When the question ‘is your favorite music artist problematic?’ arises, many do not know how to respond. The artists influencing this decade all have their fair share of controversy. So how do you escape from supporting those who may have caused harm?
The idea of separating the art from the artists arises in the minds of those who support them, but is this an attainable feat? Although it may seem possible to separate the art from the artist, it cannot be deemed as moral.
The words and actions of those beloved by many hold power. They can wield their fan base as a weapon for destruction or can help them join together for a certain cause.
This behavior is inherently problematic in itself, as abuse of one’s power can form, shielding the artist in a false sense of security. Consequently, they are deluded into believing that they are intangible and sheltered from the eyes of outsiders.
The same fans of this superstar can start to disregard their morals in order to blindly follow their supposed “idol” and the topic of “stanning culture” comes into play. The term “stan” was first adopted from the song created by Eminem. It is used to describe a fan that is entirely consumed by a particular artist that they will go above and beyond to get their attention.
The song displays celebrities’ immense effects on others and how they can reach different audiences without them ever knowing. On the other hand, one cannot associate themselves with the artist and continue to consume their content, right?
Many disregard the fact that artists directly benefit from your streams even if it is just a small amount of money for a single stream. Think about how many times you listen to that certain artist in a day. You would still be putting money in the pockets of pretentious bigots who will use that money to gain more power and influence.
Perhaps the artist may go to the extent of using the money from your streams to create a merch line displaying extremist symbols. Keep these things in mind the next time you listen to your favorite unproblematic artist.