PositiveThe Times (UK)In an era full of reputational and textual revisions, Dederer’s book comes across as sane and nuanced — even refreshingly brave ... This is no dry compendium of intellectual arguments about artistic meaning, but rather an emotional journey through audience experience told with engaging chattiness from an insider’s perspective ... Although at times this approach makes for a self-absorbed read, the indirectness also helps to pacify the reader’s inner dogmatist ... In terms of structure, Dederer’s book meanders as feelings do, sometimes harshly censorious about the flaws of artists such as Allen and Polanski, sometimes worrying obsessively about the ethics of adoring their creations, and at other times shaking off anxieties in favour of a commitment to what the heart wants in spite of itself ... There is no real exploration of the thrill of transgression in art or artists ... After wandering about pleasantly for most of the book, there is a jarringly neat attempt to tie up loose ends in the final section ... Generally, though, the message of the book is a helpful one: if you love a piece of art, set it free from your inner moral critic, and just enjoy it.
