Please Don't Idolize Me (Or Anyone, Really)
John Scalzi discusses the pitfalls of idolizing creative individuals, emphasizing their complexity and flaws. He advocates for appreciating their art without unrealistic expectations, promoting empathy and understanding instead.
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In a recent blog post, John Scalzi addresses the tendency to idolize creative individuals, particularly in light of recent allegations against prominent figures like Neil Gaiman. Scalzi argues that idolizing anyone, including artists, is misguided because it overlooks the complexity of human nature. He emphasizes that creative people are just that—people—who experience the same struggles and contradictions as everyone else. The art they produce is often a polished representation of their work, not a reflection of their personal lives. Scalzi urges readers to appreciate the art without placing the creators on pedestals, as this can lead to disappointment when they inevitably fail to meet unrealistic expectations. He highlights that everyone has flaws and secrets, and that idolizing someone can create an impossible standard for them to uphold. Instead of idolization, Scalzi advocates for enjoying the work of creative individuals while recognizing the limitations of the mediated versions of their lives that we see. He encourages empathy and understanding, suggesting that we should appreciate people for their contributions without expecting them to be perfect.
- Idolizing creative individuals can lead to disappointment when they fail to meet unrealistic expectations.
- Creative people are complex and flawed, just like everyone else.
- The art produced by creators is often a polished representation, not a reflection of their personal lives.
- It is important to appreciate the work of artists without placing them on pedestals.
- Empathy and understanding should guide our perceptions of others.
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4 comments> Once my speech was over and I walked off the stage to shake hands along the rope line, I often found people screaming, pushing, and grabbing. Some would cry or touch my face, and despite my best efforts to discourage it, young parents would pass howling babies across rows of strangers for me to hold. The excitement was fun and at times deeply touching, but it was also a little unnerving. At some basic level people were no longer seeing me, I realized, with all my quirks and shortcomings. Instead, they had taken possession of my likeness and made it a vessel for a million different dreams. I knew a time would come when I would disappoint them, falling short of the image that my campaign and I had helped to construct.
> I realized, too, that if supporters could mold bits and pieces of me into an outsized symbol of hope, then the vague fears of detractors could just as readily congeal into hate.
I guess as a politician, if you can con them good enough, they won't even be disappointed, they'll just start blaming other things when their idol doesn't live up to their expectations. Things like the "Deep State".
It reminded me of the 1993 Nike commercial with Charles Barkley after he was criticized for his off-court behavior, culminating in his quote:
> “I am not a role model. I’m not paid to be a role model. I’m paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”
I like the idea of "the work being more intelligent than it's creator", especially with arts that demand you to put in a lot of your own imagination.
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