Separating the art from the artist

[KurtW95]

What is your philosophy on this with regard to comics? Is there a line that you draw where the concept no longer applies?

[Electricmastro]

First thing that came to mind is Jason Aaron, because although I usually attempt to separate the art from the artist, that can be hard to do when Aaron uses the art... well, like this:



Just thinking about the thought process behind this sort of writing comes off to me more as gross behavior, regardless of whatever point he's making, than anything else, even if no one else sees it.

[dancj]

I'm still looking to complete my collection of DMZ, so obviously I'm capable of some separation.

I can't listen to Gary Glitter any more, so I have my limits.

I also watched Hacksaw Ridge - directed by Mel Gibson - but I'd struggle to watch something he's acting in.

[ed2962]

It's up to the individual. I think with few small exceptions, we don't very have large pool of Roman Polanskis or HP Lovecrafts in the comics industry today. There are a number of folks who are a little more than willing to be jerks on social media, but I'm not sure some like Mark Waid is in the same class as a beloved actor who may have assaulted someone or has a habit of making anti-semetic statements.

[KurtW95]

It's up to the individual. I think with few small exceptions, we don't very have large pool of Roman Polanskis or HP Lovecrafts in the comics industry today. There are a number of folks who are a little more than willing to be jerks on social media, but I'm not sure some like Mark Waid is in the same class as a beloved actor who may have assaulted someone or has a habit of making anti-semetic statements.

Gerard Jones is the first person I would think of when it comes to someone I’d have trouble supporting even though I know getting a back issue wouldn’t line his pocket whatsoever. It still feels wrong. To a lesser extent, there are also people in the comic industry who have made bigoted statements and others who I don’t have any evidence are bigots themselves, but have been working closely with really vile people.

When we’re talking about the entertainment industry at large, Bill Cosby is the leading example I can think of because I really used to enjoy his show and his comedy.

[Jim Kelly]

I don't support Neil Gaiman's books anymore. I used to be a big fan, but I find it odd that he writes so much about other people's beliefs, mythologies and religions, with so much frankness, yet he never writes about the belief system of his rich family--what gave him his fancy education and privilege to learn all the stuff he puts into his writing.

I can see why he's afraid to do that--because it could hurt him and his kids--but he's given so much credit for being brave and honest in his writing, all the while being mysterious about the experiences that matter the most to him and shaped him as a writer. I just don't trust that what he's writing is actually what he thinks, because he's so opaque about his real life history.

That's the only comic writer I can think of where I let his personal life affect my view of his art. But that's because it's too difficult to separate one from the other. If he was a different kind of writer, maybe I wouldn't care.

[ed2962]

Gerard Jones is the first person I would think of when it comes to someone I’d have trouble supporting even though I know getting a back issue wouldn’t line his pocket whatsoever. It still feels wrong. To a lesser extent, there are also people in the comic industry who have made bigoted statements and others who I don’t have any evidence are bigots themselves, but have been working closely with really vile people.

When we’re talking about the entertainment industry at large, Bill Cosby is the leading example I can think of because I really used to enjoy his show and his comedy.

Jones is who I thought of too.

[GOLGO 13]

First thing that came to mind is Jason Aaron, because although I usually attempt to separate the art from the artist, that can be hard to do when Aaron uses the art... well, like this:



Just thinking about the thought process behind this sort of writing comes off to me more as gross behavior, regardless of whatever point he's making, than anything else, even if no one else sees it.

That's funny to me. Meh.

[mathew101281]

In the past I feel creative fields were more about the work. Sometimes you barely knew anything about the creator. The internet age has flipped that. Now I feel it’s less about the work per-say and more about being able to sell yourself as an individual (personal brand).