I suspect, Amos, that a communication that occurs in spite of symbol and signal violations is probably no communication, and we're back to "Art" being what the viewer wants it to be. But, as I've said above, I'm artistically illiterate. Seriously, though, your post above is evidently thoughtful, and I'm grateful; I shall re-read it and attempt to digest it. I may be back...

Vanessa: welcome and thanks for your insights. Re my kid: he's finished this 1-year foundation course, and the course he's chosen (but deferred) is a combination of least corrupted by "modernism" and most amenable to combining visual with audio that he could find.