I've been reading (mostly Ayn Rand, I think you'll be able to tell in a few sentences) and thinking a lot, and it seems to me that the only reason for production of anything - or really putting any amount of effort into anything - is either for self-satisfaction, or for presentation to their peers. Essentially, it seems that as it is true that girls mainly wear make up to impress other girls, artists create art for other artists. This seems justified, though. Why should we strive to create a masterpiece that no one will truely understand? Music isn't deemed to have any quality unless other musicians think it does (who am I to honestly judge the complexity if I have no concept?), the layperson doesn't have an understanding of the complexity of decent poetry because they haven't tried to create something new and original, they are merely reading what is presented to them. Even if there is some basic understanding of the practice, it is more fufilling to the artist to consiously direct their art to those kinds of people rather than people who will like or dislike it without any reference to thought and structure and effort and past works from either the artist themselves or other artists. And when I say other artists, I mean people who really DO put effort into their work. They work with oil pastels instead of paint sometimes. They change the focus of their lenses. They captialize, dammit, and they seek to put out something they're proud of, something that will satisfy them and give them approval from other artists who say "I completely understand what you're doing. Good job." There is no satisfaction in an empty, unfounded compliment.
While I believe that this is how it should be - if you choose to have an audience at all for your art, because sometimes self-satisfaction is all that is necessary - it is disheartening for the art lovers who simply cannot master the craft. Do you really understand the complexities? Do you really understand what their motives are? Do you understand fully if they accomplished their goals? I'm not sure. I wish I could answer those questions, but I don't know if I can do so honestly.
It's also disheartening to see the people who are inspired by simple art not created for the self or for fellow artists, but for the general public. It's the general public 'arting' for the general public, and all that is produced is shit. And sometimes, the general public is influential enough that the shit put out by the rest of the general public is actually deemed to be art. This is an atrocity.
While I've digressed to this, I want to say that 90% of the literature on this website makes me sick. This is not art. The self-portraits done from cliche angles that belong on myspace rather than a website to celebrate art is bullshit.

Be yourself, people. If your self isn't an artist, don't try to be.