What do we want from a work of art?

Sometimes it feels like we're all looking for something that isn't necessarily there. Art is an agent of catharsis - capable of provoking exultation, comfort and even something as big as a paradigm shift. But, of course, not every artist sets out to push buttons, just like how not every artist wants to partake in pop culture. Jo Ellison reflects on art's role in society as simply a topic of discussion, a thread to connect with the people around us and - perhaps - even something more profound.