Great NYTimes article

I read this in the New York Times today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/opinion/07egan.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1228676684-1UTurs44itVSUKUui9Kq/g

and it reminded me of this article from 2002:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE4DE1638F93BA1575AC0A9649C8B63&scp=1&sq=why+add+to+the+pile+&st=nyt

So, is there an equivalent point to be made in the visual art world?