Critique of instrumentalization in art and culture through a Guardian opinion piece

A Guardian article critiques the instrumentalization of art, sex, and nature, arguing that activities like art are increasingly framed as means to ends rather than ends in themselves. It references the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios' motto 'ars gratia artis' (art for art's sake) as a high-minded ideal, despite the studio's commercial nature. The piece highlights a recent advert for the National Art Pass in the UK, which uses the tagline 'See more. Live more' to promote free or discounted gallery and museum entry, suggesting a quantitative rather than qualitative enrichment. The author contends that art for profit, self-promotion, or propaganda diminishes its purity. Originally published as 'The six-second hug' on Aeon.co, the article explores how a reductive worldview strips meaning from valued activities, without specifying dates or additional entities. The focus remains on the philosophical tension between intrinsic value and utilitarian purposes in cultural consumption.