Einstein is often credited with saying, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Art encourages independent thinking, and independent thinking is a pro-survival trait. When considering the disproportionate amount of inflow versus outflow in today's world, it follows that there are few invitations for independent thought in modern society. Art truly offers this outlet.
With so many of us working from behind a keyboard and computer screen, it has become harder to filter through the vast oceans of information that flood our mental experience every single day. It's difficult to know what's factual and what's not, and it has become more important than ever to develop our own sense of discernment and independent thinking. This isn't just something important to artists; I believe this is important for our survival as social creatures. The dangers of groupthink have always involved faulty and uninformed thinking, and this is something we should consciously avoid in our technology-integrated world.