Archived: Should we separate art from the artist?

October 23, 2022

A couple weeks ago one of my favorite singer/songwriters Rex Orange County, née Alexander O’Connor was recently charged with sexual assault against a woman in London on six different occasions. 

This was devastating news to hear not only because it is just another instance of a vicious cycle of men using their power to commit violence against women, but someone I idolized turned out not to be the person I thought he was. 

One afternoon when the news broke, my friends and I discussed what was going on as the Rex Orange County song Threat began to play in the background. Though we felt in the moment it was not only appropriate but necessary to skip to the next song on the playlist, I couldn’t help but ponder upon the question: Should we stop listening to his music now that we know what kind of person he is? 

Separating art from the artist is an ongoing debate in society that only grew louder with the rise of cancel culture in the past decade. Starting with the #MeToo movement reigniting in 2017, people are becoming more aware and educated about the issues of rape culture and sexual violence, especially in situations where a clear power dynamic is present. With more light being brought onto issues of sexual assault, women are comfortable enough to come forward and share their stories about being taken advantage of. 

As fans of celebrities, we are external watchers of their lives. However, there is a distinct shift between being part of a fandom pre- and post- social media. Now, social media puts famous people under a microscope for the whole world to watch, critique, and expose their every move. We are given more insight. We know where they like to eat, what their hobbies are, where they shop..etc. Now, with an abundance of information on them, we get to assimilate and it becomes easy to feel a closer connection to the artists themselves. 

Part of the reason we grow to love singers, actors, artists so much is because they don’t feel so far away anymore. It is no longer “I like this song” instead it is “I like this artist’s new song” with emphasis on the fact that part of the reason we like it is because it comes from the person we admire. 

Today the lines between artists and their art are blurred from this proximity created by the media. An artist and their art are no longer two separate entities, but two components that make up the idea or essence of a celebrity we gravitate towards. Celebrities become famous not because of their talent alone, but for reasons that push beyond their artistic abilities. 

Take Harry Styles for example. When he was part of One Direction, he was just another pretty face in a boy band on the rise. Once he began his solo career and exposed his personality to the world, his songs are a minimal factor in why people love him. I’ve seen more videos on social media about little things he does or says between his songs during his performances, than actual footage of the songs themselves. That’s because people are attracted to his persona, his style, his quirks, all the things that give people a small insight into who he is that allows for commonality between his fans and him.

As a woman, it has now become impossible for me to listen to a Rex Orange County song without feeling slight disgust or an immense amount of guilt. I can’t help but think that the woman who he assaulted was possibly just like me, a fan. And who wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to get closer to someone they idolized? Unfortunately now, an ugly reality overwhelms the idea of the person you once put on a pedestal. As a consequence, the artist as well as their art is now forever tainted in my mind.