Here, here, Miles. Common sense that is also a thought with some depth. I don't think we need Marx come from the grave to make this observation valid.
I have one thing to add to your thought.
It takes a certain amount of complexity of society before members of that society distinguish any particular artifact as a work of art. What amount of complexity I am talking about cannot be determined with any exactitude or simply from theory. Empirical study is the only thing that may tell us anything about such a subject, but unfortunately empirical study is mostly lost to us in these matters when investigating pre-historic societies. The main point that should be made is that it takes a certain amount of division of labor and specialization of craft before a person is elevated to the position of a recognized good maker/creator of an artifact and then from there to a recognition that a good maker of artifacts can be a good artist.
Jerry
-- Jerry Monaco's Philosophy, Politics, Culture Weblog is Shandean Postscripts to Politics, Philosophy, and Culture http://monacojerry.livejournal.com/
His fiction, poetry, weblog is Hopeful Monsters: Fiction, Poetry, Memories http://www.livejournal.com/users/jerrymonaco/
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