Dead or Alive, Artists Want Control

As they should.

Two interesting stories on artistic intent and control. One on Edward Albee and the other on David Mamet. Why is it that if an artist wants to control her artistic property or, god forbid, destroy it, the general public seems obliged to shriek and criticize the artist? Why is it that this public thinks they know better than the artist as to the artwork’s fate and, more so, that they have some “right” to read or view it?

It’s just “art,” people, just art. The world has more than enough creativity, and if you feel that your world would be sorely worse off without that one novel, painting or play, then you must have one very small world.

Tags: art, Art Law, control, david mamet, edward albee, estates, Moral Rights, wills