Drug-induced enlightenment?

I'm pretty sure that it was Oscar Wilde that once said, "All art is vile."

While I don't entirely agree (I'd say that only some art is vile) ... the man had a point.

Which leads me to the subject of visual enlightenment. Enlightenment is relative. What enlightens me won't necessarily enlighten you — and vice versa. Likewise, the art you love isn't necessarily the art I shall love. Just because you love your design work doesn't mean I should ... yada yada yada.

But, the subject does trigger some serious curiosity — and I am curious as to what are the most commonly referred-to mediums for enlightenment (visual and intellectual) today? Is it books? Is it the internet? Television? No-frills holidays? High-street fashion retailers? Booze? Class-A drugs? Myspace?

I can say, at least for me, it's probably a fusion of all types of media, art and literature ... and travel ... but this can't be true for everyone as I meet so many people who never read and have no idea what's going on in the world ... I meet others who could care less if trees were green and people purple.

Modernism breeds apathy and society today is the most apathetic it has hever been , I would say.

So what enlightens you?

Disappearing problems?

Layers. I'm almost all about it. Just found an e-magazine that seems interesting enough from my initial glance over the site... once you switch off all the ads (there are so many of them) ... there might just be some valuable information beneath the commecial guck. Layers is claiming to be the "How to magazine for everything Adobe" ... and considering how horrific my Photoshop skills are ... well I'm sure I (and you) could pick up a few handy pointers.

I love Harry

I have a wonderful friend back in Canada that I missdearly,named Harry Gils. He is a great photographer. and we met about eight years ago when we both worked for the same skateboard magazine in Toronto. I was working as a writer and he as a photographer. We became wonderful friends and collaborated on a bunch of stories. I'm getting nostalgic... you readers of this won't care about any of that, but Harry is a great photographer, he's the product of Dutch immigrants to Canada and you should check out his website if you have a minute... he's a big deal in Canada. Harry rules.