Drawing the Line, What to Do with the Work of Immoral Artists from Museums to the Movies

Eric Mathis's Drawing the Line explores the ethical and practical questions that arise when beloved artworks are tied to artists with troubling moral lives.

The book offers frameworks for thinking about institutional and personal responses, arguing that the moral life of an artist should remain a live question when engaging with their work.

Mathis balances concerns about censorship with the need for moral accountability, proposing alternatives like contextualization rather than erasure.

Drawing on examples from museums, film, and literature, he outlines how to confront difficult art while preserving opportunities for moral reflection and discussion.

The work is aimed at philosophers, cultural institutions, and general readers grappling with contemporary debates over art and ethics.