Submitted by Brian Yoder (United States), Dec 29, 2017 at 00:36
I agree, but it's a lot more than Venice. Fortunately, there are increasing numbers of artists, art schools, art lovers, and arts businesses out there setting things right in this area. Check out http://www.artrenewal.org
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Daniel Pipes replies:
I am impressed by Fred Ross' philosophy of the Art Renewal Center.
Of many powerful passages, this one especially caught my eye:
Most people do not feel themselves knowledgeable enough to know what has or does not have value, when it comes to pocket books, Persian carpets, or wrist watches, and much less so with works of art. This is "prestige-suggestion". Even if their instincts are to reject something, they keep silent lest they expose themselves to ridicule for being considered ignorant, tasteless or out-of-touch, succumbing to "social pressure".