The Outspoken Artist: Let Candor Be Your Brand

“An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times… How can you be an artist and not reflect the times? That, to me, is the definition of an artist.” ~ Nina Simone

“Aren’t you worried that stating your political opinions so freely might alienate
potential readers?” ~ unknown female on Twitter

Certainly, it was a worthy question, especially coming from someone who didn’t appear to agree with my stated opinion of that morning, likely something to do with the folly of a certain wall or the joy of a particularly qualified woman advancing in her career. But I’d guess the questioner wouldn’t have abided by Ms. Simone’s opinion either; there were several “mad-face” emojis stuffed into the tweet.

But the query is one every artist is obliged to ponder as they interact on social media and elsewhere, as they write and paint and sculpt and rhyme. Decisions do have to be made about how much of ourselves we want in the public forum, information that will be attached to our work and our brand. But it was not a difficult question for me to answer; my quick and unequivocal response was, “No. My philosophies and worldview are imbued in my work; anyone reading it will notice. That may put off some, but for others it just might be a selling point.”

The tweeter added nothing further to the conversation, but many others did, most echoing my own stance. Some not. Which suggests it remains a debate-worthy question.

What is our responsibility to our “brand”? Our image? Despite those who applauded my answer, there is also a school of thought that says the more universal an audience you wish to curate, the more non-controversial your public persona should be. That may be true, but is it of value to you, to be seen as mainstream and culturally palatable?

What if candor and controversy feed your artistic identity? What if knowing where you stand on Trump and guns and universal healthcare actually attracts an audience to your artistic message, your creative sensibilities? In my case, that appears likely, but it is something each individual has to assess before they get, say, too feisty on Facebook.

It’s a particularly fascinating debate against the norms of the past, when, in the days of the studio system, publicists kept their artists on tight reins, and the notion of keeping one’s life private was paramount. Entire facades were constructed to hide affairs, spin politically contentious affiliations, disguise sexual orientations, and bury felonious acts. It was only decades later, and often posthumously, we discovered facts about our favorite actors and actresses that were shocking to us, mostly because they’d been so well hidden.

Yet, even in today’s media-saturated world there are some who maintain that how you vote, what you do for a living, where you pray, and who you date are items best kept private. I’ve had peers snap at me for daring to mention the election; I’ve had men tell me it’s untoward to ask a guy what he does for a living; one woman was so offended by my support of Barack Obama she told me I was a “white sellout” and declared she’d never buy my books.

So, there’s that.

But, ultimately, I stand firm in my conviction that it behooves an artist to be frank about who they are and what they believe. As writers we’re asking people to devote countless hours of time and attention to reading our words and immersing themselves in our creative thoughts; it seems to me they deserve a heads-up on our general philosophy before diving in. And, frankly, I like knowing if the book I’m picking up was written by someone whose views might run counter to my own.

It doesn’t mean I won’t buy it, I am not limited to books that share my politics, but I did find it somewhat jarring when I recently discovered the novel I was reading was by an author with religious beliefs in the extreme, informing the characters and tone of the book in kind. More power to them, but it did impact my level of enjoyment. Had I known would I have passed on it? I don’t know. What I do know is that I want anyone reading my work to be making an informed book-buying decision. I want them to be clear about where I stand, what I believe, particularly on social issues; how both my heart and humor frame the debates of our time.

And, really, isn’t there something engaging, even endearing, about reading the candid views of a writer you admire on Twitter and Facebook? While it’s possible they can be deal breakers for some (Roseanne Barr’s rabid racism via Twitter didn’t do her any favors with her audience… or her career!), there’s the more common experience of coming upon a cleverly acerbic tweet by Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Joyce Carol Oates, or Anne Rice (all active tweeters) that endears you to them, makes you feel as if you’ve been given an inside glimpse, an intimate snapshot of how they think outside their role as “author.” That’s the kind of connection that can build and bolster a fanbase.

I do subscribe to Ms. Simone’s philosophy. I am an artist who chooses to “reflect the times” I live in. More personally, I don’t want to be one person in my work, another in the real world. They are one and the same, those “persons.” My work is me. The integration of my art and politics, my creativity and critical thinking, is essential to my artistic identity: someone who is fully aware that my “cohesive whole” may send readers of dissenting views running for the hills!

But that’s all right with me. Quite frankly, no artist, of any medium or ilk, is going to please all the people all the time, regardless of how much or how little is revealed. Which begs the question: then why cultivate a brand that demands you be careful, limit your candor, censor your rebuttals, keep your thoughts to yourself? Frankly, that sounds exhausting.

I loved a comment a writer shared with me on this topic, so much so that I asked her if I could include it in this piece. Not surprisingly, given her appreciation of candor, she was all in:

“Every writer sees the world in which we live from a particular worldview. I believe it’s impossible to effectively remove our beliefs from our writing. It’s not a new phenomenon. I recall Johnathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal and Dante’s Inferno poking fun at their culture and demanding response. If we writers are to open our readers’ eyes to the world as it is, then it’s our responsibility to mix politics and art.”

~ Melissa Zabower, author of the forthcoming YA novel, In the Shadow of Mr. Lincoln

What she said!

Ultimately, it comes down to where you wish your place to be in our ever-changing world. At a time when technology gives a global platform to anyone wishing to share their art, their views, their opinions, even their cat videos, the task of standing out—to be seen, heard, and read— becomes a challenge. Far beyond the time when artists had others to do the heavy lifting of marketing and promotion, we are, now, each obligated to be our own best marketer, our most effective promoter. How best to do that?

Personally, I think being your candid, clever, even controversial self is your best bet. A careful voice may be safer, but the voice that reflects the times will always be the more potent and memorable one. Be that voice.

—

Lorraine Devon Wilke’s writing resume includes over a decade as a political/cultural contributor to HuffPost and other popular media/news sites. Her articles have been globally disseminated, reprinted in books, articles, and academic tomes. She continues to write cultural essays and commentary through her blog, www.rockpapermusic.com, and her third novel, The Alchemy of Noise, is being published in April via She Writes Press.

Links to her work, writing awards, and other details of her creative background can be found at www.lorrainedevonwilke.com

About THE ALCHEMY OF NOISE

“Infused with beauty, humor, and pain, The Alchemy of Noise is a modern American love story that asks if love can bridge the distance between two Americas.”

―Laura Nicole Diamond, author of Shelter Us and Deliver Me

In a world so full of lonely people and broken hearts, Chris Hawkins, a black sound engineer from Chicago’s south side, and Sidonie Frame―white, suburban-raised, the head manager of one of the city’s most elite venues―meet by work-related happenstance and fall quickly in love, convinced that by that act alone they can inspire peace, joy, and happiness in the world around them. The world, however, has other ideas.

Their meeting is serendipitous. Chris, who owns and runs his company, largely spends his time surrounded by members of his own community; Sidonie, conversely, is rarely outside the environs of work and its predominantly white staff and clientele. But when the club’s sound manager goes AWOL on the night of a big event and Chris is hired to come in as a last-minute replacement, their destinies collide.

Immediately drawn to each other, they fall quickly into an unexpected and thrilling relationship, inspiring myriad reactions amongst family and friends on both sides of the racial divide. But even as their love story evolves, day-to-day tensions, police disruptions, and the microaggressions Chris constantly encounters as a black man in the gritty environs of Chicago become a cultural flashpoint, challenging Sidonie’s privileged worldview and Chris’s ability to translate the unfolding events. After a random and gut-wrenching series of police encounters shakes their resilience, it’s the shattering circumstance of a violent arrest―one in which Chris is identified as a serial vandal and potential rapist―that sends their world into free fall.

He claims his innocence; she believes him. But the forces pushing against them are many and oppressive. With a looming trial, the dissipating loyalties of key allies, and unforeseen twists triggering doubt and suspicion, Sidonie and Chris are driven to question what they really know of each other and just whom to trust, leading to a powerful and emotional conclusion.

Lorraine Devon Wilke’s third novel, The Alchemy of Noise, ventures beyond the humor and pathos of family drama explored so cleverly in her first two novels to dig deep into the politics of contemporary culture. At its heart a love story, it explores the complexity of race in a suspenseful drama driven by issues of privilege, prejudice, police profiling and legal entanglements, and the disparities in how those provocative themes impact the various and diverse characters involved.

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