[warch]

I was born in the Soviet Union, where "socialistic realism" was government-supported

I think its so cool that you have popped into the cellar. I find Russian and Soviet art very interesting, and the history there kinda shoots old Ross further in the foot. Stalin forced a return, redirection back to academic "real" "quality", and he got Soviet Social realism. Like Hitler, he found free thought and expression of those degenerates to be a threat.

I'll see your Bougereau (whose work I do appreciate) and raise you a Kandinsky (whose work I quite love). Kandinsky who was chased out of the USSR by Stalin.

I feel for your Helsinki (stinky) experience. Yes there is a lot of art, from all ages that I dont like, that I find boring or silly.

which do you think are "real art".

d. All of the above. And all have been regarded as real art by some sorts of experts. I think they are all art because that is what makers intended them to be.

My defense of Picasso, my appreciation for these paintings will be countered as proof of my indoctrination into Modernism. I think art can be ugly. I dont think poems have to rhyme. I think music can be improvisational.
Do I want it hanging over my couch? no. do I want it to exist in the world to spark discussions like this, well....yeah.

Here's my question...What is this Art For?
Thats when it connects with life.

by concentrating on originality instead of artistic quality you decrease your chances to succeed.

Originality being a unique idea? Well there are interesting ideas, and stupid ones. So there's quality in the concept as well.
Artistic quality I am reading as "craft", skilled technique. Very important. Very teachable skill. Yes. I appreciate both. Both need to be strong. There are thousands of beautifully crafted paintings. Some I find empty and boring, others rock my world. The difference, then isnt craft.

There is such a thing as the artistic one-liner. Boom, thats it, youve got my meaning. End of curiosity.

things like "sheep poetry" are not art. You, as a viewer, can inject the meaning into it, but you can do it with a real art much more effectively.

Hey, I like sheep poetry. More fun, life-like, affective, than that dreamy young lass gazing off into space. And one of the things art is for is to delight. (there was the whole helicopter aspect)