We live in strange times. Fiction often sold as truth. A doom scroll spreading fear. A societal obsession with handing dangerous freak show megalomaniacs the power of loud-hailers to shout down facts and truth, with disinformation and lies.
Equally, we live in a time where truth must often be digested as fiction and entertainment to enter subculture and the mainstream consciousness; through the medium of the novel, the novella, the short story, television drama, film, poetry, art, and to some degree, but to a lesser extent than prior times, music, most of all live music, and the power of the protest song.
A true reflection of our times once again falls to artists and writers to represent society; its woes, its struggles, its protest, and its hope for a better future. Creative output by the written word, the stroke of a brush, carrying the narrative to challenge and overcome. The worst politicians, the agenda of media barons and corporate interest will only ever serve themselves. Under a whitewash, lays their true intentions.
Art can be a voice for truth. The creative industries and art in multiple forms, collectively, is more vital than the economy, any government, or society gives it credit.
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