With the rise of new and avant-garde forms of visual art, dance and literature in American society today, it is easier to construct a more elitist vision of the concept of art itself. The line between what is and isn't art changes all the time, which can be confusing for artists struggling to make a name for themselves in this world.

Currently, I live in San Francisco, one of the many sources for the divisive culture surrounding the art world in America. Here, something is always being created, whether it is a new poem or a new work of contemporary art being displayed in one of SF’s many galleries. The arts scene here is alive and thriving, as is the case for many metropolitan areas.

While this has been very beneficial to my personal growth as a writer, being around so many creative minds, it also causes me to feel badly that I haven't been published, have my work displayed in a gallery, or any of the other milestones that mark a "successful" artist.

I often feel as if I am far behind in my process because of this, and get discouraged to write because I am not yet up to the level that those who are published. I spend too much time comparing myself to others. So much of art in this competitive environment is based on how much it sells.

This is not a problem that I alone face. Many people I’ve talked to feel as if they are unable to have a voice in the art community because they are not on the same ‘level’ of some artists, but my perception is this: there are really no levels of art. Everything is art, the art that gets famous is either viewed more or more obvious about its emotional appeal. I myself prefer modern art, but I recognize that that is my preference and that doesn’t invalidate the vision of the art I don’t prefer.

Although this seems to be a small facet of an ever-changing wheel of the art world, it is an important one to talk about because it is an indicator for where art is going as a whole. So, the next time you stop in front of a red square at the museum of modern art, don’t immediately criticize its simplicity. Understand that it meant something to the artist, and move forward.