In The South Of Madness
THE CONUNDRUM OF HOW to deal with controversial artists is having a moment right now. Plenty of contemporary creative figures whose misdeeds are coming to light are getting their reckonings in the glare of the zeitgeist. But what about those who, in the past, made seminal works, and whose deeply racist, homophobic, and/or fascist ideologies have come to light in the ensuing years? How do we separate a love for the art from the artist?
HP Lovecraft is a prime example. The 20th century American author brought the Cthulhu Mythos into existence and is considered one of the most influential writers of supernatural horror fiction. But he also was a deeply troubled misanthrope, and an unrepentant racist. What do we do regarding that overshadowing legacy today? If you’re Misha Green, the writer, showrunner , you take the opportunity to address that history and reframe it into something new and, perhaps, even more resonant.
