By Samantha Lozano

Fiona Apple's journey as an artist, as beautifully captured in the New York Times article, showcases the transformative power of creativity intertwined with personal experiences. At the tender age of 16, she channeled her inner turmoil and vulnerability into her music, laying bare her soul through her demos "Criminal" and "Shadowboxer." These early expressions of pain and resilience not only marked the inception of her musical career but also set the tone for her distinctive style characterized by raw emotion and introspection. The art of radical sensitivity, a term coined in the New York Times article “Fiona Apple’s Art of Radical Sensitivity,” is used to describe Apple as the once distressed and emotional artist that was portrayed heavily during her prime time in music. Apple, who was 16 at the time took her journal writing of sexual trauma and heartbreak to create her first demos “Criminal” and “ Shadowboxer”. As told in the article, her friend passed on her demo to music producer, Andrew Slater, who she babysat for. Slater soon hired a band, booked a studio, and produced her first album. With this, the name Fiona Apple was born. But with this quick rise to fame came the representation of her “frail and emotional” branding. The media quickly replaced a woman with the misrepresentation of an individual. 

Time and time again, we are victims of persuasion due to the media's portrayal of female artists. Perfectly described in the article, “ In fact, the turn of the millennium became an electric, unstable period for Apple, who was adored by her fans but also mocked, and leered at, by the male-dominated rock press, who often treated her as a tabloid curiosity—a bruised prodigy to be both ogled and pitied.” In the 1997 MTV music awards, Apple made an unscripted acceptance speech in which she quoted Maya Angelou stating, “ This world is bullshit” creating a stir within her music fandom. Media labeled her as the “ crazy lady” and “ unstable” due to her perceived delicate demeanor. 

Besides this, Apple dated director and writer, Paul Thomas Anderson during her peak of fame. This tumultuous relationship was the reason behind many red carpet and party breakdowns on Apple’s part, “At parties, he’d hiss harsh words in her ear, calling her a bad partner, while behaving sweetly on the surface; she’d tear up, which, she thinks, made her look unstable to strangers.” according to Indiewire. Apple described their relationship as “painful and chaotic” and was a contribution to her “unstable” image, created by the media.

The media has an immense impact on our biases and preconceived notions of public figures, even if there is little evidence behind claims it can be easier to to go with the majority opinion. After Apple's hiatus from music, she continues to record music in her Venice home along with her sister. Although Apple suffers from OCD, depression, and anxiety, she continues to create her music. Through all the backlash she faced in the spotlight during the years I have to ask: How much will the media influence our beliefs without truly knowing the circumstances behind these idolized individuals? Is it possible to make preconceived notions about someone because it is easier than searching for the truth? Apple has changed the music industry in many ways and I appreciate the untold stories she was able to share recently about her fame.