Artists 'SELLING OUT' - can we discuss?

this thread has brought back a memory from when i was stationed in japan from ~'82-85. there was a brief japanese television commercial i remember seeing with either dustin hoffman or deniro schlepping whiskey or something in which he spoke three words--"i'm a boy!" well, you can bet he walked away with an enormous check. btw that very thing (hollywood doing ridiculous-yet high-paid japanese TV commercials) was nicely parodied by bill murray in "lost in translation." i never really thought about that commercial until now. funny how little buried memories can pop up like that.

it used to bother me, but i watched the henry rollins show recently and he had a short segment where he expressed his opinion on the subject. basically he said good for them that they're making some money for their hard work, and it's their choice. it gave me a fresh perspective on the subject, and i totally respect their choices.

i would humbly submit that to purport to know what is in the heart and mind of another in terms of how they choose to apply their art is a flawed premise. not trying to pick a fight. freewill + human nature + democracy = shit happens. sorry it bothers you so.