I have often heard that great art is provocative, subversive, or even dangerous. It elicits Strong and not always pleasant emotions. In contrast, mediocre art is safe. It may produce positive feelings (e.g., "Oh, that's nice"), but it is rarely the type of art that ends up being memorable. Great art, then, might be something one experiences rather than encounters. It may involve an aspect of confrontation. The audience experiences powerful emotions or encounters new ideas. When great art produces strong emotions, it changes the audience.

It has taken most of my life to realize this simple truth about art. My early indoctrination into Christianity stunted my growth in this area. I realize that statement requires some explanation, so I will provide it.