Let us touch, too, on the impotence of artists, how difficult it is for them to find an honorable, autonomous relation to the art market and to society as a whole. We may connect this to the impotence of prostitutes, who (like Presidents and other elected officials) sell themselves or their capacity to serve others’ interests, and in the process they must set aside many interests of their own besides earning money and being regarded as successful. Thus, for example, a hypothetical artist is prostituted by the art market even if—or all the more if—her art ostensibly campaigns against prostitution or makes an example, however exquisite, of her chastity (or concupiscence).

Categories: William Eaton, ZiLL • Tags: art, beauty, capitalism, cultural criticism, intellectuals, Oscar Wilde