Monsters and Morals: Art vs. the Artist

So the saying goes, “You should never meet your heroes.” The fact that this is such a common expression implies a longtime acceptance that the artist and the art they make are not necessarily synonymous. However, recent years have seen our culture engaged in revelations about the morality of the figures behind our beloved works of art and writing, challenging us to question our support for their work, even retroactively, in the face of their misdeeds. This Delve will give participants an opportunity to undergo such deep questioning together in a supportive space. We will start by reading Claire Dederer’s Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma, one woman’s (admittedly subjective) search for answers to these terrible questions with thorough discussions of the life/work of artists from Hemingway, Picasso, and Sylvia Plath, to Roman Polansky, Woody Allen, Nabokov, Miles Davis, JK Rowling, and Doris Lessing. We will then undertake our own explorations into the realm of problematic artists and their creations.

PLEASE NOTE: Monsters contains some sensitive content presented quite bluntly that may be challenging for some readers. We will handle these sensitive subjects as delicately as possible, and all participant contributions will be treated with respect and held in confidence.

Some questions this Delve will ask:

Should we continue to engage with the work of artists who’ve been shown by the revelations of time to be problematic in their personal philosophies and actions towards others?

Is it possible to continue to feel the same love for their work we once did after learning about the misdeeds of their creators?

Should art be judged on aesthetics alone or always considered in a biographical context?

What role does gender play in how we perceive these situations, and similarly, how does our own identity impact such judgments?

Is there a collective answer to these questions, or must each of us make the determination individually? What stance should cultural institutions take on this issue?

Access Program
We want our writing classes and Delves to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers writing class and Delve tuitions at a reduced rate. Most Delves  have at least one access spot available.

Please apply here for access rate tuition. Contact Susan Moore at susan@literary-arts.org if you have questions.

Delve Cancellation Policy
If you register for a Delve and need to cancel your registration, here’s a link to our refund policy for Delves.