The culture undergoes primal molt, it’s a vulnerable period. The old shell, our established civic policies and institutions, had grown mired in self-interest and too polarized to function. Something had to give, pressure building from the disenfranchised and the disenchanted. In a state of frenzy we elected a party of anarchist trolls dedicated to dismantling the state, and they’ll clear some underbrush before they’re pulled away from the controls. What comes next none can say, but we know it will be different.
Some bio-digital hive may arise, millions of human drones wired in, and this super entity probably won’t be much interested in individual expression, or society could just turn fascist where individual anything is not allowed, all the tools in place already. However, if the opposite occurs, if the authority of the state diminishes and democratic autonomy reasserts itself, a new art that verifies and fortifies character and aspiration will suddenly seem relevant, interesting, important. Whatever it is, this new art will reflect an evolving, hopefully more humane set of values.
Raw consumerism as a driver of general prosperity has worked pretty well, but comes with unfortunate side effects. Less than necessary stuff piles up as mass advertising makes everyone dumber, more insecure, more cynical, look around. This myopic materialism reduces art to market estimates on trademark names without regard to content, and average citizens want more. Top down systems are so yesterday, and the mysterious fetishism of contemporary art is just another cult, from the outside so boring. Self awareness, civic responsibility, and what holds true value have all been called into question by recent events, and people look for answers. Relatable referential art is ready to converse with a new audience, and there might be one.
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