Can Bad People Write Good Books?

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Abstract

Books?</h1><p id="501b">Leaving aside examples of notorious “bad people” who have written books — the most obvious example that springs to mind is probably Adolf Hitler — the idea that we must be good people to write an enriching book has a number of aesthetic implications.</p><p id="0c8f">Can art be immoral? Does a work of art exist independently of its author?</p><p id="e978">Many argue that art is necessarily moral because what we write is our individual interpretation of the human experience. Even when creating magical or unrealistic scenarios we are writing from an authentic viewpoint.</p><p id="d6e5">We can attempt to deceive, but everything is still filtered through our moral outlook. A story can portray immoral situations— bad guys sometimes get away with murder, after all — but its creation itself is intrinsically moral.</p><h1 id="c217">Conclusions</h1><p id="4caa">Alice Walker’s reflection on writing is a beautiful and optimistic idea. Writing is a pure and authentic pursuit. To create great art, we must speak from the heart, therefore only a good heart can authentically produce great art.</p><p id="65eb">Whatever the aesthetic judgements of this argument, it is an inspirational quote from an inspirational woman. Art does make us better people because when we read we briefly adopt the mindset of another human being. In doing so we escape the biased perception of our individual filter of reality.</p><p id="8434">This is Day 13 of the ILLUMINATION 30-Day Challenge. Some of my previous posts:</p><div id="8b0f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/what-to-do-when-youve-had-enough-of-b

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And does art make us better people?

I’m not sure a bad person can write a good book. If art doesn’t make us better, then what on earth is it for.

— Alice Walker

I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote over the last couple of days. Art is a special form of communication. In many ways, it constitutes a more profound reality than our daily existence.

Alice Walker’s quote poses two interrelated questions:

Can a bad person write a good book?

Does art makes us better people?

The first part is contentious. To answer it relies on definitions of “bad person” and “good book”, both of which are highly subjective concepts. Furthermore, saying that writers must be good seems to hold them to a higher standard than mere mortals, providing them with quasi-prophetic status.

The second part is clearer I think. Generally speaking, broadening our horizons and seeing the world from different perspectives are vital in making us more rounded, respectful and knowledgeable people. It is through art that we learn about and, crucially, empathise with other viewpoints.

Bad People, Good Books?

Leaving aside examples of notorious “bad people” who have written books — the most obvious example that springs to mind is probably Adolf Hitler — the idea that we must be good people to write an enriching book has a number of aesthetic implications.

Can art be immoral? Does a work of art exist independently of its author?

Many argue that art is necessarily moral because what we write is our individual interpretation of the human experience. Even when creating magical or unrealistic scenarios we are writing from an authentic viewpoint.

We can attempt to deceive, but everything is still filtered through our moral outlook. A story can portray immoral situations— bad guys sometimes get away with murder, after all — but its creation itself is intrinsically moral.

Conclusions

Alice Walker’s reflection on writing is a beautiful and optimistic idea. Writing is a pure and authentic pursuit. To create great art, we must speak from the heart, therefore only a good heart can authentically produce great art.

Whatever the aesthetic judgements of this argument, it is an inspirational quote from an inspirational woman. Art does make us better people because when we read we briefly adopt the mindset of another human being. In doing so we escape the biased perception of our individual filter of reality.

This is Day 13 of the ILLUMINATION 30-Day Challenge. Some of my previous posts: