A couple of years ago Norway held a festival in celebration of the 150th birthday of Knut Hamsun. Knut Hamsun is a Nobel Laureate and considered one of the finest writers to have come from Norway. He was also a Nazi and a collaborator during WWII.
"It is understandable that some people, especially the generation that lived through the war, are reacting but it is the literary work, not the political ideas, that we're celebrating," ceremony coordinator Knut Listerud says, admitting however, "it can be difficult to separate the two".
"His books are incredible, among the best," he said.
"He is one of the greatest Norwegian authors and there is a reason that he is also so popular abroad."
snip
But the pride Norwegians felt that his descriptions of Norway's dramatic nature and the lives of Norwegian farmers and peasants could earn such international acclaim, were dashed - when the author later decided to give his Nobel medal to none other than Adolf Hitler's propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.
Linky."
The device I use for naming this group The Locke v Demosthenes Debating Society comes from the author Orson Scott Card and his Ender’s Game series. Orson Scott Card is someone who I most definitely do not agree with politically, yet I was comfortable using his device.
The Question
Should an artist’s work be shunned because the artist holds abhorrent views outside their work?
Demosthenes:
Yes,
An artist cannot divorce himself from his work. The power of art is that it is animated by the worldview of the artist, and if that worldview is evil, destructive, or genocidal society owes it to future generations to cleanse itself of it. Let us not give honor to those who do not deserve it by memorializing them. Let their work lie on the trash bin of history for those who are interested in trash.
Locke
No,
Human beings are capable of a multitude of thoughts and as complex beings those thoughts will run from good to evil. An artist must have the freedom to express what goes on in his mind for that is the only way man can grow through good or evil. History will determine the worth of the work only if the work is available and not stigmatized.
How do you play?
The rules are simple. In the comment stream you’ll find a comment that asks that Locke be defended, and one that asks the same for Demosthenes. Reply to it with your defense. If you only feel like defending one please do so, but there are double points for defending both. The points for the contest will be awarded by recs, and supporting commentary from other participants. There will be a winner Locke, and a winner Demosthenes, and an overall winner who takes care of both.
Updated by Adept2u at Tue Feb 15, 2011, 12:05:47 AM
Winner Locke Kyril http://www.dailykos.com/...
Winner Demosthenes Nanette K http://www.dailykos.com/...
Overall winner for excellence of argument both sides.
Nanette K
Thanks to all who participated. I think I need an intellectual cigarette after this one, this is going to be fun. I’m always interested should people want to participate in an active fashion and lay out a debate. I’d like to see if something can be done daily, and I’m not refusing help.