Fitrana Amalia Hafizhah

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Art and Literature for Todays Society

In this 20th century, our society has become more and more boisterous.
Many of us are haunted by the need of authority and approval which arouse
racism and the lack understanding of equality and humanity. If this is not
taken properly, our society will forget its core identity as a human-consisted-
society thus it will cause segregation. However, as the part of todays
society, we can control our self to not just stay in our comfort zone by
reading literature and creating an artwork as literature and art have a huge
part in shaping our perspective to perceive and face todays society.

There is a shocking amount of racism in our society in which minority

groups tend to internalize the values of the dominant society. As a result, the
dominant group in our society will always have stereotypes towards the
minority. It shows that our society almost never respects the idea of certain
equality because some human beings are only valued by those who share
similar background and intention, and some others are not valued at all.
Thus, by reading literary works, we can unconsciously and consciously
recognize that racism and inhumanity is not only occurs in literature, yet it
happens in front of our face. Hence, as a human being, we should
understand that these are unbearable because these reflect the inhumanity
in our society. After we feel any empathies towards those issues, we can
express our empathy with an art. Art and literature can be the savior of our
thirsty soul towards equanimity and serenity. Because of the irony, setting,
lesson, and other aspects founded after reading literature, we all will
understand that racism and inhumanity are no longer valuable to be kept in
the nature and culture of our society because it can cause the unfair
differences between groups of people in society. How about art? Art can be
the media to express and to send our messages to others. Therefore, reading
literature and creating artwork can give us a deeper understanding about the
racism and inhumanity in our society, so that we can express our critical
opinion moreover these can guide us to face our society as a human being.

Another issue that is common in our society is that certain society may
abandon the innate role of reading literature and creating an artwork
because they are considered disadvantageous for the society because of
sensitive reason. The society considering their prejudice and stereotype is
not corresponding with the story in certain literary works may consider that
reading the literary work is a disgrace. The irony, setting, lessons and other
aspects founded in the literary work can lower their self-worth because it
hurts their heart. Moreover, a sensitive stereotype about art is also
indoctrinated in the society. Many people consider art as a disgrace, they do
not like many artist because they assume that those artists represent
uncertainty, madness, and fault. They think artist and writer will not have
valuable future, and they will only cause segregation in the society because
most of the artist and writer are very critical. However, by being very critical
and express it through art and literature, we can know the importance of
equality and the power of humanity because we already know how hurt is to
be underestimated and to be misbehaved. Thus, we can humanely socialize
with other people within our society.

The value of reading literature and the power of expressing our feeling
and critique through art can always be taken for granted endlessly as they
portray and guide the society. We are always able to find value from the
literary work and artwork as we find beauty in our bad day. From a story
which is considered the worst, or the story which suits us well, literature can
always be our guidance and wisdom in facing todays society. From a
pleasant artwork, until an abstract artwork, art can always be the best
remedy for our stressed society. Both art and literature can be our best
getaway in this universe.