ABSTRACT
The efforts of the mass media to help are noble but essentially irrelevant to much of our discussion. It seems to the author that what we are talking about is, first, the situation of the artist; second, that of the mass of society. Today one's eyes and ears are constantly assaulted by the products of mass culture. Doubtless the capacity of mass culture to reach the artist, the difficulties he finds in separating himself from it are important. Another element or problem is that of intrusion: the extent to which mass culture tends to move into areas where previously it could not penetrate. The mass media very often encourage people to believe that they have a level of accomplishment and a right of criticism far beyond what their actual capacity to understand and consume makes possible.
