Postmodern philosophy argues that all historical accounts written in the past were shaped by a specific point of view, as they were authored by those who held power and controlled the means of communication. This implies that in any society, whoever controls the means of communication, language, and culture also controls the narrative.
From this, we can infer that the art created in the past—or the works produced—largely served to portray powerful figures. You have likely observed that artists of that era often created work tailored to the preferences of princes or queens, aiming to gain their validation by focusing on subjects that revolved around them.
However, it is not the case that every artist worked solely for the king; there were many who spoke out against societal norms. These were the true artists who kept the spirit of freedom of speech alive in the face of adversity, and it is their tradition and legacy that endure in our lives and society today.
One day, a friend and I were discussing the nature of artistic expression, and we arrived at a compelling perspective: the artistic expression that emerges in an individual often stems from past repression, suppression, or trauma. Similarly, when a society evolves or manifests a form of artistic expression, it is frequently the result of its own history of repression and suppression.
Art breathes new life into the spirit that society has often stifled; it speaks out against the injustices that have become commonplace and highlights the sensitivities that touch upon society's most painful nerves.It is precisely that one thing which shakes the conscience of society and asks: "Your values are in decline—are you still asleep?"
At the same time, it is precisely this element that encapsulates the memories of society forever; so that whenever society begins to forget its values, people can revisit and explore it, thereby recalling their past.
We live in an era where we witness oppression and brutality on all sides, yet we are unable to raise our voices against them.Furthermore, we live in an era where every country is compelled to act as a surveillance state; the activities of every individual—whether online or in the physical world—are being tracked, and their every move is being monitored.
In these times—when human life is treated as cheap and people are viewed merely as statistics regarding the dead and the living—our avenues for freedom of expression have become severely limited. Art remains perhaps the last surviving form of such expression—whether through writing, drawing, or painting—and it must continue to flourish so that a spark of life remains within the soul of society.
If art were ever to vanish from society, consider it the end of human creative expression, critical thinking, and the capacity to speak out against oppression and tyranny—perhaps even the end of humanity itself; those moving about would be nothing more than robots devoid of all feeling, treating society merely like a corporate culture.If you can keep art alive in any form, make every effort to do so.
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Images belong to the author
