In times characterised by uncertainty, persistent anxieties, and unreliable leaders who are quick to act [foolishly] and lack trustworthiness, alongside economic difficulties, violence, suffering, and grief, what actions should you take as a writer, artist, activist, or creator?
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Should you merely observe and remain passive as the world deteriorates, or should you strive to create something meaningful from it? Do you confront the issues with courage? How do you respond when you are told that your role is solely that of an artist and that you should refrain from voicing your opinions? What steps do you take when your art is deemed provocative, particularly when it makes others feel uneasy, when truth is spoken?
Abraham Verghese, the American physician and author, remarked that literature plays a crucial role in society. When a society begins to prohibit books or limit free expression, it signals that the society is facing significant challenges.
“Authors have a responsibility to speak.”
Verghese contended that books possess the ability to instill hope. He also emphasised the significance of fostering a society that values reading as a whole.
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What would Bra Hugh Masekela say? What actions would Audre Lorde take? What insights would James Baldwin provide?
As a writer, what actions do you engage in? Every person, not just artists, writers, poets, filmmakers, directors, and producers, must contemplate what we do when we witness regions such as South Sudan, Congo, Palestine, and other parts of the world that have long been forgotten, which are consumed by flames due to greed and power-hungry politicians, amongst other factors.
In a world like ours, which is on fire, I am reminded of Audre Lorde’s statement that “Poetry is not a luxury.”
In its most fundamental form, storytelling is the means by which we convey information. It is how we express the truth and the medium through which we comprehend what is occurring in the world. Through the art of storytelling, we perceive life through the perspectives of others. It is the sole method of time travel, the only way we genuinely experience life from another’s viewpoint. Of course, this all depends on which part of the world you are coming from, your form of art and storytelling, and what purpose it serves.
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James Baldwin remarked that artists are meant to disrupt the peace, and they must do so; otherwise, chaos ensues.
“You read something which you thought only happened to you, and you discover it happened a hundred years ago to Dostoyevsky. This is a great liberation for the suffering, struggling person, who always thinks that they are alone. This is why art is important. Art would not be important if life were not important, and if life is important…Now, it is true that the nature of society is to create, among its citizens, an illusion of safety; but it is also absolutely true that the safety is always necessarily an illusion,” James Baldwin.
Aleksander Motturi cites Baldwin with a daring notion that once you become a writer, you can no longer be exploited; that a writer cannot be governed by any state, religion, or family during the writing process. However, this does not imply that a writer should assume the role of a lawless outcast.
Among numerous other aspects, writing is of great significance. Narratives are precious and can change the world. As individuals and writers, we participate in writing for our mental well-being. We are inherently inclined to create rather than consume. Writing acts as a means of self-care, and the act of writing brings about clarity.