It's Okay To Like Good Art By Bad People Summary

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The general argument made by Judith Shulevitz in her article, “It’s Okay To Like Good Art by Bad People,” is that the art should be separated from the artist. More specifically, Shulevitz argues that all artists are human; some will do bad things no matter what. She writes, “We don’t come to the movies as blank slates; we bring ourselves and our history” (Shulevitz 12). In this passage, Shulevitz suggests that we will always apply our personal experiences to the stories we hear and find ways to ridicule certain actions of certain people. In summary, Shulevitz establishes the opinion in the article that since all creators are human, it is important to not look into them too much by projecting one’s own opinions, beliefs, and experiences and …show more content…

Despite the “cognitive dissonance” some of the more troubling cases may cause, it is important to simply appreciate the art for what it is without looking too closely at the artist. Several inventors were horrible people, but still created revolutionary inventions that are essential to society today. In my opinion, we must instead evaluate what propels us forward as a society, rather than ridiculing the individuals who need improvement. In the article, she mentions that Dereder writes: “‘We don’t know the real story’ behind the allegations. ‘and we might never know.’” (Shulevitz 12). Furthermore, in paragraph 14 she mentions that “Dederer and [her] were both taught in college to. [not] commit the biographical fallacy.” These are all very compelling ways of saying that assumptions are never a wise evaluation. I agree that there is a certain importance in accepting the uncertainty of the past. In the words of Dederer’s professors, “‘The work exists in an ideal state’” (paragraph 14). The artists behind certain works may or may not be bad people, but it shouldn’t matter. In conclusion, I think Shulevitz makes very valid points throughout the article that more people need to

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