DanDanDan: I think it's important for an artist to be free to express themselves through their craft, but also it is ideal if they can communicate to people some kind of meaning behind it.

For example, I don't like 'art for artsake'. When someone sticks an umbrella in a cardboard box and takes a picture of it, calling it art, that is meaningless and idiotic to me. However, even though I may feel this way about their mindless exhibit doesn't give me the right to tell them to stop doing it, or tell other people not to look at it.

There is even a place for 'artsake' art in the World. The problem comes in when either side acts as a self-appointed judge over what is art and what isn't.

I think both sides (the artist and the viewer/critic) should decide for themselves what they think is valid to them individually (as Scarlet said) and let each other co-exist.

Then we could have all sorts of expression and no hinderances. People could choose whatever they wanted under their own discretion.

That kind of freedom of expression and freedom of choice is the original American Dream :)