What is the purpose of art?

It's unbelievable how much time I spend thinking about the purpose of art. I've always wanted to be creative, but something holds me back. I've always felt like I had more to think through before I seriously tried my hand at anything. Up until now, I thought it was just self-consciousness or something. Well, there probably is some of that. But I think it has more to do with my concern for the purpose of art and my desire to produce art that sends the right message, or has the right values. "Right," of course, is totally subjective. Is art supposed to be smart? Political? Pleasurable? High culture? Low culture? Informative? Emotional? Is art about the creator or the audience? What purpose does art serve in our society today, a society that seems so disinterested in art? Finally, a connection with my hero David Bowie. He was fascinated by this issue, and I think his investigation into it resulted in his mercurial career.