I think this is a great discussion. Here’s an article I found that I think helps describe the complexity of separating art from artist.
For a long time I really hated Picasso‘s work because of who he was. But since learning more about his art alone, his style, his influences, I cant help but appreciate and recognize his impact on the arts.
4d ago
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i feel like it’s this constant debate but the thing is? there’s millions of artists/musicians/etc out there, so i find when you want to hold on so tightly to someone, you’re closing yourself off from other artists that could be similar or way cooler but not a terrible person
obviously there’s a distinction between a faux pas, mistakes before growth, or being deeply consistently horrible, but i absolutely think that’s a distinction worth making…
we only have so much time on this earth, and our time to consume art and music and film and literature is fleeting, so i’d rather spend it on the works of people who have earnestly made the world a more beautiful place and exploring art to find those !
May 20, 2024
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As Marx's piece mentions, I think the decline stems from a resistance to engage in thoughtful criticism, because a. critiques of a piece of art (esp. music, movies) are usually dismissed as elitist pretension, b. the criticism is not fully developed nor does it have the historical knowledge to call out why it's bad, c. people consume media as if they are industry professionals. It's as though the PR strategy is an art form in and of itself. Experiencing a piece of culture today often means identifying if you are a stan or a hater and then behaving accordingly. The conversation becomes derivative. I think considering things thoughfully--not necessarily objectively--but more importantly by allowing your reaction to be complex will lead to a more enriching culture. Reading criticism and thinking about the layers of meaning in a piece of art is so much more interesting than logging on and gassing up the celebrity du jour.
that piece of writing stuck with me, thanks for sharing!
May 27, 2025
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"separating the art from the artist" is a privileged ass take and doesn't exist. what people create is representative of how theyve interacted with the world thus far. what the world has done to them, what others have done to them, what theyve learned from others, what theyve done to others, how theyve navigated life with what theyve been given or with what theyve taken.
if you deny that the nude portraits drawn by the hand of a sexual predator are a bastardised version of reality based on his perspective and experience of violence against women then you would also deny the experience of indigenous artists in their depictions of brutality in the face of colonialism or that a single stroke in a painting created by a Black artist holds the weight of going through life in america while being black.
when consuming art, media, anything created by human hands/minds you must also be conscious of the creators lived experience, wether its negative or positive, if you want to make an accurate assessment on the art itself
dont live and consume in ignorance
5d ago
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Be like a woman diagnosed with hysteria in the 18th century. Visit the sea and let it restore your spirit.
Drove to the Nubble Lighthouse at 6 in the morning. I brought my journal and wrote two pages sitting on rocks and breathing in the salty air. I feel awake, alive, free, and ready for the rest of the day. Don’t underestimate the healing power of Mother Nature. She is here for us when we treat her with love.
2d ago
I am partial to abstraction but I wanna highlight a more contemporary representational painter. Mark Tennant‘s work is like painted film photography. His use of light and shadow, the subject matter, just so unique and stunning.
4d ago
or if you don’t live in a neighborhood, just take pics close to wherever you live.
Get different angles, look at the things around you in a new light, see your place like it’s the first time.
What excites you? What do you notice that you hadn’t seen before? Take time with the mundane and allow it to surprise and inspire you.
Jun 6, 2025