Is DIY Culture Devaluing Art?

With the internet making it ever easier to showcase yourself to a waiting public, culture and art are undeniably undergoing a transformation. “Years of paying your dues and trusting in the system are so yesterday… Everything seems to be a lot more democratic these days, and that’s good, right?” Well, no, not necessarily. Pricking the “expert” balloon might feel good, but the fact is that audiences aren’t qualified to pick Broadway leads, most self-produced rock songs are crap, and many performing arts just can’t even be attempted without years of training.