rape culture, the dangers of victim blaming, and stories from survivors. I was able to gain a
unique experience with self-defense and the widespread violence against women which has
helped shaped my morals and make up who I am. I will continue to carry this information with
me, especially in this world where violence against women increasingly grows. So while I was
filled with relief at the fact that the charges were dropped, my morals tell me that there could be
a small chance that they were dropped prematurely and the victim was telling the truth, however,
I can never know for sure. Nonetheless, it is important to have the ability to recognize the artist’s
wrongdoing. To ignore any type of controversy or past actions, such as assault, would be
privileged and dangerous to those affected. While I have been able to once again appreciate Rex
and his music, these accusations will always stick with him and his fans, which is why I will
always question myself and wonder if it is wrong to listen to an artist like Rex Orange County.
Therefore, I feel as though the individual is the only person that can decide whether or
not to support an immoral artist and their work. The Death of the Author, New Criticism, and the
Aesthetic Response are a few lenses that allow for a separation between the artist and their work.
In doing so, an individual is able to appreciate the work by letting it stand on its own, with no
influence from the artist’s biography or history. This way, someone can take the artist’s work and
adapt it as their own, to fit whatever experience that person may be going through and ignore the
malice of the creator. In contrast, the author's biography can help shape their work and the
connection someone forms with it. And since there is no right answer, depending on the
threshold, one may still support an unethical artist’s work, even if the sentiment comes from the
artist’s background that is expressed through their artwork. This all derives from the idea of
individual morality, where an individual decides for one’s self how to live. Choices may range
from what they put in their body to living an honest and charitable life. Individual morality