Responsibility for action

Reading Arendt's Human Condition. Came across an interesting passage that could be useful in any analysis of the uses to which people put artistic works.

The perplexity is that in any series of events that together form a story with a unique meaning we can at best isolate the agent who set the whole process into motion; and although this agent frequently remains the subject, the "hero" of the story, we never can point unequivocally to him as the author of is eventual outcome" (p.185).

I take this to mean that the author/artist of a work can be seen in their work, but they cannot be held responsible for any action that is the outcome of their speech.

When one considers how this is otherwise often done around violence in video games, Hollywood movies, etc., this quote gives me pause to question my own beliefs.