We used to talk about this stuff. Now it's too easy to simply quote the comments after the article in lieu of offering any actual criticism or commentary on the article oneself.

http://thequietus.com/articles/15673-pop-politics-art-socialist-realism-internet

And here's the copy-pasta.

Ideology and totality are still here. It's just that they have become commodified to the point of appearing so natural that we no longer notice them, like fish that don't pay attention to the water around them. People have bought into the idea that ideology and totality no longer exist and thus they have allowed themselves to be disenfranchised from creating their own cultural narrative.

It's more than a little embarrassing when the replies to an article are more profound and well written than the original piece.