The phrase “separate art from the artist” has fueled heated discussions among fans of disgraced artists for decades. The art world is no stranger to controversy, intentional or not. In recent years, writers such as Lionel Shriver and Neil Gaiman have found themselves in hot water, whether it be for accusations of cultural appropriation or sexual misconduct.
The cultural impact of disgraced artists is hard to deny. Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” changed the course of hip-hop, and Woody Allen’s pedantic filmography has served as inspiration for countless filmmakers. Yet, when the accusations levelled at the artist become too reprehensible to defend, we must draw the line somewhere.
Last year, Gaiman was accused of committing unwanted and violent sexual acts by five women on the podcast, “Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman.” Some former fans have decided to stop supporting Gaiman by electing to no longer purchase his works. I was once part of a faction of devoted fans who spent hours marveling at Gaiman on press tours for “Good Omens” and sought out signed copies of his work at airports. But in the wake of the allegations against Gaiman, I have found myself drifting further from his work. My memory of seeing him perform on stage at the Palace Theatre in 2022 is now tainted by the gross implications of his alleged actions.
As an artist myself, I’m unable to separate my work from my personal life. It is an extension of me and always will be. When I read “Stardust,” I see a reflection of Gaiman’s attitudes and experiences. The same goes for the “Harry Potter” series and so on. Yet, it is hard for me to let go of my positive associations with these works, and I can’t erase my memory of them. I also know, despite the horrifying accusations Gaiman faces, his work is embedded in mine. In middle school, I developed an interest in science fiction and fantasy, and Gaiman’s books became guides for my own writing.
“Good Omens,” which Gaiman co-wrote with the late Terry Pratchett, “Stardust” and “Coraline” have all found their way into my personal writing, whether I like it or not. What’s more, I still see value in his words despite the seriousness of the allegations levelled against him.
Phoenix West, a senior studying inclusive literary entrepreneurship, spoke about his perspective on the separation between art and the artist.
“I tend to look at both as their own entities that kind of converge on the art,” West said.
Despite West’s disapproval of J.K Rowling’s recent comments regarding the transgender community, he still appreciates the series Rowling created nearly 30 years ago.
Reagan Nutter, a freshman studying graphic design, agrees with West in separating the art from the artist. She says that one benefit of knowing more about an artist is that it allows for further interpretation of their work.
“You can learn more about the art and maybe what was going through (the artist’s) head while creating it,” Nutter said.
Some members of Gen Z tend to believe it’s easy to separate art from the artist. Of course, it’s up to us how we interpret art. The relationship between art and artist will always be complex, and the decision to cut ties with an artist’s body of work is ultimately up to the consumer.
For me, the allegations against Gaiman were a wake-up call. The perfect image of him I’d crafted in my head crumpled. It changed how I view people and especially how I view artists. It also taught me something important: artists aren’t infallible. More often than not, they’re flawed. However, the art they create is significant. Art is also valuable for another reason; it means something special to us.
Claudia Fuller is a junior studying creative writing at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Claudia about her column? Email her at cf204322@ohio.edu.
