Can we separate art from the artist?

Can we separate art from the artist?

(The following is an exerpt from my article published (and editor's pick! :-)), over on Elephant Journal. You can read the full musings, titled 'Teenage Heartbreak all over again: Michael Jackson & the Falling of our Creative Genius Idols.', by clicking here xx)

"Sure. We can view a painting, hear a poem and piece of music, and be moved, inspired, touched, elated, emoted, and basically, react or respond, to it.

We can have an opinion. We can love it or hate it.

And none of that can have anything to do with its creator.

We might not even know who the artist was behind that particular piece that changed something for us, that lodged itself forever into our memory bank.

But knowing more about the creator can add new layers of understanding, new perspectives of context, and this can change the way we absorb and perceive their art.

Sometimes, irretrievably.

In lieu of the ongoing and shockingly sad revelations that are now pouring out into the light, concerning some of our beloved artists and “genius creators,” the question becomes more urgently, not can we—but should we separate the art from the artist?

Betrayal breaks something.

Something so deep that was never to be spoken of in the first place. This betrayal, as I see it, and deeply feel it, is of trust.

Because this is the betrayal that I’m palpably feeling right now, I’m naming the artist who has been spotlighted with startling incriminations these past few weeks—one of my childhood heroes, Michael Jackson...."

(to continue reading click here loves. Thank you :-))