As predicted as possible normalization of the economy of the arts via the emergence of new types of artists with new attitudes. Currently, artists’ attitudes are moving in basically four directions. Each of the four directions has its own type of artist who might be said to exemplify that direction.

Many modern artists have developed an attitude that resembles the scientist’s attitude. Most of these artist-researchers are not particularly interested in audiences or buyers. Studios are laboratories, while concert halls, museums, books, and internet sites are lecture rooms for a select and well-informed audience.

Their attitude is in line with a contemporary art that has become increasingly self-referential. To follow the discourse one almost needs to be an expert. Like the world of science the audience of these artists consists of insider colleagues, critics, and trained laymen.

The economy of the arts could eventually become less exceptional if artist-researchers gradually became more important. They are like scientists because they value originality, but not in a romantically hyperbolic sense. They don’t mind a little demystification if it contributes to the establishment of a strong professional status comparable to that of a scientist. In Europe, some of them may even be willing to become university employees with a small teaching obligation, an already common scenario in the us. On top of that, they might even go so far as to support some formal regulation of their numbers. These attitudes might encourage researcher to made some observation, like they already did on Infant/Toddler Observation.

Postmodern artists could eventually help make the economy of the arts less exceptional, if they were to become more significant in the arts. They challenge the prevailing attitudes in the arts, especially the inclination to deny the economy. Successful postmodern artists jump effortlessly from art to advertising graphic design, for instance, and from relatively autonomous to commissioned work. They often establish a business and might hire a number of employees to assist them.