Why Do We Need High Art? Listening to Camille Paglia

Camille Paglia at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Photo / Zócalo Public Square

Most people shy away from making value judgments because if you say something is good or bad, you’re expected to follow up with your reasoning, and many people simply don’t feel qualified to do so. Paglia argues for a return to art education as basic training in how to look at images and objects with an eye toward aesthetic value.