Projecting on Others the Failures of Our Own Homes
(On Artist Blaming as a Form of Scapegoating)
by aLfie vera mella
This article is my reaction to the currently trending criticism on Miley Cyrus's performance at the MTV VMA 2013.
The ultimate question is--as parents, what do you tell your own children about these popular people, especially artists and other showbiz personalities--do you tell them that they could regard these people as role models for their own lives or do you emphatically remind them that, while they could appreciate their art, they should not regard them as role models?
I think the moment you assign a role-model badge to these artists or you put on their shoulders a sense of moral responsibility to the world at large, then it is synonymous to your admitting that--yes--these people should be revered as role models by your children. And I think there's a folly in that teaching...because you are clearly telling your children that--yes, go ahead, take these people as your role models.
To me, it's clear and simple. As parents, we need to tell our children that not all people--popular or not--should be taken as role models. That is just wrong and irresponsible. It is similar to the defense mechanism known as victim blaming.
"'Victim blaming' occurs when the victim(s) of a crime or any wrongful act are held entirely or partially responsible for the violations committed against them."
Artists should not have a moral responsibility to anyone but themselves and their own families--simply because they are not moral crusaders or lawmakers; they are just producers of art (literature, music, etc)--regardless if these works of art are distasteful or not.
Same with any of us--we don't have a moral responsibility to anyone--even to our neighbors or friends--our moral responsibility is only to our own selves and own families--because they are directly dependent on us.
In Simple Words
We should teach our children whom they could regard as and whom they shouldn't consider role models. This will prevent us from blaming people unfairly and inadvertently.
In Psychology, victim blaming and artist blaming may be considered examples of psychological projection or scapegoating.
by aLfie vera mella
This article is my reaction to the currently trending criticism on Miley Cyrus's performance at the MTV VMA 2013.
The ultimate question is--as parents, what do you tell your own children about these popular people, especially artists and other showbiz personalities--do you tell them that they could regard these people as role models for their own lives or do you emphatically remind them that, while they could appreciate their art, they should not regard them as role models?
I think the moment you assign a role-model badge to these artists or you put on their shoulders a sense of moral responsibility to the world at large, then it is synonymous to your admitting that--yes--these people should be revered as role models by your children. And I think there's a folly in that teaching...because you are clearly telling your children that--yes, go ahead, take these people as your role models.
To me, it's clear and simple. As parents, we need to tell our children that not all people--popular or not--should be taken as role models. That is just wrong and irresponsible. It is similar to the defense mechanism known as victim blaming.
"'Victim blaming' occurs when the victim(s) of a crime or any wrongful act are held entirely or partially responsible for the violations committed against them."
Artists should not have a moral responsibility to anyone but themselves and their own families--simply because they are not moral crusaders or lawmakers; they are just producers of art (literature, music, etc)--regardless if these works of art are distasteful or not.
Same with any of us--we don't have a moral responsibility to anyone--even to our neighbors or friends--our moral responsibility is only to our own selves and own families--because they are directly dependent on us.
In Simple Words
We should teach our children whom they could regard as and whom they shouldn't consider role models. This will prevent us from blaming people unfairly and inadvertently.
In Psychology, victim blaming and artist blaming may be considered examples of psychological projection or scapegoating.
posted by eLf ideas @ 6:55:00 PM
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