The Separation Between the Art and the Artist

By DHRUV BHAGHAYATH ‘28 and LARRY LYU ‘28

In the wake of yet another Kanye West Twitter rant, the question of whether we should separate art from the artist feels more relevant than ever. Once again, many are questioning whether an artist — one who has publicly shared a multitude of discriminatory and outright unhinged comments — can truly be separated from their work. 

To preface, what even is separating art from the artist? Simply put, it is the idea of evaluating and appreciating a work of art separate from the artist’s personal life. Separating art from the artist is not to say that they are not connected or attached in any way, but it is processing and enjoying the art as a standalone product.

We should separate art from the artist for three main reasons. Firstly, on a fundamental level, we should focus on the meaning and intrinsic value of the art itself. Secondly, we must consider that the artist only receives a cut of the revenue from the consumption of their art, and others are thus financially connected in the process. Thirdly, art is static, while people are dynamic.

Art is first and foremost a means of creative expression. The purpose of good art is not to prove a point or support a certain ideology, it is to provide a frame onto which the receiver paints their interpretation. Art has some intrinsic value, separate from the person who made it. It can tell a story about something that isn’t the artist, cover a general concept, or convey an idea. It can also serve as a massive source of inspiration and motivation.

An example of this is Kanye West. West has made numerous inflammatory and discriminatory remarks, so extreme that they cannot be shown here, and he is an all-around problematic person. That being said, he is (or was) an amazing artist. Publications like Rolling Stone and other such magazines have consistently ranked albums like “The College Dropout,” “Late Registration,” and “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” as top hip-hop albums. He is also consistently ranked as one of the best rappers in hip-hop history and has 24 Grammy awards.

It is his music, not him, that gives inspiration and brings joy to many. When someone listens to “I Wonder” at three in the morning, the song gives them motivation, not Kanye himself. The piece of art is the entity that holds the value. That’s the way art should be seen. As a separate entity with value separate from the artist.

Some argue art is an extension of the artist, but this is only partly true. Yes, we can see artists’ biases play out in their works. However, being that art is a form of creative expression, a large portion of art isn’t about the artist’s life or beliefs itself. The artist may shape it but it is separate from the artist as a person. If we were to apply the logic that the artist’s art is a reflection of the artist and their values, we would have to also judge artists based on the works they create. 

Let’s examine Tyler the Creator. In the early stages of his career, his music contained highly provocative and violent lyrics, including lines about sexual assault. He, of course, was not the violent and mean person portrayed in his lyrics; this was a character portrayed in the art. Later in his career, he continued to make concept albums portraying characters, not himself. Sure, his music has evolved with his personality, becoming less edgy and more deep and self-reflective, so it is somewhat reflective of himself. But, it would be illogical to say that his works are intertwined with him so much that they are representative of his values and ideas. They can and should be enjoyed as mostly standalone pieces of art. 

Another problematic artist who is often brought up in this debate is JK Rowling. She has been criticized for transphobia after a series of statements regarding gender identity. (4) However, her books have been revolutionary in the writing world and have a special place in the hearts of billions. Dislike for the person behind the famous Harry Potter series shouldn’t lead to hate of the books themselves. While there is an aspect of bigotry in the books, such as the goblin bankers resembling Jewish caricatures, it is still possible to enjoy this piece of art separate from JK Rowlng’s personal beliefs.

Secondly, artists often receive only a fraction of the revenue generated by their work. In the music industry, for example, record labels take a significant portion of the earnings while the remaining amount is divided among the artist and the many individuals involved in the production process. (5) In book publishing, authors often only get a few dollars per book sold. The same applies to film, video games, and more. If art is truly inseparable from the artist due to its financial support to the said artist, then it must also be inseparable from all of the other people who worked on its creation. If any of them did anything problematic or controversial, then the art would be tied to it. As an example, if a great song or book is made, but a session musician or someone working for the publishing agency turns out to be a bigot, it shouldn’t impact how people enjoy or analyze the work because art should be separated from its creators.

Thirdly, once art is created, it takes on a life of its own. It doesn’t reflect what the person thinks now or thought previously. It is only a static snapshot of a dynamic person. Again, using West as an example, his current antisemitism and bigotry were not present in his earlier works, such as “Graduation” or “The College Dropout.” They are also about subjects that are not antisemitism. These works are thus separate from the current West we know today and should be enjoyed separately from past and present Kanye as a person.

Yes, Kanye West is an antisemite; yes, JK Rowling is a transphobe; but we can and should still admire the multiple beautiful works of art they have provided the world with. The art needs to be looked at separately from the artist.