When I was in art school, we would have long discussions about whether an artist, because he/she was looking for truth and beauty, was necessarily a moral/good person. I recently heard Wagner’s grandson on the radio trying to bring reconciliation to his grandfather’s anti-semetic rhetoric. The moderator was commenting on how most composers, other than Bach, are not known for their upstanding, moral character.
I think it was this program where Wagner’s grandson (or someone, I don’t remember who exactly) was saying that “the arts are a reason to be alive. Not a life support.” They show the potential of human kind. The product is not the artist.
Too bad. Wouldn’t it be nice if all the wonderful art creations around meant that there were that many wonderful, good, moral people as well.
Posted by leya at April 18, 2004 10:49 AM