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informative
fast-paced
Each chapter really brought its own insights to this idea of grappling with horrible people (mostly men, but not all) making genuinely beautiful art. As someone who studied ethics of phenomenology through a feminist lens, this book doesn’t dip into deep or current conversations about an artist’s motivations to present themselves in the world in a certain fashion. I still learned a LOT due to Dederer’s extensive research and amazing integration of quotes.
Where she ultimately lost me was her inability to hash out the difference between people loving their abusive step-dad vs her “love” of Roman Polanski. Her brief blurb at the beginning about parasocial relationships was unconvincing in its lack of structure. This work also fell very flat in the last chapter and I felt it was rambly when discussing if people are discussing an artist they love them.
Fav chapters were The Fan and The Genius (3 and 5)!
I was really upset by this quote (pretty sure last chapter or the penultimate), “Monsters are just people. I don’t think I would have been able to accept the humanity of monsters if I hadn’t been a drunk and if I hadn’t quit. If I hadn’t been forced in this way to acknowledge my own monstrosity.” I hate that some people believe they aren’t born with empathy…I firmly believe in writers and creatives having the power to think about another’s struggles without having to experience the exact same pain/hate/fear.
Where she ultimately lost me was her inability to hash out the difference between people loving their abusive step-dad vs her “love” of Roman Polanski. Her brief blurb at the beginning about parasocial relationships was unconvincing in its lack of structure. This work also fell very flat in the last chapter and I felt it was rambly when discussing if people are discussing an artist they love them.
Fav chapters were The Fan and The Genius (3 and 5)!
I was really upset by this quote (pretty sure last chapter or the penultimate), “Monsters are just people. I don’t think I would have been able to accept the humanity of monsters if I hadn’t been a drunk and if I hadn’t quit. If I hadn’t been forced in this way to acknowledge my own monstrosity.” I hate that some people believe they aren’t born with empathy…I firmly believe in writers and creatives having the power to think about another’s struggles without having to experience the exact same pain/hate/fear.
I would also argue with her sentiments around objectivity and subjectivity. I remain unconvinced that society doesn’t privilege certain people’s experiences as authority. Despite our differences, I love many questions she asked and feel good dwelling in my thoughts/this conversation.