Artists and their personal views

[BonosSaint]

Are you affected by the personal views, morality, religious beliefs or political beliefs of the artists you listen to, read, watch?

I don't mean influenced by. We've already covered that in other threads. But will knowing the personal belief system, orientation, or behavior of an artist affect your decision to experience or not experience their art?

This questions is asked of liberals, conservatives, religious, nonreligious, hedonists, puritans, and the genuinely perplexed.

 

[wizard2c]

reply

Count me in as generally perplexed.

 

[Angela Harlem]

Not at all, for me. I'd rather not know. I really dont want to know, and really dont care what U2s views for example are, on anything. These people are my entertaintment only. They might be interesting people on their own, who knows. But who cares. It's the music or the art or the literature which I seek, not their views. None of them have the moral handle on right and wrong anyway. I do that for myself. For what I see best. I dont want to be influenced by someone I dont really know, never will know, and whose views can only really be gleamed rather inaccurately from some media snippet.

 

[BonosSaint]

Re: reply

Count me in as generally perplexed.

I added that category for me. Glad to find a kindred spirit.

 

[Bono's shades]

I guess it depends on the situation. If an artist's views spill over into their work and I disagree strongly with those views, I think it would be extremely unlikely that I'd be a fan. It would be different if the person's art was apolitical in nature. I probably wouldn't care all that much what that person's beliefs were in that case.

 

[indra]

It depends on how much the music or art (lit, visual art, etc.) means to me. With music for instance, there are some songs that nice and fun to hear once in a while -- entertainment songs. With those songs I don't really care what the artist believes in or thinks of certain issues.

But if a body of work really appeals to me and becomes more than just entertainment -- when my mum was dying I picked music by certain artists to listen to because I knew it was comforting and would have meaning for me -- I find that I do want those artists to hold views fairly compatible with mine. Of course, I also find that they tend to be fairly compatible with my views...perhaps part of what makes that music appeal to me more deeply than the more surface "entertainment music" is that the creator (or creators) does approach life in a similar way.

Now I don't go scouting for artists with views similar to mine and only listen to their music if they agree with me on certain issues. But I do notice that the vast majority of artists I like do have views or beliefs that don't repluse me. I don't think that those with views that would be replusive to me are going to make music that is hugely appealing to me in the first place.

Plus, if I am going to do any major supporting of a band or artist, I'm going to make sure I don't hate him/her (or them) as a person.

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

It depends on how much the music or art (lit, visual art, etc.) means to me. With music for instance, there are some songs that nice and fun to hear once in a while -- entertainment songs. With those songs I don't really care what the artist believes in or thinks of certain issues.

But if a body of work really appeals to me and becomes more than just entertainment -- when my mum was dying I picked music by certain artists to listen to because I knew it was comforting and would have meaning for me -- I find that I do want those artists to hold views fairly compatible with mine. Of course, I also find that they tend to be fairly compatible with my views...perhaps part of what makes that music appeal to me more deeply than the more surface "entertainment music" is that the creator (or creators) does approach life in a similar way.

Now I don't go scouting for artists with views similar to mine and only listen to their music if they agree with me on certain issues. But I do notice that the vast majority of artists I like do have views or beliefs that don't repluse me. I don't think that those with views that would be replusive to me are going to make music that is hugely appealing to me in the first place.

Plus, if I am going to do any major supporting of a band or artist, I'm going to make sure I don't hate him/her (or them) as a person.

Ditto this entire post.

Angela

 

[indra]

Ditto this entire post.

Angela

Thanks!


It would be nice however, if I learned how to spell repulse...

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

Thanks!

You're welcome .

It would be nice however, if I learned how to spell repulse...

LOL . 'Tis okay. You got your point across, so...

Angela

 

[Liesje]

Can you explain what exactly you mean by "affected" vs. "influenced"? I know what these words mean, but maybe if you could give me an example of what you're thinking of here, then I could answer.....

 

[BonosSaint]

Can you explain what exactly you mean by "affected" vs. "influenced"? I know what these words mean, but maybe if you could give me an example of what you're thinking of here, then I could answer.....

We had an earlier thread where we discussed whether the personal viewpoints of celebrities and artists influenced how we looked at a topic. I just wanted to make it clear that I wasn't concerned how an artist's work or personal viewpoint influenced or changed our viewpoint.

Instead I was asking whether knowing an artist's personal views would determine whether we would experience the artist's work
standing on its own without being influenced by that foreknowledge.

 

[Seabird]

Though they have a right to their opinions as we all do, their views to not sway mine in the least. A famous person's views are no better or worse than anyone else's.

 

[Lemonfix]

Well, the thing is, don't we all have friends, family members, etc. whom we disagree with on issues, people who have different religious affiliations or political persuasions marry all the time. If we can hold those relationships intact I believe that we can respect an artists' views as long as we feel that deep down they are a good person who wants to do right. Maybe I am being a bit to simple, but that's how I feel.

(Though it does feel great when your views match those of the artist)

 

[verte76]

Back in the '80's U2 did affect my political and religious views. I started to think my then-socialist views were too rhetorical and pretty empty, and I started to feel the same way about my then-lukewarm deist religious views. The upshot was that I became more centrist in my political views and converted to Catholicism. I call that a change!

 

[nbcrusader]

I can't imagine that we are not influenced by an artist's personal views on some level. It may not shift us from like to dislike (or visa versa), but it may create separation from the artist's craft or draw us closer.

Imagine if Bono said "Saddam was evil and 'W' was correct to take him out of power".

Would it stop you from attending a U2 concert?

Would it stop you from buying HTDAAB?

Would it make you question the credibility of other Bono statements?

Would it change the way you hear Bono's lyrics?

My guess it that you would get some Yes and No answers to those questions.

 

[80sU2isBest]

I greatly admire Bono even though politically, we are very different. Maybe that's because I love most of his spiritual views.

 

[joyfulgirl]

It's tough for me to separate an artist from their personal views when those views seep into the music. I don't seek out music that supports my views but at the same time I can't even think of an example where I like the music but don't like the personal/political views of the artist. I think we all naturally gravitate towards music/art that reflects our own views, either consciously or unconsciously. U2 are different in that they have strong views spiritually and politically which don't always fit into our neat little political/spiritual boxes here in the US so you get a more mixed audience. I do not, however, change my views because someone whose art I like has influenced me that way although I hope I am open to re-examining my beliefs all the time.