One of my favorite Game of Thrones commentators, Erik Kain, recently launched a newsletter called “Diabolical.” He writes for Forbes, covering video games, entertainment, and culture, and seems like a super cool guy. I always enjoy reading his take on things, so definitely check him out if you’re interested.
In his first post, “Disposable Teens,” published Feb. 2, 2021, he wrote about whether society—and specifically fans—can and should separate artists from their art. In other words, if we learn something negative or amoral or even criminal about an artist we love, whether it be a musician, an actor, a painter, a novelist, a chef, does it then follow that we should denounce their “art?” He used the recent allegations against Marilyn Manson as an example. If you’re unfamiliar, Evan Rachel Wood and four other women have accused Manson of mental and physical abuse (the details are disturbing, so I won’t be publishing them here).
I am intrigued by this question and have been giving it a lot of thought. It will come as no surprise that my mind immediately went to Josh Groban. I have long said that if I ever caught wind of anything even slightly untoward about my beloved Josh, that would be the end of my … I want to say obsession, but obsession has such a negative connotation and my love affair with Josh is as far from negative as one can get. So, let’s say it would be the end of my passion. That is so difficult for me to write because his music, his Voice, the man himself has seen me through some of the hardest, loneliest, saddest days of my life. And the thought of walking away from that is … unfathomable.
But it does beg the question: Is Josh a separate entity from his art? Could I still listen to and find solace in his music, in his Voice if he were to fall from grace? And the simple answer is, no. No matter how I slice it, I would not be able to separate the two, even though it would leave a gaping hole in my heart.
When Josh first came into my life almost 20 years ago, three things hooked me:
1) His beautiful, angelic, soul-soothing Voice
2) The romantical poetry of his songs–the lyrics, the music, and the amazing orchestral arrangements
3) His sweet, geeky, boy-next-door charm, quiet wit, and unparalleled humility (a rarity in show business)
He was, and is, so human to me. To this day, he is that same geeky, charming, witty, funny, grounded, humble kid. And the thought that he could sing about love, romance, heartache, and loss and yet not be who he is just doesn’t compute in my head. Perhaps I’m naïve but, to me, artists create from the very depths of their soul. They use their beliefs, their morals, their passions, their life experiences (positive or negative) to mold their creations, whether it’s a ballad, a sonnet, a sculpture, a pastry, a building framework. It’s personal for them. And if you’re that close to something, then in my mind it must be a part of you. It must be you.
Not long ago I mentioned in one of my posts that Josh’s remake of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is one of the songs that saved me during this pandemic. He (and his music) has been my sole companion, my bridge over troubled waters, many times throughout my life. Imagine me listening to that song and hanging my hopes on that “friendship” after finding out he’d tormented or abused someone he loved. To me, that song would be a lie and he would be a liar, and I would not be able to look past that.
Those of you who read my blog know I generally write from a raw, honest, private, many times heavy perspective. So, imagine if one day out of the blue I started gushing only about the rainbows and unicorns of life. Ignoring my fears, my anxieties, my insecurities, my agony over having lost my autonomy, the challenges I face as a momma, my embarrassment and shame over wanting something more, the list goes on and on. I’m willing to bet most of you would call me insincere and dishonest. Because it’s not who I am. The “artist” in me must create from the heart. That’s not to say I don’t believe in silver linings or positive vibes or living in the moment. I write about that, too, but even when I do, it’s still tinged with reality and honesty. It still sounds like me. Because it is me.
This whole post came about because of Marilyn Manson, so let’s use him for a minute. I am not a fan. He creeps me the hell out, to be honest, and yes, I’m being judgmental. He seems like a dark, tortured soul and, much as you’d expect, his music and lyrics speak to that. To many, he is a musical artist, and I would have to agree with that. Without delving deep into his life (I have enough anxiety and nightmares), I’d be willing to bet he “sings” about those things for which he’s passionate. Just because I don’t like or understand or agree with his art, with what he stands for, doesn’t mean he isn’t an artist. But I still stand by my belief that he is what he creates. I cannot differentiate between the two.
Granted, it could be argued that I’m taking an extremely narrow view on this. Maybe there are individuals who create simply for the sake of creating, who don’t put their heart and soul into their craft. But then I wonder, are they true artists? Not in my book.
What do you think, friends? Anyone out there have an argument against my viewpoint? I would love to hear from you.
*Accompanying image by klimkin from Pixabay.