What's odd though is that my original post about how low art makes possible high art wasn't really nostalgic. True, it was a description of a past reality, but it was trying to draw attention to the fact that great art might be undermined by virtuosity rather than nourished by it. An idea that's worth some consideration (as it goes against received wisdom)...
But the post pushed a most important button for you....cause I know we've been around this block before...so everything got thrown in the nostalgia bucket...
.....
Well sure, but I think I admitted as much (that is, to the button pushing) when I started my post with:
"We all have our weak spots..."
But your virtuosity vs. low art thesis wasn't entirely neglected (though yes, it was given less attention than the counter-strike activating hazy look back).
To borrow and re-purpose a formulation Carrol recently used: I'm sure you're right, just not as *thoroughly right* as you believe. In other words, despite the existence of overwhelming, mass consumed, ultra polished spectacle, there's still plenty of low art produced. I think however, that it's taking forms and happening in places lots of people who're concerned about this sort of thing are missing....or dismissing because it doesn't fit qualifying preconceptions.
.d.