The supposition of universality in art and literature

Abstract

The belief that great art is universal in its appeal was a favorite doctrine of those fine old nineteenth century liberals to whom we owe so many of our lovely, ineffectual (not to say mendacious), ideals. Reasoning from the assumption presumed a fact, they set out to establish those workingmen's colleges, the public libraries and the museums for which some of us are so much indebted to them. To a small degree, they were right. All social strata of the population produce individuals of intellectual and creative abilities, just as all strata produce dullards and half- wits, and the individuals of innate capacity have been immensely benefitted - as has all society - by those unrealistic nineteenth century ideals.