He is putting this starving artist on a plane above the regular person. These people cannot truly understand art, or the artist, because they do not have ability nor have they given up all for something they are passionate about. That makes artists better than anyone else that views their works.

Are artists the only individuals who see reality of life as it really is? Are they the only ones who live for each moment, and are not tempted to stop by each new attraction to keep life interesting? They do not need such temptations. They have their art, which is the only thing they live for.

The higher level that Kafka alludes to is the suffering that these true artists endure. The hunger artist, although he says it was simple to starve, must have suffered -- even if it was when he no longer held the power to attract...
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