Separating Writing from it's Author

                                                            The Observer

Should I appreciate Picasso's art despite his brutal misogyny? Should I listen to Michael Jackson despite his child assault allegations? Should I watch Pirates of the Caribbean despite Johnny Depp's concerning past?  

Should art be separated from the artist?

This is no new question, yet it grows in relevance as the internet becomes a concrete part of our daily lives. We have access to every aspect of our favorite artists' opinions and actions. This question isn't limited to artists in any one field. We've seen controversial people in music, painting, acting and more.

The group I find the most thought-provoking in the context of this question is authors.

There are clear cut lines to avoid songs sung by so-and-so or steer clear of movies that one person is the star of. But when reading a book, the author has little to no presence in your experience?

Not only is the question not limited to forms of art, it also isn't limited to genre. The two authors I want to focus on today are from different book genres and gained popularity at different times. In fact, they only have two things in common:

Talent and Controversy.  

J.K. Rowling Controversy

J.K. Rowling is extremely well-known for creating the Harry Potter series the world knows and loves in the late 1900s and early 2000s. Colleen Hoover is slightly less know, but has gained popularity in the past five years for a variety of romance novels. 

                                                       Bestwriting.com
J.K. Rowling at a red carpet 

Where to begin with J.K. Rowling. The harry potter series has sold over 500 million copies and was turned into a 8 part film series. Its success is undeniable with an entire section of Universal Orlando sectioned off to create "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter." As a fan of the series myself, I have to say the park is a lot of fun. 

All her success aside, Rowling has entered a negative light in the public eye due to constant transphobic words and actions. It began with liking a couple of anti-trans people posts on X, called Twitter at the time. She eventually wrote a lengthy essay defending her transphobia, instead of renouncing it. Since then, she has become bold with her statements and pronunciation against the transgender community. 

Her contentious beliefs weren't made public until decades after the series' success. 

                                Amazon.com
Book cover puzzle

Elise Coelho, a writer for the Suffolk Journal pointed out that Harry Potter is a now a cultural phenomenon that "transcends  its creator’s opinions or actions." 

"Once released into the world, someone’s work is not solely theirs anymore. Art needs to be separated from its creator to be rightfully judged and critically analyzed. Separating art from the artist is possible when one realizes that art is more than someone’s feelings on a canvas or page, but an abstract reenactment of society." said Coelho.

This is something to consider certainly. Regardless, it is far to long past Rowling's prime for any boycott of her work to have a real impact if that's what those angry with her aim to do. 

Rowling is an example a figure who is seen as problematic, but her
issues have nothing to do with the content of her pieces. 

Colleen Hoover Controversy

                                 Texas Monthly

Colleen Hoover, on the other hand, has conjured up extremely divided opinions, relating directly to her work. Since her first book was published in 2015, she has sold over 20 million copies amongst her numerous New York Times Best Sellers. 

Her popularity-grew exponentially during the pandemic and it became clear one of her novels was a fan favorite. It Ends With Us tells a tragic love story using themes of domestic abuse and trauma. 

"It offers a powerful look at the challenges of leaving an abusive relationship and finding hope again," said John Preston in a book review. 

While it gained some positive popularity, eventually, readers began to speak out about concerns of the content. 

“Like too many books and movies, It Ends With Us feeds into the very structures of toxic masculinity that it purports to combat. It romanticizes red flags and glorifies a charismatic-but-dangerous man (he’s complicated! he’s damaged!) and it ultimately delivers a decidedly anti-feminist message," said Jennie Young, another reviewer. 

                                    Novelwizards.com

Hoover's bubbly writing, promoted with colorful, light book covers and cheesy romantic titles can certainly seem misleading toward the content contained inside. 

She even went as far as creating an It Ends With Us coloring book, which received enough backlash for its tone-deaf nature that she canceled the concept before any were released for sale. 

For me, separating the work from its author can only be done if the writing itself is void of their negative fingerprints. Rowling's work doesn't contain any pieces of why people don't support her. Hoover's books are the main reason they don't, so it would be impossible to separate the two. 

Its a hard world out there, with technology lending to more and more issues like this. Ultimately, it is up to you (the consumer) to think critically about if you can or cannot support art from it's artist. Take everything into account, including what the artist (author, musician, performer, etc.) has done AND what they have created, and the decision is up to you.