and I'm sorry but you don't get to just duck out on that because it makes you uncomfortable that having been said I personally love the opinion that nobody

not me and not anybody else has any business telling you how to process and what conclusions to come to because if you go through all of this if you come to terms with the faults in the either personhood or actions or beliefs of

someone who created a piece of art that you love if you go through all that and come out the other end still finding a way that you're comfortable continuing to enjoy that art I don't have a problem with that so long as I know that if

somebody asks why do you still partake of this art that you can answer it that you can explain because it connects to me in this way because it has this high value and I understand the other issues but this means so much to me

where I will get irritated with you is if your answer is just I think about it and that's what's saying I separate the artist from the art is it's going I'm not gonna think about it and that I think people kind of do have

a right to get annoyed with you at not to be rude nobody should be being rude to anybody but to get annoyed with you if when the question comes up how are you still conscientiously partaking of this piece of media

your answer is ah I just don't think about it that's not okay you do need to think about it and if you come to the conclusion that you can still predict of that media okay but do the work don't

put it off because it's hard because you're disrespecting the work that you claim to be enjoying because you are failing to appreciate its origins because that is part of appreciating you a piece of art fully and if it truly

means that much to you why would you ignore that it is disrespectful to the people who are hurt by that artist if their actions or their beliefs or their statements have caused harm you are saying to those people I don't I am

choosing to not think about that and again if you this is not me saying you can't partake of this art I said at the beginning this is not a binary this is not a this person's problematic you can

never enjoy their art again whether or not you can join their art again that is up to you and that's what I talked about when I talked when I did my video on problematic creators separating the artists from the art is not a solution

it is a choice to avoid having to think about things it sure as hell is not a solution thank you very much for watching please leave a comment like subscribe whatever your thoughts are just keep them civil down on the comment

section and until next time this council is adjourned thank you very much for watching I hope you enjoyed this video you can help me out by going to patreon and helping me keep this entire thing going and of course I have merch and I

have other social media things for you to check out as well but most importantly just be sure that you be safe be well and be kind [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]