Satire is both pessimistic and idealistic: it points up hypocrisy by recognition of something superior. Cynicism is different because it makes hypocrisy disappear; it has no means to measure aspiration and the falling-short…

“… [T]he vengeance of cynicism [on art and fiction is that it precludes idealism, offense & satire’s capacity to show us alternatives]. Art must be realistic to the point of brutality because realism is identified with honesty…

In modern art, shit literally wins prizes

From: Utopian Dreams, by Tobias Jones