Separating the Person from the Artist

Human beings naturally like to idolize people and look up to them as role models, even if the person is a bad role model or has no intention of being one. Charles Barkley famously said “I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.” This is ultimately the problem with role models especially with children. People have a very hard time separating the person from the artist, role model ,ect.

There is a reason why they say you should never meet your role model because most of the time they will fall short, if not very short of your expectations. You may listen to their work or watch them on television for your entire life and build this image of how you see them, but it is usually completely different. Especially people like actors who are paid to play a certain role, often are completely different in real life.

It’s okay to like someone’s work but think as a person they are a piece of shit. For example, I think Kanye West as a person is a massive asshole and straight up sociopath, but I can also admit that I think his three albums Late Registration, College Dropout and Graduation are probably some of the best albums of the 2000s. I’ll admit sometimes when I don’t like a person I won’t support them, but I also have to be honest that many artists who make great work, do so because they are on a different wavelength.

I could go through history and pick out hundreds of people with great talents that were in the top of their craft, but as people, were self center, sociopathic or straight up psychopaths. It is important that we teach our children and people to not idolize the people who they see performing on television, but the ones they see in their real, everyday life. Heroes are all around us, people who put their life on the line every day, yet the ones who get all the attention are those who are talented, but sit in ivory towers above the rest of us. Those who deserve our attention and admiration are all around us.

There is a problem where the media and other outlets want young children to idolize the people that create content or star in movies, because it sells product. Especially with actresses and pop stars, there is a huge agenda by their publishers and the people that represent them to position them as a role model. Eventually the reality comes to light and people end up feeling betrayed. Just look at Miley Cyrus and the transformation from Disney Channel star to promiscuous performer. This isn’t the first time something like that has happened and it won’t be the last.

It is okay to appreciate someone for their work, it is only natural, especially if that piece speaks to you at a certain point in time. However, they are not speaking directly to you, most work is open to interpretation and you could have interpreted it completely differently as they intended. To an extent, someone’s work is an extension of themselves, but in many cases it doesn’t reflect their personality as people. So next time you find yourself loving someone’s work, just know you don’t have to love them as people too, admiration can just end with what they make.

Thanks to @Elyaque for the badges