Overall, I enjoyed and agreed with many of your suppositions.
However, I think you have a blind spot on your racism section in music. First, Elvis’s and Jerry Lee Lewis’s underage dalliances are no longer celebrated, but scrutinized in the light of “Me too”. As you noted with the pass for same underage escapades with Marvin Gaye, I think these examples are better reflective of sexism.
Also, as an avid Hip Hop fan, African American artists get away with a LOT of racism towards Caucasians and Asians in their lyrics - where the reverse would never be tolerated. Winston Marshall was famously cancelled for just LIKING a conservative book.
When is the last time a rap artist was cancelled for racially insensitive or offensive lyrics?
As far as sexism is concerned, the legal battle of Ke$ha is not an example of sexism yet. Allegations are not self evident proof. If Dr. Luke gets convicted and suffers no career damage, one might conclude sexism.
Also, women pop stars are allowed to push the limits with skimpy outfits in ways that straight male artists could never wear. Can you imagine Drake taking the stage only in a banana hammock thong? Yet, Cardi B can take the stage in dental floss, and nobody bats an eye.
Every so often, I see these posts on a particular social media platform (not this one) which ask us which historical figures should we stop idolizing. My answer is invariably all of them. One of the little idiosyncrasies of the Torah is pretty interesting. Even The Almighty admits to things we’d call character flaws. Each and every person there is blatantly flawed. Get into the later books, and all of the people who are supposed to be lauded as heroes are deeply flawed people.
I think you hit on something important here. Being eusocial animals, we’re inclined to belong to groups, and groups tend to have leaders, right? Leaderless groups are frequently disorganized masses in which people immediately scramble to find a unifying voice, and unless we ignore the leader’s feet of clay, they’re ineffective.
Take a look at Dave Chappelle. Quite possibly one of the most insightful and hilarious comedians alive. He’s also been squarely in JK Rowling’s corner when it comes to her anti-trans rhetoric. An old Navy buddy of mine is Black and transgender, and he finds himself between two communities, so he picks one.
Ultimately, the hard part is thinking for ourselves, appreciating the mad genius of some people’s work, and reminding ourselves that the line between genius and madness isn’t fine at all. It’s blurry as hell.
Overall, I enjoyed and agreed with many of your suppositions.
However, I think you have a blind spot on your racism section in music. First, Elvis’s and Jerry Lee Lewis’s underage dalliances are no longer celebrated, but scrutinized in the light of “Me too”. As you noted with the pass for same underage escapades with Marvin Gaye, I think these examples are better reflective of sexism.
Also, as an avid Hip Hop fan, African American artists get away with a LOT of racism towards Caucasians and Asians in their lyrics - where the reverse would never be tolerated. Winston Marshall was famously cancelled for just LIKING a conservative book.
When is the last time a rap artist was cancelled for racially insensitive or offensive lyrics?
As far as sexism is concerned, the legal battle of Ke$ha is not an example of sexism yet. Allegations are not self evident proof. If Dr. Luke gets convicted and suffers no career damage, one might conclude sexism.
Also, women pop stars are allowed to push the limits with skimpy outfits in ways that straight male artists could never wear. Can you imagine Drake taking the stage only in a banana hammock thong? Yet, Cardi B can take the stage in dental floss, and nobody bats an eye.
You know what, those are valid criticisms. Except the clothing thing. I think you’re accurate, but that’s probably for a different conversation.
Every so often, I see these posts on a particular social media platform (not this one) which ask us which historical figures should we stop idolizing. My answer is invariably all of them. One of the little idiosyncrasies of the Torah is pretty interesting. Even The Almighty admits to things we’d call character flaws. Each and every person there is blatantly flawed. Get into the later books, and all of the people who are supposed to be lauded as heroes are deeply flawed people.
I think you hit on something important here. Being eusocial animals, we’re inclined to belong to groups, and groups tend to have leaders, right? Leaderless groups are frequently disorganized masses in which people immediately scramble to find a unifying voice, and unless we ignore the leader’s feet of clay, they’re ineffective.
Take a look at Dave Chappelle. Quite possibly one of the most insightful and hilarious comedians alive. He’s also been squarely in JK Rowling’s corner when it comes to her anti-trans rhetoric. An old Navy buddy of mine is Black and transgender, and he finds himself between two communities, so he picks one.
Ultimately, the hard part is thinking for ourselves, appreciating the mad genius of some people’s work, and reminding ourselves that the line between genius and madness isn’t fine at all. It’s blurry as hell.