Can You Separate the Art From the Artist? - Violet

Can You Separate the Art From the Artist? 

Just like anyone else who listens to music often, I’ve come across a good amount of problematic artists. Whether or not to separate the art from the artist is a critical choice that we, as consumers, have to make. Some people think the solution is to boycott the artist entirely and refuse to even talk about them in order to take away their platform. Others think it’s enough to acknowledge the mistakes or faults of the artist but continue to enjoy their music separate from them. Is the amount of accountability we hold artists to fair? I’d like to take a look at a particular case to get a better understanding of situations like this. 

First of all, the band that got me going down this rabbit hole in the first place was McCafferty. I was really starting to like them, so I looked them up when I got curious about background information and other fans. Upon doing so, I found many posts talking about how the lead singer, Nick Hartkop, was extremely problematic. The particular reason for this was an instagram post fellow band member, (at the time) Evan Graham posted. He stated that “Nick is not the person he makes himself out to be online and in person. He is aggressive, calculated and relentless in seeking his own peace of mind through abusing others.”

Following the controversy, Nick released a song on November 4, 2020, titled “Isn’t It Beautiful?” where he explained his side of the situation. It honestly feels like a mess of a song, with a lot of raw emotion and frustration. Nick acknowledges his wrongdoing in the past, but the focus is more on how he feels that artists are held to an extreme standard of accountability. “I don't know what to tell you man. Those jokes are three years old and I didn't know anyone was uncomfortable,” he says in the song, trying to convince people that he didn’t know he was in the wrong. He was also diagnosed with BPD, which he mentions in the song. He says that he thinks it’s part of why he acted the way he did, but doesn’t think it’s an excuse. He does, however, bring up the fact that he feels alone with his mental health issues. “I hate when people say they have mental illness but they still know how to act,” Nick says. Overall, the song feels like less of an apology and more of a way for him to get his emotions out. You may interpret it how you want, but most McCafferty fans didn’t think that “Isn’t it Beautiful?” was a sufficient apology. 

“Cancel culture” is a common topic of debate nowadays, especially among young people. According to the Pew Research article, around 44% of Americans report that they’ve heard a bit about cancel culture. Some people think it’s good that artists are being held more accountable while others believe it’s too extreme. The Pegasus article, “Is Cancel Culture Effective?” mentions that “we have a tendency sometimes to say things via social media or other platforms that maybe we wouldn’t say if we were face to face with someone.” I think this is a really good point that can go either way. On one hand, celebrities, artists, etc. may be more likely to say offensive things online, but on the other hand we may feel more okay with holding a celebrity to unrealistic standards because we don’t actually know them. 

My personal opinion is that in most cases, it’s okay to separate the art from the artist. I don’t think that consumers should have to stop enjoying an artist’s work because of some things they have done, especially if the problematic person is no longer benefiting from it. I understand why some people might not feel comfortable supporting certain people after finding out what they have done, but I don’t think it’s extremely necessary. It’s important that we do listen to those abused by even our favorite artists. We have to recognize that it’s not as if artists can do no wrong, but we don’t have to take it too far. As with many things, separation of art and artists is about finding a healthy balance.

The cover of McCafferty's "Isn't it Beautiful?" ^

Works Cited

Dudenhoefer, Nicole. "Is Cancel Culture Effective?" Pegasus, 2020, www.ucf.edu/pegasus/is-cancel-culture-effective/. Accessed 23 Jan. 2023.

Graham, Evan, [xgolden_grahamx]. Instagram, 30 Jan, 2020, https://www.instagram.com/p/B79ZFsShrw5/?igshid=1n6mgbghjoztw. Accessed 26 Jan. 2023.

McCafferty. “Isn’t it Beautiful?” Spotify.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4O7cOW4ZrxVBWmUet4J8Ib?si=bc02f157d42148a5. Accessed 25 Jan. 2023.

Vogels, Emily, et al. "Americans and 'Cancel Culture.'" Pew Research Center, 19 May 2021, www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture-where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2023.