"Reaction" may carry connotations for a bunch of us that throw us off the best meaning of the young lady's statement. Reaction could be picking up in any way on emotional communication from the artist. On the other hand, if she is going with the ijit theory that it's not worth calling art unless it's ugly and it ticks you off, I hope she gets over that. I consider art that conveys anger or pain to be as legitimate as that done to communicate beauty or joy, but I wouldn't want a steady diet of it.
And of course it's "presumptous" to try to ask or answer my initial question, but I'm enjoying the thoughts we're getting here by messing with it : )
                                  Dean