Has the academic art world all but abandoned the concept of beauty?

Question:

Has the academic art world all but abandoned the concept of beauty?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

we are on the crest of a creative wave that suggests that we sacrifice beauty for innovation and in doing so marginalize beauty in the creative process. I'm glad to say that it is only academia which has abandoned beauty as the standard by which we judge art. We who consume still want to be moved by what we see in directions other than anger and confusion. Academics always push for 'new' and 'important' and 'serious' work and are often blinded by their search for the next big kick. They become innovation addicts and forget that they have value only as the interpreter of the popular mind. When in academic mind separates itself form the popular mind it risks irrelevance. We must forgive the academics as we forgive any other junkie because at some point it is their addiction, not their will, directing their thoughts.