Deconstructing Creative Genius

This conversation focuses on the creation and sustainability of the concept of "creative genius." It asks how this concept might be shaped and bolstered by structures of power including museums, governments, art-sale platforms, social media, and neoliberal capitalism. We will examine the role these systems play in creating the racialized and gendered norms around who is considered a "genius" and what gets measured as talent. The conversation may consider the historically-gendered distinction between "genius" and madness, the blurred line between art and the artist, and the invisible labor required to support "genius" often performed by partners and employees.

Key questions may include:

• What "creative geniuses" have been overlooked throughout history based on their gender, race, or class?
• When selecting artwork, to what extent should museums consider the abusive behavior of artists towards studio assistants?
• How should consumers engage with the work of so-called geniuses, like Michael Jackson, who may have behaved egregiously in their private lives?