The #metoo movement forced many fans to consider what they ought to do when they learn that a beloved artist has acted immorally. One natural thought is that the ethically inclined fan ought to give up the artworks of immoral artists. In Why It’s OK to Enjoy The Art of Immoral Artists, Mary Beth Willard argues for a more nuanced view. Enjoying art is part of a well-lived life, so we need good reasons to give it up.
Good reasons are hard to find. Willard argues that it’s reasonable to believe that most boycotts of artists won’t succeed, so most of the time there’s no ethical reason to join in. Someone who manages to separate the art from the artist isn’t making an ethical mistake. She then considers the ethical dimensions of canceling artists and so-called “cancel culture”, arguing that canceling is ethically risky because it encourages moral grandstanding. Willard concludes by arguing that the popular debate has overlooked the power of art to change our lives for the good.
It’s OK to decide that you want to give up the artwork of immoral artists, but there’s no reason that you have to.
(available on Amazon, including a Kindle edition!)