Critical art and the lack of art criticism

In this paper I look at problems related to critical art as well as the lack of art criticism. Some art styles within modern and contemporary art have developed as a critic of the political and economical power in the society, or as a critic of war and political events. Critical art may often be the contemporary avant garde, which as described by Bourdieu become more and more acknowledged and expensive as the time goes by. Today many contemporary artists have adopted the visual language of critical art also when the critic is absent, which make their art expressions appear as repetition of former art, instead of being critical or innovative. While critical art can be controversial to express a symbolical meaning, some artists today create shocking and controversial art, which makes their art appear as controversial without a cause, or perhaps because it is good for business. While much art today seem to lack a critical aspect, it also seems to be a lack of art criticism in the society. This may rely on several factors, such as the wealth in the industrial counties which may create indifference in respect of art. But it may also rely on a fear among art critics of being declassed in the role of an art connoisseur, which in terms of Veblen is a mark of the master; as well as fear of declassing as a pretending-to-be art connoisseur, constituted by role games as this is described by Goffman, in a society where cultural capital and art knowledge counts. From an art view, this is problematic, because art criticism is also a corrective to the development of art, and as claimed by Benjamin, it awakes the self conciseness of art, and thus art criticism may also function as a midwife of the art.