My own cynicism is directed almost entirely at cynics.
Lots of artists have been fascinated by the works of other artists. Musicians and painters and poets and such do often hang out with each other and spur each other on. The only ones I know of first hand are all of them people who are genuinely fascinated and inspired by the works of other artists.* And most of the ones I know of second or third hand are equally genuine.
That is, there are exceptions, but they are exceptions, I'd argue, and not the rule.
*For example, a composer I know has turned a novel of mine into an opera, has commissioned several libretti from me, and has performed in several text pieces of mine. He cannot have done any of this in order to cash in on any fame of mine. I don't have any fame. He just likes my stuff is all. Indeed, what little fame I have is almost entirely owing to him. (He likes Beckett, too, by the way, but he really admires Stein.)
