The Allure of the Outlaw Artist

John Milton, within his classic epic poem “Paradise Lost”, created arguably the ultimate rebel figure with his depiction of Satan and the war in heaven. Though Satan was a character taken from the bible, he was here fleshed out with soul and depth like never before. To possess enough pride – or, some would argue, dignity – to defy God Himself is the essence of the allure of the outlaw artist. 

There are certain creators who live out the impulses that many of us have but don’t dare to act upon. We humans have always been drawn to this kind of vicarious existence through books, movies, and other artistic productions; but it feels a little more intoxicating when we’re following the exploits of a real-life character rather than a fictional one. These people are getting away with something, something we might wish we were getting away with ourselves. We can also become addicted to the drama and anticipation. How long can these artists continue to flaunt their disregard for convention before the powers-that-be finally catch up with them?

The body of world music, literature, poetry and visual arts abounds with rebellious creators who’ve snubbed their noses at straight society in myriad ways. Their behavior serves to demonstrate how far one can bend the rules. They can do this through their artistic expression itself - which could be extremely controversial in nature - or through the lifestyle that they lead (i.e., substance abuse, alcoholism, and promiscuity). Oftentimes, then, these rogue artists have as much to fear from themselves as they do from the world of law and order. The same extreme world-view and philosophy that makes their work so groundbreaking and unique also works to push them passed their mortal limits.

This explains why it is so often those artists whom we love the most who are doomed to spend the shortest periods of time here amongst us.

Death is, of course, the ultimate boundary and limitation. For artists who have pushed themselves up against every other boundary in human experience, there is only this last inevitability to confront. Some seem eager for the contest and rush to embrace it. Others indulge in a kind of to-and-fro dance, alternately approaching and retreating from the abyss. The rest of us watch with the same baited breath and anticipation as before, waiting to see if our heroes can defy those all-too-human limitations one last time.

Like most epilogues, what follows is seldom as satisfying as the buildup that preceded it. We the onlookers are left to mourn the ones we loved too much or grew too attached to. But new visionaries inevitably come, to begin their work from the frontiers where the others left off. And spectators will be caught up in the drama again, this captivating dance of the artist who chases the muse into deep and uncharted waters where no one may tread for long.