Can We Separate the Artist from the Art?
The ability for an audience of any kind to separate an artist from his art is
one of the most provocative debates of all time. And it is one that continues to insinuate itself into every facet of American culture.
I am reminded of this all the time.
When I endeavor to facilitate the genius of Edgar Allan Poe to students in my
American Literature classes, I am invariably and reluctantly drawn into a
polemic about whether or not Mr. Poe was twisted and deranged and should be
reviled rather than revered. I believe Stephen King has been subjected to
similar criticism. The fact that some author choose to explore the macabre does not automatically render them social deviants. This sort of logic would then force readers to assume that EL James is into sado masochism in the wake of the publication of the novel “50 Shades of Grey.”
The art world has always entertained this rift between artist and art. The
paintings of Pablo Picasso, in particular his Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, have often engendered among some critics speculation and ultimately criticism over the artist’s intention. Is it art, some wonder, or simply the maniacal expressions of a mind both damaged and dangerous? I am not so sure that Picasso’s masterpiece, which explores life at a brothel for five prostitutes, should automatically become an indictment of his own sexual habits or proclivities.
Even baseball and its athletes are not immune to such conjecture. As a staunch
New York Met fan, I have struggled with this very issue each time I watch the
New York Yankee captain, Derek Jeter, take the field. While I loathe with every fiber of my being everything in Yankee town, I cannot help but marvel at and ultimately respect all of Jeter’s accomplishments. He is, undeniably, one of the game’s greats and deserves to be appreciated for his talent and not vilified for the uniform he wears.
Easier said than done some days.
If time and space permitted, I could list countless other examples of this
conundrum as well, covering film, television, and other artistic mediums.
And now, as I prepare to release my latest novel, which chronicles the
indiscretions of Cameron Baldridge, a high school English teacher, I am left
pondering whether or not I am setting myself up for some very odd looks as I
pass through the hallways of the school at which I have taught English for 24 years.
“Nobody Has To Know” is a major deviation from my previous work. It is a dark and somewhat daring thriller which tells the story of Cameron Baldridge, a popular high school teacher whose relationship with one of his students leads him down an unfortunate and self-destructive path.
Stalked through text-messages, Baldridge fights for his life against a terrifying extortion plot and the forces that threaten to expose him. “Nobody Has To Know” is a sobering look into a world of secrets, lies, and shocking revelations, and is designed to leave the reader wondering many things, including whether or not you can ever really know the person you love.
Okay.
That being said, I realize that the initial response of one who takes a cursory glance at this might include the raising of an eyebrow and an unkind thought or two, but I must try to set aside any trepidation and cling to the hope that we are enlightened enough as a society to allow a teacher to tell the story of another teacher (fictitious) without impugning his own character. I am waiting with anticipation to see how my readers and my colleagues react to NHTK and to hear your thoughts!
one of the most provocative debates of all time. And it is one that continues to insinuate itself into every facet of American culture.
I am reminded of this all the time.
When I endeavor to facilitate the genius of Edgar Allan Poe to students in my
American Literature classes, I am invariably and reluctantly drawn into a
polemic about whether or not Mr. Poe was twisted and deranged and should be
reviled rather than revered. I believe Stephen King has been subjected to
similar criticism. The fact that some author choose to explore the macabre does not automatically render them social deviants. This sort of logic would then force readers to assume that EL James is into sado masochism in the wake of the publication of the novel “50 Shades of Grey.”
The art world has always entertained this rift between artist and art. The
paintings of Pablo Picasso, in particular his Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, have often engendered among some critics speculation and ultimately criticism over the artist’s intention. Is it art, some wonder, or simply the maniacal expressions of a mind both damaged and dangerous? I am not so sure that Picasso’s masterpiece, which explores life at a brothel for five prostitutes, should automatically become an indictment of his own sexual habits or proclivities.
Even baseball and its athletes are not immune to such conjecture. As a staunch
New York Met fan, I have struggled with this very issue each time I watch the
New York Yankee captain, Derek Jeter, take the field. While I loathe with every fiber of my being everything in Yankee town, I cannot help but marvel at and ultimately respect all of Jeter’s accomplishments. He is, undeniably, one of the game’s greats and deserves to be appreciated for his talent and not vilified for the uniform he wears.
Easier said than done some days.
If time and space permitted, I could list countless other examples of this
conundrum as well, covering film, television, and other artistic mediums.
And now, as I prepare to release my latest novel, which chronicles the
indiscretions of Cameron Baldridge, a high school English teacher, I am left
pondering whether or not I am setting myself up for some very odd looks as I
pass through the hallways of the school at which I have taught English for 24 years.
“Nobody Has To Know” is a major deviation from my previous work. It is a dark and somewhat daring thriller which tells the story of Cameron Baldridge, a popular high school teacher whose relationship with one of his students leads him down an unfortunate and self-destructive path.
Stalked through text-messages, Baldridge fights for his life against a terrifying extortion plot and the forces that threaten to expose him. “Nobody Has To Know” is a sobering look into a world of secrets, lies, and shocking revelations, and is designed to leave the reader wondering many things, including whether or not you can ever really know the person you love.
Okay.
That being said, I realize that the initial response of one who takes a cursory glance at this might include the raising of an eyebrow and an unkind thought or two, but I must try to set aside any trepidation and cling to the hope that we are enlightened enough as a society to allow a teacher to tell the story of another teacher (fictitious) without impugning his own character. I am waiting with anticipation to see how my readers and my colleagues react to NHTK and to hear your thoughts!
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Harold
(new)
Sep 10, 2012 11:29AM
Being a retired secondary school teacher, I applaud your courage in delving into the subject matter of your upcoming novel. A good writer writes about what he knows -- the potentiality of what he has observed, not what he has done. Twenty-four years of teaching 15 to 18-year-old students provide a writer with a treasure-trove of material to tell a story that can be uplifting and inspirational as well as thought-provoking and troubling. I know the path I sense your character will travel without having followed that path myself. I hope your readers will recognize that teachers with rare exception adhere to high ethical standards and deserve the public's trust.
reply
|
flag
Hopefully they will - my protagonist is totally fictional - but as you said, we write about what we know. Having taught for over twenty years the knowledge of a school, etc. allows me to tell the story with a certain detail that would not be possible from someone who have never worked in a school. As I have said - I hope people can also separate art and artist - I am writing a controversial story about a high school English teacher - and I am in fact a high school English teacher. Do you think some people will be talking in the faculty room??? And if they do, that's good - it means they read it!!
Good luck. I have an added incentive to read it.
Thank you - it's coming out October 16th!
