Perhaps we have created ourselves a society, where we have so much of, well, everything that what everyone truly needs is less of everything. There are so many different truths floating around out there, that having to make one's own decisions has become a scary prospect.

Does art help us or hinder us in this battle of myths, narratives and viewpoints?

Possibly a bit of both. To paraphrase good ol' Soc: finding one's truth is a hard journey, but worst of all is beginning and being left somewhere in the middle. This is why he suggests everyone take a good deep look in the mirror before beginning any quest for truth.

But does modern art even attempt to speak the truth? Or has the relativization of cultures completed it's mission of banishing all absolutes? Interestingly, quite the opposite seems to hold true in Neu/Now.

A good example dealing with this question might be Index by Daniel Djamo (http://elia-artschools.org/festival/work/index), who is uncovering the true story of what happened in Romania in 1989 by gathering as many eyewitness reports as possible.

National Folklorism by Jan Pötter (http://elia-artschools.org/festival/work/nationalfolklorismus-national-folklorism) is also an almost classic example of using kitsch and parody to drive through a anti-nationalist message.

On the other hand, Grey Eminence by Jenni E. Sormunen (http://elia-artschools.org/festival/work/grey-eminence) is (for me at least) a clear move away from a black-and-white worldview to, well, a more grey outlook. (Not sure if pun intended or not. If You insist on it being one, You shall hear no protests from me.)