On Ointments and Flies

When a great artist dies in this connected age, the sheer volume of reverent eulogizing, particularly on social media can be overwhelming. The case of David Bowie was no exception. Less often discussed during the mourning period are those facts that call into question the character of the artist, or make us feel uncomfortable thoughts about their legacy. David Bowie had sex with at least one 14 year-old girl. You can Google it!

“Hey man, why do you have to bring that up! Why can’t you let me/us appreciate and remember the art and all it means to me?! Why are you always shitting in the punch bowl/being such a troll?”

To answer the questions briefly in order:

1. Because it is a true thing that happened
2. You can/should appreciate the art and all it means to you!
3. I think I have some kind of sickness.

To answer the questions verbosely in a rambling and incoherent way, I’ll be below the break.

Since there have been artists, there have been artists behaving badly. We both love our artists (some kinds, at least) and hate their “lifestyles” (“get a real job, hipster!”). It’s a strange dichotomy we’ve established. But when we love our artists, we LOOOOOOVE them. Elvis “courted” (i.e. fucked) a 14 year-old, John Lennon beat women, Wagner was a virulent anti-semite, Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby- you get the point. Even the most disgusting serial rapists have their defenders. So how do we (the non-monsters) determine what (or if) to excuse? When (or should) we continue to enjoy the art, be inspired by it, recognize all the good that it has brought?

In the case of Bowie and Lori Mattix, she describes her relationship as positive, consensual, and looks back on her time as a member of the “Baby Groupies” fondly. To dismiss her own feelings would be to erase her experience and agency. On the other hand, how can anyone, let alone a 14 year-old, give meaningful consent in a context fueled by fame, booze, and drugs? By the same token, can we “blame” a 23 year old for his participation in this culture, when it is so pervasive and normalized? Who am I to say?

Is it possible for a 14 year-old to ever give meaningful consent to sex? To say no is again, to rob many young people (and Mattix specifically) of their agency. I would have gladly had sex at 14 with whatever famous female pop star was offering. Alas, nobody was offering. Cultivating a set of norms that prizes virginity and innocence, and pathologizes sex isn’t helpful to anyone. It allows us to look down on certain people (women) doing certain things (enjoying sex and sexuality). When consent IS violated, it makes it easier for society to blame victims for being too precocious or too flirty or too sexy. How do we simultaneously promote a sex-positive culture while fighting rape culture, and patriarchy? WHY DO I HAVE SO MANY DIFFICULT AND INTRACTABLE QUESTIONS!??!?

It’s tempting to look back on historical eras (even recent ones) and confidently posture “I would have done the right thing.” But history is one long example of ordinary, and otherwise decent people doing or abiding terrible things (Germany says hello). The truth is none of us know how or what we would have done were we in the shoes of either person, so what are we to do now when we recognize past behavior ranging from the icky to the illegal? I guess the only thing we can do is to talk about it.

Because if we don’t talk about it, if we don’t recognize that this is part of the man, we are all complicit in a culture that routinely excuses the behavior of powerful artists (almost always men) who take what they want from whomever they want with little or no consequence. These conditions will continue to exist until we can say openly and without flinching “this behavior is wrong, and you will be punished for it.” Because the other choice is to live in a world where R. Kelly still makes music, where Chris Brown is still featured on records with the biggest pop stars in the world, where Kesha’s career is jeopardized for daring to accuse her powerful producer of rape. I’m tired of living in that world.

David Bowie created enduring art that inspired millions of people. He leaves behind a staggering, decades-long legacy of work. He was a prolific, complicated, and challenging artist. He moved people, and he will never be forgotten.

David Bowie also committed statutory rape. And I don’t want to forget that.