Why we should support the Art not the Artist.

Recently while looking through the comments below a movie clip I came across something that gave me pause for thought. The video in question was a clip from the movie Jeepers Creepers. A fun, competent horror movie, with an interesting antagonist that is helped by a good performance and some excellent creature design. The second half of the movie becomes standard monster movie fare, but does so in an entertaining way. But the comment that got my attention, and the responses to it, weren’t about the movie, but it’s Director.

Victor Salva had written and directed a number of short films, including Something in the Basement (1986), which received critical acclaim and several awards. This was followed by his first feature, Clownhouse (1989). There is then a gap in his filmography until The Nature of the Beast (1995). The reason for this gap was a short stay in prison. I won’t go into the reasons for his incarceration here, if you know you know, and if you don’t google it, but warning, it’s not pleasant.

Some of the commenters were decrying how they just couldn’t look at the movie in the same way after finding out about the directors past. This is what got me thinking about our ability, or inability, to critically distinguish between the art and those that create it. Now I am certainly not the first to ponder this, but I am the latest, so let’s take a moment to look at who else is involved in getting a movie made.

Salva didn’t bring his story to the screen all on his own, an army of people came together to collaborate and bring it to life. Actors, costumers, makeup artists, lighting technicians, set designers, and so on and so forth. Far to many roles to list here, just watch the end credits of any movie and you get the idea. I think we sometimes forget that many people do these jobs not for fame or to achieve artistic recognition, but to make a living. Should the time, effort and talent of these people, many of whom are not making millions and are working long hours to feed their families, be dismissed because of the actions of one person. If so, there are several great movies we can no longer enjoy.

Chinatown, Once Upon a Time in America, The Usual Suspects, Seven, Pulp Fiction, all regularly appear on top 100 movies of all time lists, and feature the involvement of individuals that can now generously be described as problematic for varying reasons. But, do we not have enough common sense to be able to separate the creator from that which they created. I realise this is a loaded question, common sense being in short supply as it is these days.

I for one am more than capable of enjoying a movie without feeling like I’m supporting the actions of one person with questionable morals, don’t feel bad about liking something because you think, somehow, you are condoning their actions. In fact, feel free to openly condemn them for the immoral, sociopathic monsters they are, while still laughing at a well crafted joke, a perfectly timed scare or while wiping away tears at an emotional ending.

Support all of the other people who worked hard to entertain, thrill, amuse, scare and move you. Start with Jeepers Creepers, it’s a fun, creepy monster movie. And by the end you will know just where he got those peepers.