if art really matters

Art is about execution, and I don't know how effective an artist's abilities would be without a certain amount of exposure to what came before, and what encompases the quality of what came before.  I live on the outskirts of a thriving community of artists - when I go to coffee shops and restaurants, they're frequently filled with the work of local artists.  Some of it is inspired, some is not.  Henry James, speaking of the art of the novel, once said something to the effect of the novelist (as artist) must have absolute freedom of form (on one hand) but held to only one criteria (on the other): that the output be genuinely interesting.  In other words, the artists ability to make their output genuinely interesting by effective use of craft is the bottom line.  Tastes may vary, but craft, creativity, and the freedom to find an outlet for both, creates great art.  So, I agree with the spirit of your essay - but I think someone could effectively paint flowers on an old chair and create great art.  Likewise, many effort to do the same might be laughable.  Bad art has often times been lauded, for various reasons, within its era of creation, while excellent art has languished.  Time has a way of stripping away the influence of fad and pretense, letting genuine art speak for itself.  The best way to fight your battle is to pick up the brush, pen, or whatever, and seek to create something interesting refined from an informed and inspired practice of creativity itself - then fight off the urges to celebrate mediocrity.

By the way, Art School Confidential is a wonderfully dark and cynical movie.  Well worth seeing.