UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
General Chat - anything Goes
>
Separating the creator and the creation!
date
newest »
newest »
Interesting topic,Elle, I'm going to watch the videos and come back
As a person who has little or no interest in celebrity, this is not an issue I would have even considered questioning. I loved Orson Scott Card’s “Alvin Maker” series, but knew nothing of the man himself. From the video it seems his views and beliefs are far removed from mine, but that would not stop me from enjoying those books.When I read a novel, I am purely interested in the narrative, not the person who wrote it. Years back I loved Piers Anthony’s “Incarnations of Immortality” series. In the back of each book he wrote an update of around twenty pages about what had occurred in his life since the last book. Personally I don’t want to know that his daughter has just had a new pony and he’s incurred huge vet bills as a result. For those who do great; I just ignored it.
If I thought proceeds of the book were helping an author to fund something unscrupulous, I might change my view, but as it is, I have no problem separating creator from created. I have no interest in the author at all, only the story they have written.
That doesn’t go for authors on here though, because I discovered them before discovering their books.
That’s quite a long comment for me; don’t get used to it :D
I totally agree with you. I read a book to read the book not make a friend. Although in saying that I also agree with your point that I would never fund the art of someone who used that money to do something hateful.For that reason I would NEVER give money to anything by Wells or any other author with such hate in them.
The problem for me is that I ignore celebrity so much that I wouldn't even know, unless it was major news
I follow a lot of bloggers and I read the news so much, it tends to creep up within my radar as I have particular interests in human rights.
I personally struggle to remember the names of authors so separating them from the narrative isn't a problem. I wouldn't want to buy something that was funding criminal activity but I'd probably never really know and I do rely on the police and authorities to stop these things. I'd never check before buying a book as it would take away from my enjoyment of the book to have to research the author.
There is the opposite of course, where an author highlights human rights issues that your were perhaps only partially aware of, or gives a you a deeper empthy for the victims than any news story can. I experienced this when reading The Other Hand. Highly recommended
Of course, a lot of authors put really amazing messages in there books and to be specific and relate back to the videos, John Green and his books always put forward an amazing outlook on life minus any hate
The YouTube isn't working for me but I recall you mentioning that Card isn't a very nice man a bit ago, Peanut. Can't say it'll stop me reading his books. Same as Piers Anthony. Love his Xanth books although they've become very samey so I've not read any in years. Having said that, there are a few indie authors I won't read because of their actions toward other indies and readers.
There are a few indies who I think are lovely people who I really enjoy interacting with although I've not particularly enjoyed what they've written so far. Doesn't mean I won't like their next book I read though.
I think there comes a point where a person has to decide whether they want to endorse an artist who supports an issue they do not want to support in any way. How good their art (painting/sculpture/book ect) is becomes irrelevant in that instance.
I wouldn't want to fund or support someone who is a right wing fascist for example.
It is my right as a person and a consumer to do that just as it is the fascist supporters right to support the fascist.
It depends on each individuals personal moral, political and emotional frame of reference.
It is about choice.
The creator and the creation brings about two debates.
One where you have the creator vs the creation and the other is whether you should judge the content of the creation because of the creator.
Two different issues.
I make it a point not to know about people so that I don't take that baggage with me. On the odd occasion when I have really taken against people, I will not knowingly partake of anything they were involved in.
Adam wrote: "In an extreme ideological clash, I would probably be swayed as well."Yes, when I saw the thread title I wondered if Goodreads had gone all theological :-)
By and large we tend no to know too much about writer, but film makers have been under the microscope for longer, but do people let the opinions of Walt Disney stop them watching Disney films?
If I happen to know that a writer is an unpleasant individual, I'll steer clear of their books. If when I read a book, I find that it seems to advocate stuff I'm not happy with, I'll be wary of reading another by the same writer.
But I don't check on the writer before buying the book :-)
Darren wrote: "I make it a point not to know about people so that I don't take that baggage with me. On the odd occasion when I have really taken against people, I will not knowingly partake of anything they we..."
Oh. Won't send you the cookies I made then. :(
I'd probably still read the works of an author who I know to be ideologically opposite to me, if their writing is good. On the other hand, there are authors I've met on the internet whose arrogance have made me determined never to buy there books. One famous British writer who has published his own books as ebooks, for example, was on a forum I was on a couple of years ago. A self-published author had written to ask for advice on getting more sales. Others were giving him sympathy and advice. Then this British author wrote something like, "I don't know why you can't sell books. I sold 10000 last week!"
That, as far as I was concerned, made absolutely sure he would never get a cent of my money.
I think it's just a plus when you find the author is also someone of similar views as yourself. Although, if an author has strong alternative views to mine, and those views come out in their books, I guess I'll take exception, and not read anymore of their books. There are certain books that I've avoided because I don't like what the author has said in public, or has done, but if I don't know about the author, I'll buy the book because I want to read it, and find out about the author later. There are artists from the visual arts – actors, film makers, painters and more – who have said or say things I don't go along with, but it doesn't stop me looking at their work. I think something is good, not because of the view of the person who created it, but because of what it is.
There was a very controversial but interesting point made in the comments about Hitler and other horrific historical figures being artists which I thought was interesting.
Patti (It's a grape life) wrote: "Darren wrote: "I make it a point not to know about people so that I don't take that baggage with me. On the odd occasion when I have really taken against people, I will not knowingly partake of a..."
Wasn't aware that I'd really taken against you.
Not told you what I think of the latest book yet. :D
Louise-Lesley (Elle) wrote: "There was a very controversial but interesting point made in the comments about Hitler and other horrific historical figures being artists which I thought was interesting."Good point.
There are certain works that I would deem as historically important. So Mein Kampf would fall into that category.
It is easier I believe when the artist in question is dead.
I am not religious but I believe the Bible is part of general knowledge. A book of gossip, hearsay and myths written by men. I wouldn't be able to converse about it if I hadn't read it.
As I said it really does depend on the individual. I wouldn't want to support an artist who hates gays. If that same artist disagreed with people being gay but did it respectfully without asking for all gays to be condemned, then I would disagree but accept their opinion.
I think it is hard for some artists to accept that they are in the public eye and every word will be looked at tenfold. They are also entitled to their political and private opinions, but they can't expect everyone to agree with those opinions.
Being a 'known' artist is a balancing act. Sometimes that person has to make a choice between their political/private agenda and selling their art.
I think that is quite hard to do.
I learned years ago not focus too much on the creator. Look at Disney - great company that has brought joy to millions of children for years, but Walt Disney the man, had some very weird political views, especially towards minorities and those of the Jewish faith.
Adam wrote: "Good point about Disney and filmmakers in general. Oscar Wilde used to make a point of pissing people off so just imagine if people refused to buy his book as a result. Art comes into it too. Can y..."I've felt look doing that a few times, but you don't want to be responsible for knocking over a masterpiece!
http://youtu.be/_Jd8AeJF71s
which was inspired by this shorter video on Orson Scott Wells (tis only 2minutes but it's uploaded blank at the end for 3minutes - random)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB11ne...
Can you separate your love for a creation and your feelings for a creator?
AKA can you love the art/book/movie/video and hate the author or vice versa?