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[paste42]

oh i'm bummed. i found out two things today that make the world suck slightly more

Comments

[thriftyshirt]

It bugs me, sometimes.

In the case of Card, it doesn't bother me too much, as I didn't know that about him when I originally read the books. I didn't get any strong homophobic propaganda vibe from the books (maybe I missed it because I wasn't looking for it), and being Mormon isn't necessarily a vice. Many of my favorite authors followed religions or belief systems that I don't follow or agree with.

I haven't really read enough Lovecraft to have an opinion.

As a whole, I don't expect to agree with all the beliefs of any artist. I think I'm kinda OK with separating the artist from the art.

[paste42]

yeah. i don't really have a problem with anyone being a mormon. i liked napoleon dynamite and had no problem with it being a mormon movie.

and i didn't know card was so homophobic when i read ender's game, and there weren't really any homophobic vibes. i'm not talking about them putting their beliefs in their work per se; i'm just talking about finding out they have beliefs that you strongly oppose even though you enjoy their products

[thriftyshirt]

I think that's why I was trying to say last night. As long as their views I disagree with don't inform the work, I guess I can let it ride. If they're trying to sneak in some subtle propaganda, though, it ruins the whole thing for me.

I have a hard time listening to an R. Kelly romantic slow jam, knowing that his idea of sex is peeing on a teenage girl's face. Its not like he sings about peeing, but knowing that about him ruins his work.

Sorry I can't think of a better example than R. Kelly right now.

[paste42]

i guess i can see that. but at the same time, it's still hard to, say, laugh at oj simpson in a naked gun movie knowing that he murdered two people, even though he doesn't do so in the film movie, yaknow? at this point i want to reread ender's game and then read speaker for the dead* to see how well this essay (see bobby's comment) holds water.

[monstergo]

You should check out Elaine Radford's essay "Ender and Hitler: Sympathy for the Superman"

[jobu138]

I pretty much have Aaron's view. It definitely causes me to think less of the artist, but it doesn't necessarily ruin their work for me.

[datavortex]

The only thing that bothers me more are women and minorities.

[ralph_the_gnome]

I think one has to separate the art from the artist. Would we enjoy the Iliad and Odyssey less if it turned out that Homer had loved seeing Macedonians stoned to death? The fact that we know nothing of some artists lives is perhaps a boon. One must also remember the times these artists live(d) in. While Card is modern the fact is that there is rampant predjudice against homosexuality in our country and honestly most of the world.

Unfortunately the capacity to create beauty does not necessarily grant the capacity to appreciate and accept other forms of humanity.

[paste42]

There's also the fact that with a modern artists, if I support their works, I am supporting them financially, and transitively supporting their causes. That's one aspect that bugs me, but of course, almost all purchases in the world will help finance institutions whose interests differ from the consumers'.