To what extent should we support/listen to particular artists?

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CeaselessMedik

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For instance, Hans Zimmer (I think) had written a few movie soundtracks (or at least helped on them) that I enjoyed listening to and want to download - but also, for instance, The Da Vinci Code. How much support, do you think, is acceptable to give people like this (in a general sense)? It seems like it’s getting hard for me to find people who have talent but don’t misuse it.
 
For me, it’s really a personal decision. For example, someone like Jane Fonda is so repugnant to me, and is always JANE, that I really can’t bear to watch any of her movies (except maybe Barefoot in the Park). I have problems with Barbra Streisand these days now that she’s the barometer of the Democratic Party. Then there’s someone like Sean Penn whose politics I find appalling, but his talent is so gigantic that I forget who he is when he is playing a role. I was so distressed by Ron Howard’s callous responses to the Christian opposition to DaVinci Code that it might be hard for me to support his future endeavours. I guess for me, it depends on the extent of the offense.
 
For me, I try to avoid the really clear examples of people who offend my values to the core. I used to think it’s impossible to not love Ron Howard & Tom Hanks, but I can barely look at them after The DaVinci Code. It was SO anti-Catholic & bent on convincing everyone that Jesus is just a man & Christianity is a lie. Blessedtoo is right. I read an interview with Howard where he said he would not soften the movie to avoid offending Christians because he LIKED the book. They will not get a penny of my money, but I don’t know what I’d do if I heard Josh Groban sang a song on the soundtrack.

CeaselessMedik, I’m impressed that you knew that about Hans Zimmer. I’m so clueless, I don’t know who Hans Zimmer is. It can be difficult when you’re so well informed, though. Do you support the studio that sponsored the film? Do you watch the network that refuses to censor Rosie for frequent anti- Catholic remarks? So, I think it gets hard to know what to do, & I know I’m not helping.

As far as Hans Zimmer, is there a way to get a feel for his idealogy? I think intent is always important. Sometimes, the musician might not have a feel for exactly what the project is about, but it’s hard to not know what The DaVinci Code is about. Personally, I’d stay away from him if I learned he was flagrantly anti-Christian. On the other hand, it’s kind of like the situation of trying to not patronize stores that contribute to the culture of death in any way… Where can you shop?
 
Usually I do a quick check-up on wikipedia or search for interviews with said artist, but sometimes it’s hard to find an interview where they talk about that kind of stuff, and sometimes the wikipedia articles are small, etc.:(. I guess I could give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he worked on the movie for business, but even that’s a little disappointing.
 
Yeah, & you’d hate to not listen to a musician you really love. You would probably know more about this than I, but I think these artists frequently already have a piece composed & someone comes along & buys it. They have very little to do with the project. Maybe you could find some way to contact him. Right him a “fan letter” telling him what you love about his music. Then tell him how disappointed you were that he contributed to the DVC & why. That might give him another point of view that he hadn’t thought of, would actually be like evangelising, & make you feel better about supporting him- good would come out of it!
 
I’m not really a boycott person. Aside from clear examples like Merlyn Manson, and people like that. Like Ron Howard, I’ll still watch his movies (not the Da Vinci Code), because he is a gifted director. I’ll still listen to Elton John because he’s a gifted singer. I look at it like this. God gave them their talents. They don’t always make the best choices, but we’re all human. I’ll watch or listen, or read their good choices.
If I boycott someone like Ron Howard for directing the Da Vinci Code, then I’ll have to boycott my brother for liking it.😛
 
They don’t always make the best choices, but we’re all human. I’ll watch or listen, or read their good choices.
If I boycott someone like Ron Howard for directing the Da Vinci Code, then I’ll have to boycott my brother for liking it.
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I suppose it’s a personal “boycott”. I would never tell someone else they should “abstain” from Ron Howard films, though I might give reasons why I found DaVinci so offensive. But for me, it was Howards comments, not the movie itself. For example, Tom Hanks was also in the film. When he was interviewed, he took a more empathetic approach to the outrage Christians felt (I believe he is Greek Orthodox, so he should empathize!), and did not slap Christians in the face like “Sir” Ian McKlellan, whose remarks were so appalling I couldn’t stand to watch him in anything he might make. When artists make their anti-Christian positions (or political positions) so vocal, it’s hard for me to watch them without thinking about their personal views. And I am NOT interested in what they think. They’re supposed to be doing a job - not proselytizing!
 
I’ve done this soapbox before. My apologies to those of you who’ve read it already.

Please remember that every “production” involves a lot more people than just the “star.” The technical people, the office staff, the artists, the makeup people, the service staff, etc., etc. make a living from the entertainment business.

Not to mention all the local people right in your city who make their living indirectly from the entertainment business. The kids who take tickets at the movie theater, the people working at Borders, the college kids earning his tuition at Best Buy, even the senior citizen greeters at Wal Mart (Wal Mart sells movies, CDs, DVDs, etc., right?), the farmers who grow and sell popcorn that ends up at the theaters, and to a certain extent, the local music and drama teachers who are training kids with dreams of someday being on Broadway.

Most of these people are just normal people like you and me. They make a decent living, raise families, live in regular houses, and no one knows them from Adam.

Many of them are Christians. Not all Christians can find a “Christian movie studio” or CCM artist or Christian theater to work for.

Chances are good that your boycott of a movie or CD or book because of one nasty ratfink won’t hurt the ratfink at all. But it might hurt all those other people.

My suggestion is to be very selective in what you avoid. Certainly avoid those things that you find offensive towards God and man. When enough people do this, it may (but not likely) will result in changes in the arts.

My other suggestion is to get involved with the arts where you are. Go to your local theater or music concerts and get involved as a patron (often a small gift, e.g., $20, can get your name on the program.) Try to become involved in any way you can, perhaps ushering, or serving the appetizers at the art gallery openings. Or if you are an artist, do your art! Act, sing, dance, play, paint, whatever.

As you get involved and get your children involved in the arts, you will act as light in a dark place. You will eventually be able to have some influence over the local arts scene and perhaps spread around a little of the love of God. Try it!
 
There are often songs I hear that I love but the music artist is much to be desired. They are either outright anti-Christian or just immoral in their style (such as a lot of the hip-hop artists whom have videos that focus primarily on sex or sex-laden design). In those cases, if I find a song that is decent but the artist is morally questionable, I will get that song used. I buy the CD used somewhere so that I don’t give more money to that artist. And I will even go so far as not to buy a CD with a photo cover on it if the artist is wearing immodest attire or positioned immodestly (have to mention that, as often the photo art is really bad). I’ll look, instead, for a CD without the cover art which is often possible as most used CD’s are sold without the original case.

I also do this for films that are okay to watch but are produced by bad companies. For example, Warner Bros is listed as supporting abortion organizations so if I want to see a film that is produced by Warner Bros I try to get it used instead. That way my money doesn’t go to the company itself.
 
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