Bereft of Art and Artists

When it comes to art—be it music, theatre, painting, poetry, or cinema—certain names inevitably cross everyone's mind; individuals who are complete strangers to us, yet to whom we are connected deeply through the heart, figures we frequently strive to emulate. Sometimes a song is sung for a lifetime; a verse is carved into the heart once, never to depart; a line heard in a play becomes a life lesson, remaining inseparable from your thoughts for the rest of your days... Art holds this level of value, uniting people through a bond this powerful. What is more, it is potent enough to heal whole societies. You ask why it must heal? Are we sick, then? Regrettably, we have been living in a diseased state for a long time, dragging ourselves along after an endless nightmare, with no inkling of where we will land. In this era where inequality and injustice envelope us on all four sides, we wait to wake from a grim dream. Yet, the nightmare never ends. We have looked away, closed our ears, and chosen ignorance so many times that we have arrived at the brink of obliterating art itself, just as we have destroyed countless other beauties. After all, there was a phrase: "societies bereft of art are condemned to perish"—does anyone carry a memory of this saying? Sadly, every branch of art is enduring severe hardships; however, in this piece, I will try to give voice in some small measure to the struggles of music and musicians.

Who is the artist, and what constitutes art? For what purpose is art created? Is it for the people, or is it purely individual? What is the duty of artists in the advancement of society? These questions have been fiercely debated, yielding a multitude of distinct responses; yet where we have landed is a point where art itself has become degraded, rapidly consumed within popular culture. Instead of sparking collective awakenings, we witness hollowed-out works that carry absolutely no value, deliberately encouraging an obsession with alternative lifestyles (wealth). To the extent that it is difficult to call it "art"; if it were crafted with raw sincerity, we would embrace it to some degree, but we are faced with works engineered strictly because it is known "they will sell"—we are at a loss for what to call them.

On the flip side, separate from this consumption, there are artists who walk this path tirelessly, with immense devotion and effort. Do not mind my saying "walk"; it would be far more accurate to say "crawl". Tragically, to eradicate the artists, artistic spaces were destroyed first—concert halls, theatres, and cinemas were closed down. I won't even touch upon the matter of intellectual property and royalties; you would be utterly astonished if you heard what creative minds actually earn from their own productions!

Let us look at those artists we hold so dear; at the labour they produce by turning nights into days, weeks into months; at the value worked upon for months with architectural precision, word by word, sentence by sentence... What I mean to say is, one does not become an artist simply by attending a handful of courses, singing a couple of tracks, or showing up at a few events; it demands immense labour and a journey spanning years. Who knows how many years of dedication were poured into a play you watch? How many times a song you listen to was filtered and allowed to mature? Is becoming a poet really that simple an assignment? First and foremost, it requires a masterful command of language; without this knowledge, who can dare call themselves a poet? Words are never merely words to those who truly understand...

No one can ever be an artist unless they chase a dream; perhaps most of them dream of creating a bearable world for you, for me, for all of us—a dream so grand that it keeps them upright despite everything.

Just as there are chasms between dreams and reality, art and the artist face monumental crises. Many social organisations are only just beginning to perceive the existence and significance of art, and the value of the artist; yet recognizing value and actually taking action are entirely separate matters. Art and artists are on the verge of exhaustion. Artists striving to create through their own means, unable to make a living in return, are residing practically on the brink of starvation. This is no disgrace! Losing one's integrity and pride remains the ultimate disgrace. True artists possess a definitive stance; if a price must be paid, that price is paid, but no compromise is ever made on that stance.

Some of you might ask why I chose to share this matter with you. I carry a specific call, particularly for women. Please do not fall for these types; do not assume they possess basic humanity simply because they read poetry with a smoky voice. After all, every poet I have ever known is inherently thin-skinned and modest; they are never brazen and shameless like this lot.

So, how can we sustain the artists we love while they are still with us? In truth, it is remarkably simple. A few paths still remain open. Artists produce physical media with immense devotion. Purchasing a physical CD album offers grand support to musicians. Lacking the time for that? You can extend your support by purchasing their works on digital platforms. I can already hear you saying that digital platforms can never replace physical media, that it doesn't feel the same. If so, let me suggest another path you are accustomed to, one that places absolutely no financial burden upon you: YouTube...

For a long time, without taking it very seriously, I have been hearing the term "YouTuber". Frankly, I had never cared to look into it—though I possess a YouTube account myself, even if it is hardly active. A while ago, realising the significance of this platform, I decided to take a look. From what I observed, the vast majority are channels that don't understand a single shred of art; they are thoroughly hollow, emotionally vacant, encouraging an obsession with wealth, luxury vehicles, and absurd relationship dynamics. Are there no fine productions? Of course there are, but those informative, high-quality works crafted through genuine effort are not the ones gathering millions of views. Let us arrive at the core issue: these individuals possess millions of subscribers, and you cannot even begin to imagine the wealth they accumulate from the comfort of their chairs. At least, I cannot! Inequality and injustice manifest before us openly here, just as they do everywhere else.

Facing such an unequal distribution of earnings, we can still say that hope is never entirely absent and take action. A multitude of things can shift with a single click. During these trying days, you can log onto YouTube and subscribe to the channels of the artists you love. Rest assured, they hesitate even when making such a request of you from time to time; for artists rarely know how to demand things—they are profound, modest individuals, easily embarrassed. When a YouTube channel reaches a specific number of subscribers and watch hours, a modest monthly payment filters through to the artists; you can well imagine how vital this is for creators whose sole income derives from the stage. Societies must not merely dream of brighter days; to make them possible, they must sustain their artists and nurture art, for in this contemporary era, this is the unique way artists can manage to survive.