You've made some good points, and they have caused me to pause and give them the attention they deserve. Art; it used to reflect the highest aspirations of the culture that created it. I favor literature from the American canon of the early 20th century; so I will speak to that. Authors like Fitzgerald and Thomas Wolfe; or Nelson Algren in the 50's wrote of the human experience through the lens of popular culture. Their dialogue reflected that inspiration because back then people had conversations; about things that mattered. Now the avenues of expression are choked and strangled by the constant barrage of useless information and the taboo nature of any subject of substance. Example; when my father was a young man he claims that discussing politics was not only expected by adults but was considered a social responsibility for the citizenry. Now that avenue of opinion is shunned by most of the populace. How do you learn to accept or refute contrary opinions if you never hear one. How do you even form a reasonable opinion without debate? So without any personal stake in ordinary everyday communication, art has no reference upon which to inform the experience. So yes I agree with your position on the scared sh**less view. They cannot handle controversy because they are never forced to deal with it. Without tapping the energy of cultural position; where is the Art to come from? Possibly why the music is so vapid and vague? Movies; I think guy's like those you mention get lazy because they have amazing amounts of money waved at them. Where is the incentive? The libraries get the unusual films because they are available and cheap since they have limited distribution possibilities.
The Cup; I forced my son to watch it and he ended up liking it. It is a simple morality tale that deals with the exhile with grace and wit. That director who did the Cup has a new movie out that is getting some positive press. Woman Of The Dunes? Urzu Dersla? The Unbelievable Truth? Ghost Dog? Some movies I have liked recently. Depardieu is great; I remmember seeing him in Going Places, back in the 70's in a real theater. I liked Green Card also, a simple guilty pleasure. I am going to rent Bamboozled, you have me curious now.
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