The artist's dilemma – what constitutes selling out?

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Yoav Litvin, The Rockefeller University

(THE CONVERSATION) Intellectuals, academics and artists play a unique role in society: they preserve and defend both freedom of expression and the morality of choices. Artists can use their work as a means to communicate messages of dissent and hope in the face of injustice, repression and despair.

Meanwhile, those in power who seek to control public opinion typically consider untethered freedom of thought and expression a threat.

But in any capitalist system, it’s difficult to survive as a full-time artist. Artists need to be industrious in order to make a living from art, and may choose to work with government organizations or corporations to supplement their income.

Herein lies what I’ve dubbed the “artist’s dilemma”: how does one cooperate with a large entity while ensuring moral ground? In other words, what constitutes “selling out,” arguably the worst insult that can be lobbed at an artist?

It’s an issue that has come to the forefront, especially for street artists, who seem to be increasingly collaborating with businesses and corporations. Companies will often seek to cultivate artists as a way to enhance their brand, and street art can have the effect of making a product look more authentic, edgy and gritty.

Recently, a blogger and a group of artists have partnered with Amazon to produce and sell a series of...