Students Consider Separating Art from Artist: The Music vs. Ye

Kanye West’s recent antisemitic remarks have brought back the ever-present question: is it truly possible to separate the art from the artist? Is it permissible to continue to listen to Ye’s music, knowing all the terrible comments he has made about the Jewish Community? This does not have one concrete answer; it varies from person to person, as each’s priorities and morals differ. This article delves into varied people’s opinions on this debate. Is it possible to separate Kanye’s art from himself, and if so, how? 
- Op-Ed Editors Talia Perlstein ‘24 & Aly Biloon ‘25

I'm fortunate in that I've never really enjoyed the bulk of Kanye's music, so I haven't had to worry about whether or not I feel comfortable contributing to his revenue by streaming his content. If I see an artist as either incapable of moral improvement or if they are found guilty of any sort of harmful crime in a court of law, I tend to feel disgusted when I hear their voice and have trouble consuming their work. There is no wrong answer. It's your life, listen to whatever music you want and tune out whatever you don't. - Sam Zaslow-Braverman ‘23

You cannot separate the art from the artist. Listening to an artist's music is supporting the artist, giving them more money, and encouraging them to keep doing what they do. Supporting their art will show them there are no consequences to something they may have done. - Brenna Goldman ‘27 

It is important to be able to separate the art from the artist. Artists often are outsiders and/or tortured people whose experiences influence the art they create. Some of my favorite musicians have had lifestyles that I totally disapprove of. I’ve struggled with the Kanye issue because I’ve found it hard to respect the character he projects in the press. However, his music obviously moves many people, and that’s hard to deny. - Mr. Langer

Separating the art from the artist is not possible. What they did is unacceptable, and they should receive punishment for their actions. Kanye West hurt the Jewish community and did not care or feel bad for his words. It is even worse when people join in and agree with his message because it hurts Jews even more and encourages Kanye to continue his hateful speech. Whenever I listen to his music, I am reminded of the terrible things he said about my community, making it difficult to listen to his music the same way. I do not think you can separate the art from the artist because it’s impossible to look at the artist the same way, and as a result, the music does not sound the same. - Seth Perlstein ‘27

I think you can not separate the art from the artist. By supporting an artist’s work, you are supporting the artist themself. Art is a personal expression of one’s worldview. Listening to an artist's art means helping them gain a source of income and a larger platform. For example, when Rex Orange County was accused of sexual assault, I stopped listening to his music until I discovered he was innocent. If the allegations were true, I would technically promote someone who domestically abused someone by listening to his music. However, I see both sides of this argument, but I believe that art cannot be separated from the artist. - Abby Hodes ‘25
​
I definitely think we can – and should – separate the art from the artist, but it’s definitely uncomfortable, and that’s why so many people seem unable to or, what is more likely, unwilling to separate the two. We like to neatly organize people, especially regarding good and bad, and all that falls under those umbrella terms. Humans like binaries; they’re reassuring, and I think these binaries give us a sort of selfish kind of comfort. After all, if we can neatly organize others then we can neatly organize ourselves, and we’re obviously more likely to see faults in others and categorize them accordingly than we are ourselves – they’re bad, but I’m good. But that’s not how the world works. The world isn’t black and white, it’s a spectrum of gray, and artists exist on that spectrum like everyone else. It's foolish and delusional to suggest that someone – anyone – is purely good or bad, artists included. The same people who vilify an artist for some real or perceived transgression are probably simultaneously able to overlook other transgressions with other people. For instance, someone who simply cannot listen to R. Kelly’s music anymore is probably still able to overlook other kinds of bad actions or beliefs in some other celebrity. I refuse to believe there is a single person on this planet who applies the same philosophy uniformly. If that were the case, then that person would be incapable of liking anything and, frankly, would be incredibly dull. Talk about a Debbie Downer! - Mr. Hefetz

I find it challenging to separate the art from the artist because if a song holds personal significance, the knowledge that the person who created this meaningful art has performed hateful actions construes its value. When my favorite artist, Rex Orange County, was charged with six counts of sexual assault, I no longer felt like I could listen to his music. While it was partially because I did not want to fuel his income and support his actions in any manner, it was also because the songs that I would listen to when I was sad, happy, frustrated, etc., no longer felt as comforting. Music has a way of helping people through different points in their lives. When the artist you have dedicated so much of your time to listening to and supporting goes and performs these abhorrent actions, that connection dissolves. The same logic applies to Kanye West. His vile language and actions enacted against the Jewish community invalidated any sense of connection I felt to his art. The art can stand as a reflection of the artist, and if the artist has executed measures you do not condone, the art no longer holds the same significance. - Talia Perlstein ‘24