"Artist" is defined as extreme and exaggerated individualiist/libertarian in Euro-culture. Extreme individualism , uniqueness = creative. That's probably the root.
Charles
>> From an obit in today's times. Maybe everyone else knew this story, but I
> didn't:
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/books/emanuel-litvinoff-poet-dies-at-96.html
>
> As usual with Margalit Fox obits, the last lines are the kicker, so if you get bored, skip to the end section.
Heh. Reminds me of when Don Henley jumped onstage with Mojo Nixon to join a performance of "Don Henley Must Die."
Doug