Miasma & Mediocrity

Seems to me we presently are experiencing an era of
intense, almost omnipresent mediocrity in the traditional creative arts in the traditional media. In  the new media (video, internet, computer music) there is some astonishing creative work (hard to find in all the trash, of course) with strong hints of much more to come.

Part of the problem: I sense a growing, global tension, as if, the longer good economic times last the more nervous we become waiting for the inevitable crash/war/natural disaster. As a species that evolved out of and through repeated catastrophes, we do believe at a very basic level that bad news is always just around the corner.

Another part of the problem: As the 20th century waxed and waned, clever artists used traditional (and some non-traditional) methods to respond cleverly. And so exhaustively that now it seems there is, in the old frames of reference, nothing to say that hasn't already been said better.

Clearly, whatever disasters lie ahead, good times is acomin' (are in fact already partially here--good new words, music, graphics are out there for those patient enough to search carefully). In the meantime? Miasma. The fin de millennium doldrums.
                                           --Maurice Fitznuggly

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