Celebrities and Politics

[FRPLG]

A little discussion has been hatched in the Pearl Jam thread about political views of celebrities and I posed a question about how everyone feels about these views and whether it affects their choices in music, movies, TV, etc..

My point of view was that I simple don't have the time or energy to figure whether I am allowed to like a song or movie or whatever based on the poltical views of the artists.

So what does everyone think? Does it affect the way you enjoy our country's artist efforts or is it something completely irrelevant? Or maybe somewhere in between?

[SmootSmack]

It's somewhere in between for me. I mean sure it can be annoying sometimes, especially when it seems their intent is more to incite than inspire. Sean Penn comes to mind. But just because they're famous actors or athletes doesn't mean they're dumb and incapable of having sound opinions. That's unfortunately a common assumption. And I like when they poke fun at it, like Alec Baldwin does on 30 Rock.

I don't really let it impact my opinion of their talents. I'd like to think I'm smart enough to listen to what they have to say (should I so choose) and form my opinion regardless of whether I think they have a nice beat to go with it.

All that said, this is one of the greatest SNL skits ever:

[MTK]

As I said in the other thread I really don't care. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and if they want to voice them - fine with me. I don't base my views on what my favorite band or actor thinks.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

As I said in the other thread I really don't care. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and if they want to voice them - fine with me. I don't base my views on what my favorite band or actor thinks.

Yeah I mean our political views overall are quite different. And despite some similarities our musical tastes aren't the same (Tool??). Plus you kind of wanted Steve Mariucci to be our head coach...but you've still got a good fan site

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Yeah I mean our political views overall are quite different. And despite some similarities our musical tastes aren't the same (Tool??). Plus you kind of wanted Steve Mariucci to be our head coach...but you've still got a good fan site

Just good?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Just good?

Anthony Mix would run a better one

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Anthony Mix would run a better one

damn, you got me there

[JoeRedskin]

The only time an entertainer's politics affects my opinion as to their performance is when they overtly tie their performance to politics (Michael Moore anyone??). If you USE the public entertainment forum to further your political agenda, then I will probably not endorse it with my dollars.

And, just to be clear, I have no problem with people expressing opinions through song or performance. If they choose to do so, and I don't agree with the opinion, I will just avoid the piece.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

For the most part I don't really care about an actor or musician's personal life or political views unless it truly effects their work. For instance, I think Tom Cruise is nuts but I really like a lot of his movies and I think he's a very good actor so I don't care about the couch jumping, prescription bashing antics.

However, I won't go so far as to say a person couldn't do or say something that is so bad that I can't stand to see/hear them. If I suddenly found out that my favorite actor was a child molesting Nazi I might have a hard time enjoying his work.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

For the most part I don't really care about an actor or musician's personal life or political views unless it truly effects their work. For instance, I think Tom Cruise is nuts but I really like a lot of his movies and I think he's a very good actor so I don't care about the couch jumping, prescription bashing antics.

However, I won't go so far as to say a person couldn't do or say something that is so bad that I can't stand to see/hear them. If I suddenly found out that my favorite actor was a child molesting Nazi I might have a hard time enjoying his work.

That's where I am too. I'm sure some musical artists I enjoy are probably closet whackjobs, but as long as they don't preach about it, I don't care if I enjoy their music.

Once they begin trying to merge their work and their politics, it takes away a lot of the enjoyment. Music and movies are usually to escape the daily life and problems, which politics are.

[firstdown]

It has been over 4 years sense I last went to see a movie but its not all politics. Its more that I feel that actors and those celeberties are all really a bunch of snobs and look down on everyday people as second class or not to their level. Just look at who they date, how they act at award shows on the red carpet etc... and allot of them talk politics and really have no clue. On a late night show Ted Dancen (spelling, the guy on cheers) sad that we loose x amount of rain forest everyday. At first I thought wow what a big problem but then I did a little math. I forgot the exact number but using what he said we would have cut down all the woods in the world in like 6 or 7 years. I then thought maybe he just got his numbers mixed up but I read an interview of him and he said the same thing.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by firstdown

It has been over 4 years sense I last went to see a movie but its not all politics. Its more that I feel that actors and those celeberties are all really a bunch of snobs and look down on everyday people as second class or not to their level. Just look at who they date, how they act at award shows on the red carpet etc... and allot of them talk politics and really have no clue. On a late night show Ted Dancen (spelling, the guy on cheers) sad that we loose x amount of rain forest everyday. At first I thought wow what a big problem but then I did a little math. I forgot the exact number but using what he said we would have cut down all the woods in the world in like 6 or 7 years. I then thought maybe he just got his numbers mixed up but I read an interview of him and he said the same thing.

I think Hollywood is a bunch of elitist snobs too but I also temper that view by thinking of how many movie stars never say a darn thing about poltiics. For every George Clooney or Sean Penn there are 30 other good actors who don't use their celebrity as a pulpit. I have no problem with celebrities having views but it does irk me when some use it too ram their views down our throats. I don't let it affect my views on their movies but it doesn't make me like them.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I think Hollywood is a bunch of elitist snobs too but I also temper that view by thinking of how many movie stars never say a darn thing about poltiics. For every George Clooney or Sean Penn there are 30 other good actors who don't use their celebrity as a pulpit. I have no problem with celebrities having views but it does irk me when some use it too ram their views down our throats. I don't let it affect my views on their movies but it doesn't make me like them.

My biggest reason for not supporting Hollywood is the snob factor. If their fans really think they care about them they are kidding themself. Yes some do but in whole they don't care about their fans only their own little pulpit that they walk upon.

[mooby]

When it comes to music I really don't care much for the artists views on certain subjects, including politics. I listen to music because of the sound, not because of what a certain artist thinks. As for movie stars and their kind, same goes for them. I think some entertainers are nuts, and some are uppity bastards, but I like their movies so I don't mind it too much. And even though almost no entertainers bother me, I have to say I really don't like Michael Moore. He promotes himself all the time and acts like he's the voice of the people when he's just another guy with insane political views.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by mooby

He promotes himself all the time and acts like he's the voice of the people when he's just another guy with insane political views.

Not to hijack my own thread but he is more of another guy just trying to make money.