Should You Continue to Support the Music and Art of Criminals
Sitting in class and listening to a classmate of mine effort to justify the actions of R. Kelly, something was just non sitting right.
When my professor decided to chime in and explain to the entirety of the class that we must be able to separate R. Kelly and his actions from his music, I knew I couldn't only continue to sit down with this feeling.
This rapidly snowballed into a discussion in class I never thought I would watch unfold before my eyes. The professor who I will not be naming proceeded to say something along the lines of "Okay what next? Are you going to finish listening to Michael Jackson?" A pedophile.
Michael Jackson is a huge effigy in the music industry, so does that excuse his actions?
Is it because he's too powerful? Too well known? Is it also difficult to switch the narrative of musical genius Michael Jackson to kid molestor Michael Jackson?
Is this why when Donald Trump said he grabbed women by the pussy zip happened?
Is it as well difficult to hold these strong, powerful men accountable for their actions?
Something almost the ease in which he said it, the lack of accountability, the immediate justification of some other man in the music industry that was accused and proven guilty being brushed under the rug.
Said classmate giving the report attempted to connect this back to cancel culture.
Cancel culture, while immensely toxic and the new fad that is terrorizing the news and media, is non what we are seeing here.
Cancel culture is very unproblematic: someone says or does something that is non accounted acceptable by gild and instead of being taught a lesson or learning from your mistake, the entirety of the internet comes at you for a calendar week or two and and so whatever was done or said is forgotten and all the hate fades abroad.
Creators beyond all platforms deal with this daily; the fear of getting cancelled.
Instead of learning from their mistakes and losing supporters, the everyday consumer blacklists them from the internet. So as before long equally the hype dies down, they are back to watching their content, ownership their merch. Almost as if nothing happened.
This is not an example of cancel civilization.
Hollywood Insider puts it perfectly:"Whether information technology'due south a person, a production or business, "canceling" something or someone is often dislocated with consumers holding individuals and corporations accountable. When nosotros remember that nosotros don't owe millionaire celebrities or multi-billion dollar corporations anything whatsoever, cancel civilisation doesn't hold up; information technology isn't real."
You cannot simply "cancel" a person for raping someone, for murdering someone, for being involved in sex trafficking. At that place are some things that get beyond getting "cancelled."
In fact, this actually brings us to a topic that I think is oft discussed; does content and creator need to be separated or can they be thought of as one.
I remember years agone getting into a similar statement with a classmate in high school. She was listening to Chris Brownish, and I confronted her asking how she could listen to the music of a human known for abusing Rihanna. She explained, plain and elementary: I similar his music, merely I don't like him.
This is a question I've since carried with me: can y'all separate content from the creator? Should y'all?
R. Kelly is a charged rapist, amongst many other things. So maybe I don't believe his music should be listened to, because listening to the music means he is gaining a turn a profit, supporting someone's work is directly supporting them.
Yep, R. Kelly is being punished. Yes, he has been charged, but if someone listens to his music he is continuing to profit, he is being rewarded regardless of the punishment he has received for his deportment.
"The issue here is not just 'Is this creative person monstrous?' only 'Is this work of fine art asking me as a reader to be complicit with the creative person'south monstrosity'" writes Constance Grady of Phonation. "Information technology'south the aforementioned statement that has come up up repeatedly with R. Kelly, who writes songs virtually sex activity and consent and age differences betwixt lovers, and who has as well been accused of sexually assaulting very young women and girls."
Now in broader terms, moving R. Kelly and the atrocities he committed aside. I believe it is safe to say that supporting an creative person is done through streaming, and buying merch, etc.
The professor moved on to say it's the same every bit having to continue business organisation abroad from your personal life. But as an example, let's use Chick-fil-A. I honey their food, and I used to swallow it all the time. That is until I learned that the possessor gave coin to conversion therapy programs. I haven't eaten from them since. It'due south the principle of believing that some actions are immoral and not supporting things whether directly or indirectly if they supp ort things you don't believe in.
This is the same logic that should be carried with musicians. Information technology shouldn't matter how much you like the music, that's just an excuse. If y'all really believe in something, if you really believe that the deportment of a person are wrong, then cease supporting them. So maybe you can't listen to the music you like anymore, and then what?
At that place are more of import things.
If we continue to castor things bated similar this and make excuses considering it's easier, we simply won't get anywhere in the attempt to push the media manufacture forrard. We cannot proceed to support harmful artists similar R. Kelly, considering we like some of their music. The Me As well move has fizzled and cancel culture is growing at an alarming charge per unit. As the consumer, doing something then menial as not listening to the music of a rapist should non fifty-fifty be discussed. It should exist an obvious decision.
Information technology is far across separating the content from the creator.
Source: https://oracle.newpaltz.edu/who-you-listen-to-matters/
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