I found this article incredibly satisfying- like eating someone's amazing home-cooked meal for my soul:

“Everyone should understand as much about the past as they can possibly get in their heads. As the voices of their culture and their communities, artists in particular should know as much as possible about what has happened prior to their own existence. It’s a way to stand out as the voice of the present, to pay homage to what has happened, and avoid repeating and recycling the mistakes that have already been made. It’s also a way of remaining in touch with your own humanity, and with the humanity of others whom you don’t know.”

http://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/book_report/wangechi-mutu-akademie-x-53414