Why do so many people have an issue with separating art from the artist?

[Naruse]

As someone who grew up as a bit of a bookworm I've read plenty of great authors who are or were anything from flawed individuals to morally abhorrent proto-fascists, I've always personally adhered to the value of separating personal beliefs about the moral worth of someone's character from their merits as an artist. There are plenty of terrible artists who are the nicest people and vice versa and I would rather have amazing art made by terrible people than something mediocre made by someone I like. To be clear this isn't a defence of any crimes talented artists commit, they shouldn't be above the law. I just find it hard to understand why such a reveal would taint the work they have produced.

[jademaeve13]

i think it depends on what the purpose of the art is. For example, I, too, am a huge bookworm with a degree in the field. with such writers as the Beat Generation, they didn’t hide their distaste towards women in their work, therefore no matter how good their writing is, I am unable to separate artsier from art. However i do believe that if the art has NOTHING to do with who they are, if immoral, I can separate the two.

[Naruse]

Can't say I agree. One could quite easily say Oscar Wild probably wasn't the best person in terms of infidelity or incessant abuse of opiates and alcohol. His debaucherous lifestyle is reflected in his works but he was an amazing writer and being ethically transgressive is part of what makes Artists interesting. I might even hate the values reflected in the work as is the case with Lovecraft's mythos where he describes other races as squalid monkeys barely worth the air they breathe, but it is undeniable that his contribution in terms of his imagination and writing ability inspired a generation of writers that followed. I think we excuse a lot of artists who are dead because we can call them a product of their time and we don't feel acknowledging the value of their work will be handing a shitty person a win which I get but it's silly like saying someone is a terrible musician because they're a shitty human being. Talent and being a good person have no relation in my opinion. Sorry if this came off harsh that wasn't my intention I guess I just feel strongly about this subject.