Should a Work Be Separated from Its Creator, or Should They Be Treated as an Inseparable Unity?

Abstract

From the Introduction:

The relationship between the work of art and its creator constitutes one of the oldest and most persistent questions in aesthetics and literary theory. In the contemporary era, however, this question acquires a new and pressing dimension. The public exposure of artists’ private lives, the widespread dissemination of information through social media, and the heightened awareness surrounding issues of moral responsibility have transformed the reception of art into a field of intense debate. It is no longer merely a matter of whether a work is aesthetically accomplished or emotionally moving, but also whether it can be separated from the person who created it.

This dilemma does not concern only theorists or critics. It directly affects the reader, the viewer, and the listener, who are called upon to decide whether and how they will continue to engage with a work when knowledge about its creator comes into conflict with personal or collective values.