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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
A really great starting point for this tough topic. Dederer really considers the philosophical and emotional issues surrounding bad people who make art. I would love to see thus built upon to consider wider sociological considerations such as economy and oppression.
Absolutely loved the first half/two thirds plus the last essay, but the last turn the book took really wasn’t for me and left me skimming.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Insightful and interesting. I did feel some of her personal anecdotes did drag on at times, but most of them really added to the conversation.
informative
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
An examination of art vs. artist that greatly benefitted from the artist inserting herself - the case for the subjective over supposed objectivity brings the conversation more nuance than any academic text could allow.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
The first 2/3 was so smart and thought-provoking. The chapters about ambitious women and mother artists as somehow monstrous were harder for me to get behind. She made some interesting observations in the drinking chapter but it didn't end nearly as strong as it began for me.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
3.5 but rounding down. I wanted more from this book, but maybe that was just me looking for a more concrete answer on the central questions: what do we do with the art of monstrous people? Can we separate art from artist? After listening to this book, I'm still not sure, and I know it's something I'll continue to grapple with for the rest of my life.
I appreciated Dederer's candor in exploring her own thoughts and feelings surrounding artists who've done bad things—and what, exactly, counts as a bad thing for men and how that can differ from the "worst" thing women can do. It was also really interesting to hear her puzzle through whether it's even possible to be an ethical consumer in a capitalist society. I'm not sure I quite agree with her conclusions regarding what change we are or are not capable of creating as individuals, but her argument was compelling nonetheless. I'd recommend the book for people who are struggling with these kinds of questions, but don't expect to come away with any clear way forward.
I appreciated Dederer's candor in exploring her own thoughts and feelings surrounding artists who've done bad things—and what, exactly, counts as a bad thing for men and how that can differ from the "worst" thing women can do. It was also really interesting to hear her puzzle through whether it's even possible to be an ethical consumer in a capitalist society. I'm not sure I quite agree with her conclusions regarding what change we are or are not capable of creating as individuals, but her argument was compelling nonetheless. I'd recommend the book for people who are struggling with these kinds of questions, but don't expect to come away with any clear way forward.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced