This thread reminds me of last week's Guardian that had a favourable profile of someone (in the arts) who was "Still out to shock!", while the same edition contained numerous reports of comedians or politicians who had put out a bad tweet or told the wrong sort of joke and were to be 'called out' on their 'problematic' behaviour. Or the R4 programme about the ancient world that celebrated the greatness of history's greatest warriors while in the same programme having a dig at Brexit voters for taking a risk on the UK's economic stability by voting the wrong way.
Do you want your art to be shocking, frightening, inspiring, addressing great themes? But at the same time are you worried that the pianist, conductor or electrician might once have been a naughty boy?
Do your standards change over time? Oscar Wilde is now regarded as some sort of martyr, but at the time he was breaking the law by indulging in the same sort of activities as were mentioned earlier. How long will his 'sainthood' last? If nothing changes but the law, should the responsible arts consumer throw out/start appreciating an artist's work as a result?
Do you want your art to be shocking, frightening, inspiring, addressing great themes? But at the same time are you worried that the pianist, conductor or electrician might once have been a naughty boy?
Do your standards change over time? Oscar Wilde is now regarded as some sort of martyr, but at the time he was breaking the law by indulging in the same sort of activities as were mentioned earlier. How long will his 'sainthood' last? If nothing changes but the law, should the responsible arts consumer throw out/start appreciating an artist's work as a result?