Over the years, I have been disappointed by the behavior of countless artists outside of the realm of their professional work. But despite this disappointment, I often find it difficult to stop consuming these people's works or to stop recognizing their talent. And it makes me feel like a horrible person sometimes.
I should first clarify what I mean. By artist, I mostly mean actors, directors, singers, and the like. (I just realized that I probably should have chosen an expression that includes athletes, but I haven't been disappointed by an athlete that I liked in a while and haven't really had an athlete-related dilemma.) The behavior I'm referring to can come in various forms, but they usually involve making bigoted or overly ignorant comments or engaging in some kind of violent or sexually inappropriate behavior. I honestly don't care much about DUIs and other plainly stupid behavior, though I do experience some degree of embarrassment for liking an artist with a sloppy mugshot.
But back to my main point. I understand why a boycott of certain artists would send a strong message against whatever horrible behavior in which they have engaged (or continue to engage). Obviously, famous, talented people should not get a pass for criminal or otherwise despicable behavior just because they are famous and talented. At the same time, I wonder whether there is an acceptable way to properly punish them for their non-occupational misbehavior while simultaneously recognizing the merits of their professional work. I am a big fan of movies and music, and I do think the world would be a better place with more cinematic and musical talent. But at what point does the trade-off between that talent and horrible behavior become unacceptable? (In related news, there's the issue of misogyny and problematic stereotypes in good movies and music, but that is ripe for a post of its own...stay tuned.)
I should probably talk specifics. Note that as I start creating a mental list of possible candidates to discuss, it's depressing how long it is, but let's start with an obvious choice: Woody Allen. There has been much controversy (enough that some fact-checking is warranted) about allegations that Allen sexually abused his then-girlfriend's then-seven year-old daughter. Many people have staunchly supported Allen, some going as far as to denigrate Dylan Farrow (his now-adult accuser), and others have decried the silencing of Farrow's voice as the media and society giving Allen a pass due to his celebrity. Allen has never been prosecuted for sexual abuse, but the treatment of the allegations in Allen's custody case against Farrow's actress mother makes it difficult to decisively dismiss her claims as a baseless fabrication. Knowing this, I have paid tickets to go to Allen's movies and own two of his movies on DVD. I love his movies. I enjoy them. I think they are objectively good. But over the years, I've grown to feel increasingly guilty about my fondness for his movies, especially when it seems (according to the court's findings in the custody case) that he at the very least exhibited inappropriate behavior towards minors.
Next up is Sean Penn. From I Am Sam to Mystic River to Milk, I can't refuse to acknowledge his talent and the fact that he tends to make fantastic movies (let's forget Gangster Squad for now). But I don't think I'll offend anyone by saying that it's pretty clear he was a bona fide domestic abuser during his marriage to Madonna. Violence against women and intimate partner violence are two things that I find absolutely despicable, and apparently, Penn, at least on one occasion, committed both. As horrible as I feel about it, I still love watching his movies. Again, I still pay to go see his movies, and I own DVDs of some of his movies. What's wrong with me?
For what it's worth, I have deleted all Chris Brown songs from my playlists, and have no intention of downloading any of his work in the future, so that's that. (But was he that talented as to mourn the loss of his work from my playlist?)
But, in the end, I am no closer to what I feel is the right answer. Am I supposed to stop listening to music or watching movies by certain people every time I find out they turned out to be horrible bigots or violent abusers? Even if they have the potential of enriching people's emotional lives? I believe in the power that some works of art--whether film, music, or in any other form--can have for an individual's personal development (not saying anything specific about the works of each of the artists I've discussed). It's too difficult for me to see a film or music as a product I can boycott because you can't substitute a specific film or song in the way you can substitute a food product or deodorant or web server. It just doesn't feel the same, even if it is the same in theory (or, dare I say, the same to someone who doesn't have as much appreciation of consuming various works of art).
I should first clarify what I mean. By artist, I mostly mean actors, directors, singers, and the like. (I just realized that I probably should have chosen an expression that includes athletes, but I haven't been disappointed by an athlete that I liked in a while and haven't really had an athlete-related dilemma.) The behavior I'm referring to can come in various forms, but they usually involve making bigoted or overly ignorant comments or engaging in some kind of violent or sexually inappropriate behavior. I honestly don't care much about DUIs and other plainly stupid behavior, though I do experience some degree of embarrassment for liking an artist with a sloppy mugshot.
But back to my main point. I understand why a boycott of certain artists would send a strong message against whatever horrible behavior in which they have engaged (or continue to engage). Obviously, famous, talented people should not get a pass for criminal or otherwise despicable behavior just because they are famous and talented. At the same time, I wonder whether there is an acceptable way to properly punish them for their non-occupational misbehavior while simultaneously recognizing the merits of their professional work. I am a big fan of movies and music, and I do think the world would be a better place with more cinematic and musical talent. But at what point does the trade-off between that talent and horrible behavior become unacceptable? (In related news, there's the issue of misogyny and problematic stereotypes in good movies and music, but that is ripe for a post of its own...stay tuned.)
I should probably talk specifics. Note that as I start creating a mental list of possible candidates to discuss, it's depressing how long it is, but let's start with an obvious choice: Woody Allen. There has been much controversy (enough that some fact-checking is warranted) about allegations that Allen sexually abused his then-girlfriend's then-seven year-old daughter. Many people have staunchly supported Allen, some going as far as to denigrate Dylan Farrow (his now-adult accuser), and others have decried the silencing of Farrow's voice as the media and society giving Allen a pass due to his celebrity. Allen has never been prosecuted for sexual abuse, but the treatment of the allegations in Allen's custody case against Farrow's actress mother makes it difficult to decisively dismiss her claims as a baseless fabrication. Knowing this, I have paid tickets to go to Allen's movies and own two of his movies on DVD. I love his movies. I enjoy them. I think they are objectively good. But over the years, I've grown to feel increasingly guilty about my fondness for his movies, especially when it seems (according to the court's findings in the custody case) that he at the very least exhibited inappropriate behavior towards minors.
Next up is Sean Penn. From I Am Sam to Mystic River to Milk, I can't refuse to acknowledge his talent and the fact that he tends to make fantastic movies (let's forget Gangster Squad for now). But I don't think I'll offend anyone by saying that it's pretty clear he was a bona fide domestic abuser during his marriage to Madonna. Violence against women and intimate partner violence are two things that I find absolutely despicable, and apparently, Penn, at least on one occasion, committed both. As horrible as I feel about it, I still love watching his movies. Again, I still pay to go see his movies, and I own DVDs of some of his movies. What's wrong with me?
For what it's worth, I have deleted all Chris Brown songs from my playlists, and have no intention of downloading any of his work in the future, so that's that. (But was he that talented as to mourn the loss of his work from my playlist?)
But, in the end, I am no closer to what I feel is the right answer. Am I supposed to stop listening to music or watching movies by certain people every time I find out they turned out to be horrible bigots or violent abusers? Even if they have the potential of enriching people's emotional lives? I believe in the power that some works of art--whether film, music, or in any other form--can have for an individual's personal development (not saying anything specific about the works of each of the artists I've discussed). It's too difficult for me to see a film or music as a product I can boycott because you can't substitute a specific film or song in the way you can substitute a food product or deodorant or web server. It just doesn't feel the same, even if it is the same in theory (or, dare I say, the same to someone who doesn't have as much appreciation of consuming various works of art).
多才な芸能人が性犯罪者やDV加害者である時
不幸なことにも、好きな有名人が暴力的な犯罪を犯したり、差別的な発言をするというのはよくあるものだ。そんな有名人が俳優、映画監督、歌手など、ある種の芸術を生み出す人間であり、更にその職業において秀でた能力を持っている場合、私は彼らの作品を観続けたり、聴きつづけたりしてしまうことが多く、時々自分が嫌になる。
俳優や歌手が性犯罪やDVなどを犯した際、これらの犯罪の撲滅推進のため、彼らの作品をボイコットしようという呼びかけが起こることも少なくない。私は、このようなキャンペーンが間違っていると思っている訳でない。特殊な芸術的才能を持っているからといって、性犯罪やDVの責任を軽減又は回避するようなことがあってはならないのは当然のこと。だが、芸術とは、映画であれ音楽であれ絵画であれ、人の心を豊かにするものである。どうにかして、暴力犯罪を犯す俳優や歌手を罰すると同時に、彼らの芸術的才能及び成果のみを称えることはできないものなのか。
私は、ウディ・アレンの監督作品が好きだ。だが、アレン監督は当時７歳だった元養女・ディラン・ファローさんに性的虐待を加えた疑いを持たれたこともある。アレン監督は、この件で起訴されたことはないが、ディランさんの母親の女優・ミア・ファローとの間の親権裁判において、判事は虐待がなかったとの主張を法的事実として受け入れておらず、アレン監督の父親としての適性について、非常に厳しい評価を下している。こんなことからして、アレン監督が最低限、児童に対して非常に不適切な行動をとったことは否定しようがなさそうである。それでも私は、映画館で放映中のアレン映画を観に行ったことがあるし、DVDも２枚持っている。未だにアレン映画が好きな自分に罪悪感を覚えることも少なくない。
俳優・ショーン・ペンについても似たようなことが言えよう。ペン氏は本当に素晴らしい俳優だが、残念ながら、プライベートではろくでもないDV男である。何故か、多くの人に知られていなかったり忘れられたりしているようだが、ペン氏は、１９８０年代、当時の妻で有名歌手のマドンナさんに対して暴力をふるって警察沙汰になっている。女性に対する暴力やDVは卑怯で許しがたい行為であるはずなのに、ペン氏主演の映画が好きだったりする自分は、頭がおかしいんじゃないかと思うこともある。
結局、才能のある俳優や歌手たちが許しがたい犯罪を犯したり、信憑性のある容疑をかけられた時、彼らの作品を観たり聴いたりし続けていいものなのか、私にはわからない。そういう行動をとり続けることによって私は被害者を更に傷つけるようなことをしているのだろうか。それとも、人の心を豊かにするような作品というものは、どのような人間が生み出したとしても、その価値を評価するべきなのだろうか。映画や曲などのボイコットというのは、どうしても、食料製品や美容用品のボイコットと同様のものと扱うことができない。理論上同じだとしても、芸術作品はただの消費財のように簡単に代用品を見つけられるようなものではないと思う。
俳優や歌手が性犯罪やDVなどを犯した際、これらの犯罪の撲滅推進のため、彼らの作品をボイコットしようという呼びかけが起こることも少なくない。私は、このようなキャンペーンが間違っていると思っている訳でない。特殊な芸術的才能を持っているからといって、性犯罪やDVの責任を軽減又は回避するようなことがあってはならないのは当然のこと。だが、芸術とは、映画であれ音楽であれ絵画であれ、人の心を豊かにするものである。どうにかして、暴力犯罪を犯す俳優や歌手を罰すると同時に、彼らの芸術的才能及び成果のみを称えることはできないものなのか。
私は、ウディ・アレンの監督作品が好きだ。だが、アレン監督は当時７歳だった元養女・ディラン・ファローさんに性的虐待を加えた疑いを持たれたこともある。アレン監督は、この件で起訴されたことはないが、ディランさんの母親の女優・ミア・ファローとの間の親権裁判において、判事は虐待がなかったとの主張を法的事実として受け入れておらず、アレン監督の父親としての適性について、非常に厳しい評価を下している。こんなことからして、アレン監督が最低限、児童に対して非常に不適切な行動をとったことは否定しようがなさそうである。それでも私は、映画館で放映中のアレン映画を観に行ったことがあるし、DVDも２枚持っている。未だにアレン映画が好きな自分に罪悪感を覚えることも少なくない。
俳優・ショーン・ペンについても似たようなことが言えよう。ペン氏は本当に素晴らしい俳優だが、残念ながら、プライベートではろくでもないDV男である。何故か、多くの人に知られていなかったり忘れられたりしているようだが、ペン氏は、１９８０年代、当時の妻で有名歌手のマドンナさんに対して暴力をふるって警察沙汰になっている。女性に対する暴力やDVは卑怯で許しがたい行為であるはずなのに、ペン氏主演の映画が好きだったりする自分は、頭がおかしいんじゃないかと思うこともある。
結局、才能のある俳優や歌手たちが許しがたい犯罪を犯したり、信憑性のある容疑をかけられた時、彼らの作品を観たり聴いたりし続けていいものなのか、私にはわからない。そういう行動をとり続けることによって私は被害者を更に傷つけるようなことをしているのだろうか。それとも、人の心を豊かにするような作品というものは、どのような人間が生み出したとしても、その価値を評価するべきなのだろうか。映画や曲などのボイコットというのは、どうしても、食料製品や美容用品のボイコットと同様のものと扱うことができない。理論上同じだとしても、芸術作品はただの消費財のように簡単に代用品を見つけられるようなものではないと思う。
