The
#metoo movement has forced many fans to consider what they should do
when they learn that a beloved artist has acted immorally. One
natural thought is that fans ought to give up the artworks of immoral
artists. In Why It’s OK to Enjoy the Work of Immoral Artists,
Mary Beth Willard argues for a more nuanced view. Enjoying art is
part of a well-lived life, so we need good reasons to give it up.And it turns out good reasons are hard to find. Willard shows that
it’s reasonable to believe that most boycotts of artists won’t
succeed, so most of the time there’s no ethical reason to join in.
Someone who manages to separate the art from the artist isn’t
making an ethical mistake by buying and enjoying their art. She then
considers the ethical dimensions of canceling artists and the
so-called "cancel culture," arguing that canceling is
ethically risky because it encourages moral grandstanding. Willard
concludes by arguing that the popular debate has overlooked the power
of art to change our lives for the good.
It’s of course OK to decide to give up the artwork of immoral
artists, but – as Willard shows in this provocative little volume –
it’s OK to continue to enjoy their art as well.
