Re: Is art declining as a movement?

Art is not a movement; its a metaphor for a way of life. Whether one looks back to when we lived in caves, to ancient Egypt, to the Renaiscences, or to any period of any century, it reflected its moment in time. It should not surprise us then that Art has become a fad like this year's clothes, or that it sells for exhorbitent prices or that it is out of reach for most of the population, (which also cannot afford the most stylish clothes). Is the artist still painting from his or her "soul" or satisfying aspirations to be part of the elite class? It is now almost the only criteria for success. 

Is art declining as a movement? Is our moment in time in decline?