Art is the domain of the elites or upper middle class kids whose folks sent them to art school. I might be a total art nerd, but I rarely see work in person. I see it on the same screen I type these very words. Art is not for the masses. Art is niche. It didn't use to be though. Hundreds of years ago, people would go see exhibitions like people go see movies today. I even studied an archaic form of graphic art called printmaking. Printmaking was the photoshop of the last century and centuries before. Now, it's all digital. Our art experience, our life experience and our reading experience is mainly done on electronic devices... I think sex is still done in person, but porn is king now... one day it'll all be like the movie, Demolition Man, and we'll only have virtual sex with goggles.
There's something to be said for a physical experience. The predominance of our evolution was a response to the tactile world. We didn't evolve to have phones in our pockets, surf AMSR videos or chat with 160 characters for the whole world to see. If the Matrix was plausible it would have started as the phenomenon we have now. We went out with a whimper as we were lulled into a digital dream only to dream of electric sheep...
We all have to wake up and smell the coffee, and fast. I'm not saying art is our savior, but it could be a real weapon against the machines taking over. No, I don't consider movies to be the weapon. I think visual objects that convey one human beings inner most ideas create a visceral experience. This experience allows our own brains to become engaged and participate in a dialogue. This dialogue allows us to to become engaged in the moment, and stops us from becoming an empty vessel on a ride. Art is a declaration of the human spirit, tax savings for the rich, and an opportunity to live now.
Live now, have a coffee, go see some art in the flesh... it can be shitty art, and it will still bring you to the present. And while you're at it, go bang someone in person!