Do you agree with the 18th century’s symbolists that great art is, by nature, un-popular? Using examples from your experience, discuss the fate of literature, art, and music in mass society. (think about WHY some art, music, lit…is popular…is it for the sake of technical greatness, or passion……or is it just great marketing….being told what is great and taking it at face value?)

I do agree with the symbolists’ view that great art is completely under appreciated by the masses. Great art, at least to me, has to do with techniques and feeling and passion, art makes you think and explore your mind further. But in today’s society we are controlled by the media and are spoon fed what is “cool” and “hip” when we don’t even know what it is or what it means. Most popular music today evokes little emotion or very superficial emotion for the sake of what is popular, or at least what can make money. As for literature I will bring up the recent media whore of Twilight, a book with little technique but instead preys off the insecurities of preteen adolescents and others who have undesirable lives. It has a main character who is an empty husk of a developed character and the readers end up supporting her. A great character should empower and inspire not teach us the importance of being fake and empty. Not to mention the mass amounts of over exposure Twilight has, instead of a book its now its own conglomeration, with movies, celebrities, toys, and other useless merchandising. I can definitely understand symbolist’s disgust for materialism and modern society, it has been completely corrupted by greed and hypocrisy.