How does Hollywood portray the artist?

In this episode, Caro Fowler and Rob Slifkin discuss the paradox of the artist biopic, a genre Hollywood keeps returning to despite its frequent critical and commercial struggles. Drawing on films from Pollock to Basquiat and Final Portrait, they explore why these movies often feel constrained by historical accuracy, struggle to depict artistic genius, and lean into romantic myths of the solitary, suffering artist. Along the way, they unpack recurring themes like patronage, gender dynamics, and the tension between storytelling and education, ultimately asking what these films reveal not just about artists, but about Hollywood’s own aspirations, limitations, and fascination with the idea of art itself.