"Art at its most significant is a Distant Early Warning System that can always be relied on to tell the old culture what is beginning to happen to it"

The quote implies that art is a powerful tool to comprehend and anticipate the changes that take place in society. It acts as a warning signal to alert people or cultures about brand-new emerging ideas and patterns, which can have a significant influence on the old traditions or lifestyles. In this sense, art can supply insight into the future and play an important role in forming a cultural identity.