I want to share a little epiphany I had recently. I’ve decided that “WE” are, repeat; we ARE allowed to celebrate great works by Even The Most Awful People (ETMAP). Do this mental exercise.

     Imagine ETMAP artist having a wonderfully inspired day. Creates a beautiful thing. Finds him/herself surrounded by people praising his/her work. “Oh my! You’re a genius. We love you.” Goes to bed with a big smile on his or her face. Another beautiful thing exists in the world, perhaps forever, created by a human.

AS A DIRECT RESULT, ETMAP does not take this passion, rage, etc… into the community, so no shenanigans happen.

      Now, imagine THIS scenario. ETMAP artist doesn’t have the outlet because everyone thinks he’s/she’s a POS ETMAP and doesn’t deserve creativity. Goes to the salt mine on this day. Digs and hammers that salt up and comes home. Still has that urge, that need, that STUFF inside, but “WE” decided that ETMAP can’t make however precious however timeless art because of unrelated things they said, or are already going to be or have been arrested, cast out, etc FOR.

ETMAP goes further into antisociality.

Either scenario is likely to repeat.

Whether you run a “GREAT” or “MEDIOCRE” artist through this exercise the outcome is the same.

      This is not about putting ETMAPS in an unfair or unjust position. Rules of society and law still fully apply. Putting someone above the law or morality of humanity should never have been, nor will be the goal or measure of artistic success (That would be the very moment the artist’s work would become suspect anyway).

  Tough sell? Far too often, that is the case. When one of my favorite filmakers dated and married his 18 year old adopted daughter, I stopped being a fan and supporting his work ON THE SPOT AND WITHOUT HESITATION. It may seem unrelated to this example, but I think of “Operation Paperclip”. Specifically, the US making deals with Nazis in order to acquire scientists and information.

    The scientific information was, objectively valuable. The question was, “Is it more important to gather the information, or carry out sentences?” The US decided that people will probably more likely still find naziism reprehensible, and the US got an edge in technology, admittedly the hard way.

Similarly, I could be inspired by a film. I make a great thing myself as a result of that inspiration, and THEN find out the filmmaker is an ETMAP. I’m not taking my work down. Two beautiful things are better than zero.

“So I should just act like this ETMAP is fine? Just treat him/her like a NORMAL person!?” No. You do not owe terrible people anything, especially your attention and precious time. ONLY this beautiful THING they may have created should be taken as what it is.

   In hopes that you might put on that old record, hang back up that painting. It can only do good for you and this world, regardless of it’s parenting. I’m going to put on some Led Zeppelin. Don’t ask.