Also, regarding conformism, an undergraduate degree is about learning the basics of a field. Undergraduate classes are not the cutting edge of thought in the ar

Also, regarding conformism, an undergraduate degree is about learning the basics of a field. Undergraduate classes are not the cutting edge of thought in the area by and large. It’s similar to learning to play an instrument or paint. The masters know how to break the rules because they know all the rules and know when and how it is interesting to break them. I personally can’t just put three tones on a canvas and make it like a Rothko or play with dissonance like Ornette Coleman. They can experiment successfully because they know how to very intentionally break a rule.