Have had very similar battles in my own mind with both Gaiman and Rowling. Your words are affirming in that I am also at a loss or at a weird place as to where I go now. Thank you for sharing. 💜
I really hated the fact that I couldn't think of any more useful ways to wrestle with this conundrum that might give the Collective Us more clarity. But lacking that, solidarity is the next best thing. So thank you for commenting!! 💖
Oh, P.S. - I got a private email from a subscriber recommending a book, that looks very interesting: Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer
Thank you for sharing your insight into this difficult, almost unresolvable issue. You made many good points, and one question you asked in particular got me thinking a lot: "...does the court of public opinion not allow a reduced sentence for good behavior?" Within the context of forgiveness, the question of when a problematic artist becomes acceptable must include the victim's definition of forgiveness. If they aren't satisfied that justice has been served, why should we be? But what happens when they are? Case in point: Roman Polanski. His victim forgave him, now Polanksi is just a fugitive. Is that enough for fans that turned their backs upon discovering Polanski's actions? Not to ramble, lol, it's just from being inspired by your well written essay. Kind regards :)
I love rambles, don't apologize for them! 😊 I didn't know about Roman Polanski--that sounds like an interesting case study, though. In looking it up, I see that in 2018 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled Polanski from their ranks. So, for some his victim's forgiveness was not enough. I think a victim's forgiveness is an invitation for others to also forgive, if they choose.
Thanks for sharing this, Elnora. You articulate a lot of things about that that my brain likely couldn't put into such digestible words. This paragraph is where my brain has kept finding itself when I think about Gaiman (being the only main author that for me this whole thing applies to (I've never actually read Harry Potter!)): "I suppose the easy answer here is to stop getting so attached to a creation and its creator. But, like….no. I refuse that answer. I think letting art and by extension an artist into our hearts is just as much a fundamental part of the human experience as creating art and sharing it. So what do we do?"
Also, I had no idea bout the Daniel Greene thing. I've watched numerous of his videos over the last few years, but haven't looked at anything recently, so this news had passed me by.
The Daniel Greene thing just broke this week; I wouldn't have known either, but my feed surfed up his last video, a statement from him regarding the allegations. It looks like it's going to be very, very messy.
Re: paragraph: I know, I wish I had better ideas about it. I've thought about making or finding a list of non-trash-human creators and getting into their work, but the crux of this problem is that we don't know ahead of time. Anyone on the non-trash list could end up being outed as trash. Until, I don't know, all societal ills are resolved, it's just a leap of faith and dealing with the aftermath when it happens, I guess?
Anyway, thank you as always for your kind & thoughtful comments, Nathan!! 💖😊
I think it's helpful to share how we personally wrestle with these things, to model that there isn't one way to do so and that the answer is never clear, and shouldn't be. People are complicated and art is a reflection of that.
Another resource on this topic, which I found incredibly helpful, the book 'Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma' by Claire Dederer: https://www.clairedederer.com/monsters
Have had very similar battles in my own mind with both Gaiman and Rowling. Your words are affirming in that I am also at a loss or at a weird place as to where I go now. Thank you for sharing. 💜
I really hated the fact that I couldn't think of any more useful ways to wrestle with this conundrum that might give the Collective Us more clarity. But lacking that, solidarity is the next best thing. So thank you for commenting!! 💖
Oh, P.S. - I got a private email from a subscriber recommending a book, that looks very interesting: Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer
I will look into that! I appreciate your thoughts as I think most of us are feeling very similar.
Thank you for sharing your insight into this difficult, almost unresolvable issue. You made many good points, and one question you asked in particular got me thinking a lot: "...does the court of public opinion not allow a reduced sentence for good behavior?" Within the context of forgiveness, the question of when a problematic artist becomes acceptable must include the victim's definition of forgiveness. If they aren't satisfied that justice has been served, why should we be? But what happens when they are? Case in point: Roman Polanski. His victim forgave him, now Polanksi is just a fugitive. Is that enough for fans that turned their backs upon discovering Polanski's actions? Not to ramble, lol, it's just from being inspired by your well written essay. Kind regards :)
I love rambles, don't apologize for them! 😊 I didn't know about Roman Polanski--that sounds like an interesting case study, though. In looking it up, I see that in 2018 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled Polanski from their ranks. So, for some his victim's forgiveness was not enough. I think a victim's forgiveness is an invitation for others to also forgive, if they choose.
Thanks for sharing this, Elnora. You articulate a lot of things about that that my brain likely couldn't put into such digestible words. This paragraph is where my brain has kept finding itself when I think about Gaiman (being the only main author that for me this whole thing applies to (I've never actually read Harry Potter!)): "I suppose the easy answer here is to stop getting so attached to a creation and its creator. But, like….no. I refuse that answer. I think letting art and by extension an artist into our hearts is just as much a fundamental part of the human experience as creating art and sharing it. So what do we do?"
Also, I had no idea bout the Daniel Greene thing. I've watched numerous of his videos over the last few years, but haven't looked at anything recently, so this news had passed me by.
The Daniel Greene thing just broke this week; I wouldn't have known either, but my feed surfed up his last video, a statement from him regarding the allegations. It looks like it's going to be very, very messy.
Re: paragraph: I know, I wish I had better ideas about it. I've thought about making or finding a list of non-trash-human creators and getting into their work, but the crux of this problem is that we don't know ahead of time. Anyone on the non-trash list could end up being outed as trash. Until, I don't know, all societal ills are resolved, it's just a leap of faith and dealing with the aftermath when it happens, I guess?
Anyway, thank you as always for your kind & thoughtful comments, Nathan!! 💖😊
I think it's helpful to share how we personally wrestle with these things, to model that there isn't one way to do so and that the answer is never clear, and shouldn't be. People are complicated and art is a reflection of that.
Another resource on this topic, which I found incredibly helpful, the book 'Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma' by Claire Dederer: https://www.clairedederer.com/monsters
You are the second person to recommend this book! It is in my TBR list, but now it is moving to the top. 😊 Thank you!
Also: yes, 💯 on people being complicated and there is no right answer. Which I know is a good thing, but it can be exhausting at times.