“…Maybe it’s my fault for idolizing [rappers]”
“…So he grows out of control / Into the person that he truly was all along, it's startin' to show / Damn, wonder what happened / Maybe it's my fault for idolizing [rappers] / Based off the words they be rappin,” J Cole, False Prophets
What do you do when your favorite artist does or says something that you disagree with? Do you stop supporting their art? Do you jump on Twitter social media to post the latest hot take? Or maybe meme the interview clips? Do you continue listening to their music regardless of their action? Or do you only consume their art at home in secret and hide the fact that you enjoy it from your friends? Do you separate the artist from their art?
I was prompted to explore cognitive dissonance as it relates to music fandom after listening to J Cole’s single False Prophets released in 2016. The term “cognitive dissonance” describes what happens inside of you when your actions and values are out of sync. This uncomfortable sensation arises when you support an artist whose own actions don’t align with your values. You might notice yourself wanting to justify or ignore the artist’s actions. Or maybe you feel uneasy when you hear their music on the radio or your playlist. Maybe you feel embarrassed about liking an artist whose behavior you denounce. Maybe you’re even outright hurt or worried about their actions.
J Cole explores cognitive dissonance from the perspective of both the fan and the artist on False Prophets. NSFW Language Warning.
The specific way you handle cognitive dissonance is up to you, but I want to provide a few tools that you can use as you navigate the next offensive scandal by your favorite artist. The next time they do or say something that causes cognitive dissonance within you, consider these steps:
1.) Clarify your beliefs: Being curious, introspective, and mindful about your own thoughts and beliefs is a good starting point - this helps you understand where the cognitive dissonance is coming from before you do anything about it. Some questions to consider may include: Am I okay with what the artist did or said - why or why not? What behaviors am I okay tolerating as a fan, and which are not? Are there some behaviors that are forgivable and some that are not? Does it matter if the actions caused harms to others? Does my enjoyment of the artist’s art imply my agreement with their behaviors - again why or why not?
2.) Accept your opinions and beliefs: It’s easy to catch a clip or a meme and feel a pressure to respond quickly - it’s okay to take your time and gather enough information to form your own opinion. Maybe you’re hurt or offended by the artist’s action. Maybe you’re angry. Maybe you believe that the art as totally separate from the artist, and you’re able to appreciate that art while disagreeing with the artist’s personal opinions. Or maybe you don’t think it is right to separate the artist from their art under the guise of entertainment. Acceptance is recognizing that your own ideas might differ from other people’s, and coming to terms with the ramifications of your ideas impacting other people.
3.) Be open to new ideas and change: Once you clarify your own beliefs, you may want to adjust your behaviors. You’re allowed to grow and change. Maybe you used to be a fan of a certain artist but can no longer support them in good faith because you’ve identified a newer and important value in your life. Maybe you no longer listen to a particular artist. Or maybe you continue to do so with a personal opinion that listening to music does not equate to agreeing with an artist’s actions. Maybe you continue to occasionally listen to that particular artist and do so in a manner which is sensitive to the lived experiences of other listeners, for example studying a song for musical analysis is different than blasting it from a speaker at a family park.
4.) Engage in Conversation with Others and Get Support: Don’t live in a bubble and stick to online discourse - if you’re distressed by the actions of an artist, talk about it with someone whom you can be vulnerable with and whose opinion that you value. Sort through the dissonance and be open to other opinions and be aware that other listeners might arrive at a different conclusion than you’re own. When you’re hurt, disillusioned, otherwise impacted by the actions of an artist, getting support from your family, friends, your community, a therapist, or a support group can be helpful in navigating your experience.
5.) Pursue ongoing education: Continuing to educate yourself is a great for ongoing development of beliefs and ideas. Visiting museums, participating in cultural events, and reading can all be great resources.
Additional Resources for Understanding the Impact and Danger of Antisemitism:
This blog post is not meant to amplify attention to antisemitism in music, to antisemitism in hip hop, or to serve as click-bait response to antisemitic statements made by celebrities. Antisemitism is unequivocally unacceptable and this post is not meant to draw attention to headlines or to those celebrities themselves. However, as it relates to time #5 above, if you’re looking for resources on your own journey of ongoing education or some actionable things you can do to combat antisemitism, some resources that I’ve found useful in understanding world history, Jewish history, and why addressing antisemitism matters are listed below:
The Museum of Tolerance: I had the privilege of visiting this museum a handful of times when I lived in Los Angeles; this museum is an excellent resource on not just the Holocaust but also on all forms of prejudice and discrimination
Anti Defamation League: You can join a local chapter from their website, sign up for their newsletter, or use their site as a resource
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Access learning resources and/or trainings
