My gripe with the art world is political. It seems that the role of an Artist is to give the Affluent symbols for which to express their status. To be an artist is to be a manufacturer of Veblen goods. The only way I can see to redeem that position is to take the role of the Tailors in the Emperors new Clothes and sell them things that will embarrass them.
That's exactly how I felt 25 years ago -- which is more or less the period I am writing about. One's worldview and expectations change. At some point later, I realized not being a huge artistic success (art, music, writing -- take your pick) is not such a big deal. What most people like, after all, is crap. Thanks for the comment. Good luck with your revenge. You realize, of course, that your victims will never get the joke...
I don't have the soul for grift. I am old enough just to make art for people I like. Have you read The Shape of Content? Ben Shahn is prescient about the changes art was about to go through. I think it is the fault of academia. Along with "Serious" Music, Journalism and Jazz as soon as you could get a degree in it pow gone to shit.
I had a look at your site. No, you haven't the soul for grift. I too either make art for people I like -- or give art I've made for no particular reason to people I like. No, I haven't read The Shape of Content, but the point about academia sounds plausible. Yeah, jazz died a pretty awful death too. Journalism? Let's not even go there...