21st century kitsch: Cultural critic W. David Marx examines the state of our art in his book Blank Space
Marx argues that the 21st century has been typified not by artistic innovation or renovation, but by a capitalistic retrenchment.
Grim reading: Will Self surveys the literary landscape and collapses in a slough of despond
Self's surpassing hauteur and in-your-face grandiosity have a propulsive charm in themselves