You must neither completely nor partially copy the art of others. If so, you will be producing kitsch.
The idea that musicians/artists have a responsibility to be community leaders or "role models" is problematic to me because I really believe that some of the most exciting art is not community-minded at least in any obvious or direct way, which is not to say that it is not ethical or consciousness-changing.
For an artist to go and play in a country that occupies other people's land and oppresses them, the way Israel does, is plain wrong. They should say no.
A poet who is a bad man is a degraded being, baser and more culpable than a bad man who is not a poet.
Art should never be held above our decency to each other.
If you take a picture of a human that does not make him noble, there is no reason to take this picture... “If you take a picture of a human that does not make him noble, there is no reason to take this picture. That is my way of seeing things.
I don't think you should ever damage other people for your art.
Art seduces, but does not exploit.
I will only make pictures that I won't be ashamed to have my children see.
I'm just not into the shady side of the music industry. Give credit where credit's due.
Here's what I advise any young struggling actress today: The important thing is to develop as a woman first, and a performer second. You wouldn't prostitute yourself to get a part, not if you're in the right mind. You won't be happy, whatever you do, unless you're comfortable with your own conscience.
To make a deliberate falsification for personal gain is the last, worst depth to which either scholar or artist can descend in work or life.
As an artist, we have a big influence, and we should always think if we are doing more harm than good to our viewers. We should serve as a model to them.
I don't believe in censorship, but I do believe that an artist has to take some moral responsibility for what he or she is putting out there.
I always had a standard of, back when I was doing the country music I always told people I would never record a song that I wouldn't sit down and sing in front of my mom and dad.
I think I take what you might call a B-movie story, deal with B-movie subjects, and I treat it as if it's an A-movie in terms of my approach, my crew, my actors, my ethics and so on. I guess that's my trademark or one of them, anyway!
I do think that we are sometimes, as directors, guilty of portraying or asking our actors to behave in certain ways that are perhaps not very morally acceptable. I'm not the only one.
I've handled colour as a man should behave. You may conclude that I consider ethics and aesthetics as one.
Writing can sometimes be exploitative. I like to take a few steps of remove in order to respect the privacy of the subject. If readers make the link, they have engaged with the poem.
