Is It OK To Like It?

   One of my favourite TV shows is CBS Sunday Morning. I've watched it every Sunday morning that I am able for at least the last 20 years. The show is comprised of stories of various types. There are profiles of public figures. Stories about current events. They do segments on food, finance, and culture. Some of the stories are about obscure and funny things. Some of the presentations are more serious.
   One of the serious stories from this past Sunday caught my ear. It posed a question that has come up in the wake of the accusations of sexual misconduct among many in the entertainment business.  The question is, "Can artists accused of abusive behaviour or assault be separated from their art?" In other words is it ok to like/show something that was created or that includes someone who has done bad things?
   It's a good question and a complicated one.
   On one hand, when a show/piece of art etc is displayed, it generates income. This income goes to those involved including the one has been accused.There are those that feel that men (so far I haven't heard of any accusations levelled against women) who have engaged in misconduct should not be permitted to profit from their art. There are some that feel that they do not want to support anyone who does those things in their private life. The Cosby Show was used as an example in the CBS Sunday Morning story. When it was on the air it was a popular show and many people liked the positive messages that the episodes had. That has now been tainted by the revelation that Bill Cosby has a dark side. There are some who find it disturbing that a man who played a wholesome, faithful father on TV was in his private life victimizing numerous women.
  I can see that. I used to like the show Hogan's Heroes. My favourite character was the wisecracking Col Hogan played by Bob Crane. At some point in time, I learned that Bob Crane had a rather unsavoury private life and was murdered. (The case is still open.) It quite frankly grossed me out and I can't enjoy the show anymore. I can understand people who feel it is inappropriate to broadcast shows, play movies or display art where someone who has victimized others plays a large role.
   There are those who feel that the above opinion would leave our culture bereft of many good movies, TV shows and other expressions of art. They feel that since many people collaborate in a TV show or movie, it is unfair to the others to ban a production based on the actions of one person. The example used in the CBS Sunday Morning story was the genre of westerns. Ted Braun, a professor of cinematic ethics at USC, pointed out that Native Americans could believe that western movies and shows glorified the extermination of Native Americans. Certainly, it presents an unflattering stereotype. He pointed out that the world would be impoverished by removing these movies and shows from public viewing. He believes that it is possible and important to separate the art from the artist.
   I can see this too. One of my favourite people was Helen Thomas, the longtime White House reporter.  In 2010, she made a comment about Jewish people in Palestine. It was controversial and angered many people. She was forced to resign from her job as a columnist. She was publically criticised and schools of journalism were encouraged to rescind honours and awards given to her. While I admit that her remarks were offensive to a certain segment of the population, they did reflect the views of some of Arab descent and those living in Palestine. I have sometimes wondered what insights she would have given us had she not been silenced by the multitude of critics. What could we have learned from someone who has seen so much history first hand?
   I'm also troubled by the fact that there seems to be a double standard going on. I believe that most people would agree that John F. Kennedy was a good President despite the fact that he had multiple extramarital affairs. Elizabeth Taylor's contributions to the film world have not been tainted despite the fact that she had an affair with Eddie Fisher, a married man, who left his wife to marry her. Shouldn't lying and cheating on a spouse be equal to accusations of misconduct and assault? Why do some people seem to get a  "pass" while others are more harshly penalized for their misdeeds?
   There is no easy answer to this question. Ultimately we will each need to find the answer for ourselves.....