Monsters What Do We Do with Great Art by Bad People?

WOW! This is the conversation I wanted to have!

Bewertung am 20.01.2025
Bewertungsnummer: 2391137
Bewertet: Buch (Taschenbuch)

Reading Claire Dederer feels less like reading and more like listening to someone think. Monsters is a sharp and thought-provoking exploration of the fraught relationship between artistic genius and moral failings. Dederer dives into the complexities of grappling with the legacy of creators like Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, and others whose personal lives provoke outrage while their art remains influential. With wit, vulnerability, and intellectual rigor, she questions whether we can or should separate the art from the artist, unpacking the emotional and ethical dilemmas that arise when their transgressions come to light. The book balances personal anecdotes with cultural critique, making it an engaging and necessary read for anyone who has ever felt conflicted about enjoying art tainted by its creator's actions. Could have done without the excerpt on her own „monstrosity", but this is the only fault I can find with this incredible piece of writing.

Audiobook review

Bewertung am 21.12.2024
Bewertungsnummer: 2369082
Bewertet: Buch (Taschenbuch)

I listened to the audiobook original, read by Claire Dederer herself. It's a fantastic piece of reflection, research and analysis which was really fun to follow. Obviously, the book touches on horrible things committed by a number of artists, but if you really want to dive into someone's analysis of what to do with the art of people who did bad things, this book is an absolute recommendation. Even though this is non-fiction, it's very well written and not at all dry.