There is a Japanese proverb, which says "If you ask, it is embarrassing for a moment. If you don't ask, it is embarrassing for the whole life."
There are certain words, which we think are universal, but like "art", they have a very specific sense today, which didn't exist even here in Europe a millennium ago. A skilled painter of church frescoes in the 12th century was certainly revered, but there was nothing extraordinary with his profession, like there is with Art today - this magical word we have so many contradicting definitions of.
Then there are those words which exist everywhere, as they apply to all humans: head, foot, eye, tear, joy, hunger, shame... But why is "shame" on that list? Is the feeling of shame something that exists in all human societies? Do animals ever feel shame? What about pride? Is "shame" universal, but "art" is not?
If you think you know the answer to that question, you have certainly over-simplified your view of the world. Try thinking about it again, and again, until you are sure you don't know the answer.
24 October 2005