Should we separate art from artist?

Separating art from artist is a controversial debate that has risen as of recent years. This is due to some of our favourite artists, musicians, film writers and directors being exposed for holding questionable beliefs and views. Can we separate art from an artist or is it simply impossible to do so? 

Tim Burton is a beloved director and screenwriter, responsible for films like Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Corpse Bride. In addition to film making, he is also a director and directed the Netflix series ‘Wednesday’ in 2022. The series was met with positive reviews, however some were upset with the fact that the only black characters in the series were branded as the villainous characters. Furthermore, Tim Burton has been exposed for saying that black people and people of colour do not fit his aesthetic. This sparked controversy and fans of the director continued to watch his films. They said that they were: “Separating the art from the artist”. In this case, most people say that it is difficult to separate the film or TV show from the director as it is a world that they create and can be a direct reflection of their beliefs, Tim’s beliefs being reflected in the casting of the only black characters in ‘Wednesday’ who are portrayed as villains. 

Another case where people argue that we should separate art from artist is when talking about the band ‘The Smiths’. They are an indie rock band that dominated the British music scene in the 80s and going into the 90s, bringing in guitar-based rock as opposed to synth new wave music that dominated the 80s music scene. The main problem isn’t the band itself, it’s the lead singer, Morrissey, who sparks the debate of separating art from artist amongst fans. He is quoted to have made xenophobic remarks and racist comments like "I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears”. This made listeners of the band question  whether he music should be separated from the artist, as during their time, The Smiths had never released any music that promoted views like this.  

In conclusion, whether people should separate art from artist is up to the person consuming the media.