Can we separate art from the artist? And, in lieu of the latest Michael Jackson revelations, should we?

Can we separate art from the artist?

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 was the artist behind that particularly piece that changed something for us, that lodged itself forever into our memory’s bank.

But I do know that knowing more about the creator can add new layers of understanding, new perspectives of context. And that this can change the way we absorb and perceive their art. Sometimes, irretrievably.

Can we separate art from the artist? And in lieu of the continuing shockingly sad revelations that are now pouring out into the light around some of the arts ‘genius’ creators, the question becomes more urgently, not ‘can we’, but ‘should we!?’

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

Trust.

Because this is the betrayal I’m palpably feeling right now, I’m naming the…