Art, Species, Creatvity

In cultures such as that of contemporary America, 'Art', of any sort, is a commodity, functioning as a temporary diversion for an individual from business-as-usual, the highest honor for which is an industry award.  In contrast, Wagner presents new sounds, Picasso develops unprecedented sights, and Joyce re-invents everyday experience, stimulating unprecedented ways of listening, seeing, and describing, for all.  It is only in such salient examples that the creative function of Art as Species-progress can be clearly discerned and fully appreciated.