I am not sure I agree with Teachout on this. The argument that great artists can be horrible people and that this should not blind us to the power of their art supposes that all great art is worth preserving. This in turn supposes that art is somehow superior to other considerations, viz, morality. I am not sure if erasure is the right technique, but certainly celebration I would have a problem with.
The Cosby and Levine situations have little in common. Levine has never been formally charged with any crime. Cosby, on the other hand, was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Testimony at his trial revealed a decades-long pattern of similar assaults against many other women, unprosecutable because of the statute of limitations. An argument could be made that none of this should affect our appreciation or recognition of his “art” had his comedy (and considerable wealth) not been built on a foundation of moral preaching. No one deserves to be honored for a career characterized by such blatant hypocrisy.
I am not sure I agree with Teachout on this. The argument that great artists can be horrible people and that this should not blind us to the power of their art supposes that all great art is worth preserving. This in turn supposes that art is somehow superior to other considerations, viz, morality. I am not sure if erasure is the right technique, but certainly celebration I would have a problem with.
ReplyDeleteThe Cosby and Levine situations have little in common. Levine has never been formally charged with any crime. Cosby, on the other hand, was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Testimony at his trial revealed a decades-long pattern of similar assaults against many other women, unprosecutable because of the statute of limitations. An argument could be made that none of this should affect our appreciation or recognition of his “art” had his comedy (and considerable wealth) not been built on a foundation of moral preaching. No one deserves to be honored for a career characterized by such blatant hypocrisy.
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