The Gray Area with Sean Illing

When you can't separate art from artist

Jun 15, 2023

Claire Dederer, an essayist and author of "Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma," joins to explore the complex interplay between art and the moral failings of its creators. They tackle challenging questions about whether we can separate the art from the artist, especially with figures like Kanye West and Taylor Swift on the table. The discussion dives into how societal changes, like the Me Too movement, affect our appreciation for art, inviting listeners to grapple with their emotional connections while acknowledging the ethical responsibilities of being a consumer.

53:27

Episode guests

Claire Dederer

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Impact of Racial Elements on Influencer's Responsibility

00:48

Mad at Miles: Exploring Personal Love and Betrayal

01:21

Intro

4min

Art and Its Monsters

15min

Genius and Accountability: The Case of Kanye West

4min

Artistic Freedom and Its Paradoxes

13min

Navigating Moral Responsibility in Art Consumption

4min

Art vs. Artist: Navigating Moral Dilemmas

11min

Navigating the Complexity of Art and Ethics

2min

What do we do when an artist we love does something monstrous? Constance Grady, a culture writer at Vox, talks with Claire Dederer, the author of Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma. They discuss how to reckon with the facts and feelings of consuming art by someone who's done something bad, if it's possible to separate the art from the artist, and what responsibility — if any — comes with being a fan.

Host: Constance Grady, (@constancegrady), culture and gender writer

Guest: Claire Dederer, author of Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma

References:

Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer (Penguin Random House, 2023)
“What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men?” by Claire Dederer (The Paris Review, 2017)
Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Ofill (Penguin Random House, 2014)
Mad at Miles: A Blackwoman’s Guide to Truth by Pearl Cleage (Cleage Group Publication, 1990)

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This episode was made by:

Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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