Writers funda
Article appeared on 'Theatre watch'
Writers are not made in heaven. No god can create them. Nor do genes shape them.
Writers emerge from the environment in which they are raised. There have been writers who have never received any formal education; yet it seemed as if literature flowed from the stories they conceived. They possessed the perspective, thought and imagination but where were the words to reflect their emotions? These words emerged from their strong desire to express and emote and thus they taught themselves..
Reverberating from the jungles of Andhra Pradesh are the songs and stories of adivasis, dalits and peasants writers which are found in the perusal of author Vanja’s works that reflect the lives and struggles of these people. In Maharashtra, a similar treasure trove of works by poets, writers and playwrights can be found.
But the real question is: how many of us are really aware of these works? How many writings of
such creators have been published? Frankly speaking, very few!
Besides, there are the works of workers, students, women--maybe from small towns to even large cities--but the same question emerges again and again: how many of us actually know them? These writers do not exist in outerspace nor do they live underground--but not many accept their existence because they are not already a famous name. They are not yet an Arthur Miller, Beckett, Mohan Rakesh or Vijay Tendulkar...
Most new writers today feel that the `who’ factor is the deciding one. If you are nobody, then too bad! First, prove yourself and you will be accepted--and for this end, use every trick in the book. Gimmicks, controversy, hype, will be vital tools; intellectualism, pushiness, the Queen’s language will make sure you have enough space in the mainstream media; sell yourself, market yourself--but whatever the case prove yourself-- because simplicity is outdated and what will be focussed on is the drama surrounding you.
However, what is worrying is how long can this continue. As we know art is a medium which stood against and above these trappings. It is supposed to be an inherently simple medium which reflected the emotions of man and his environment--and brings the artist closer to the sorrows, pathos, and joys of the people. And be able to express the agony and happiness in the art form. This way the world is made aware through the artist’s interpretation of reality. Obviously, in this context, art cannot be a commodity. But unfortunately, such things are happening today.
I think that one can either create or sell- and those who do both - and those who are abel to do both are definitely merchants and not artists. And I see such merchants as the threat for growing, upcoming and little-known writers.
Besides the traders of theatre movement, there are genuine theatre personalities and activists who are dead serious to the cause of the theatre movement. However, their refrain since a number of years is that the theatre movement is dying; no social or political movement is taking place; everything is stagnant; there is not much writing doing the rounds; and there is no writer today of the former standard.
This is what I fail to understand. Writers do not emerge readymade nor does one wait for a movement to occur. Art always moves ahead of society and creates a ground for a movement to emerge. There are a number of writers who wish to express their anger towards the present political and social scenario and would like to be a voice of culture movement. But how many established theatre organisation and directors would come forward and be the voice of such writers?
Most repond by saying that such new writers lack depth in their writings and if we take their writings, why will anyone come and watch such low standard plays? If we accept this argument then every the plays that these critics float ought to be outstanding and assured of a full house. However, this does not happen, so their criticism falls flat. Actually, the real situation is a different story altogether as the basic crunch is of image projection and maintaining a pseudo status quo.
The objective of this article is not to be cynical nor to blindly criticise anybody but to make our friends aware that artists grow in a group. If we are true artists then we all have to grow simultaneously along with the new, amateur and fresh entrants in the field. This is the treasure which we have received from our ancestors who were folk artists. And it is needless to say that folk art and artists survived just because they lived and grew together in a group and they kept handing over their art to the the younger generation.
Finally, if we are really serious about developing good writers, then we have to showcase a platform for them. And if this attempt is made then I am sure that something substantial will emerge.As the law of science lays down: quality emerges from quantity.
And if we fail to do so then we should not forget that the situation today is such that they are innumerable changes taking place in the political scenario where conservatives are in control. They influence the intellegensia, bureaucrats and even the media. And there is constant threat to the art form as well as to the freedom of speech and expression; attacks on the media and artists by the ruling political parties are not uncommon.
However, if we keep serving the same old wine (without belittling the classics) over and over again and not allowing new voices to emerge, then in the process we are not just aiding the death of the theatre movement but also prematurely killing ourselves.
Writers emerge from the environment in which they are raised. There have been writers who have never received any formal education; yet it seemed as if literature flowed from the stories they conceived. They possessed the perspective, thought and imagination but where were the words to reflect their emotions? These words emerged from their strong desire to express and emote and thus they taught themselves..
Reverberating from the jungles of Andhra Pradesh are the songs and stories of adivasis, dalits and peasants writers which are found in the perusal of author Vanja’s works that reflect the lives and struggles of these people. In Maharashtra, a similar treasure trove of works by poets, writers and playwrights can be found.
But the real question is: how many of us are really aware of these works? How many writings of
such creators have been published? Frankly speaking, very few!
Besides, there are the works of workers, students, women--maybe from small towns to even large cities--but the same question emerges again and again: how many of us actually know them? These writers do not exist in outerspace nor do they live underground--but not many accept their existence because they are not already a famous name. They are not yet an Arthur Miller, Beckett, Mohan Rakesh or Vijay Tendulkar...
Most new writers today feel that the `who’ factor is the deciding one. If you are nobody, then too bad! First, prove yourself and you will be accepted--and for this end, use every trick in the book. Gimmicks, controversy, hype, will be vital tools; intellectualism, pushiness, the Queen’s language will make sure you have enough space in the mainstream media; sell yourself, market yourself--but whatever the case prove yourself-- because simplicity is outdated and what will be focussed on is the drama surrounding you.
However, what is worrying is how long can this continue. As we know art is a medium which stood against and above these trappings. It is supposed to be an inherently simple medium which reflected the emotions of man and his environment--and brings the artist closer to the sorrows, pathos, and joys of the people. And be able to express the agony and happiness in the art form. This way the world is made aware through the artist’s interpretation of reality. Obviously, in this context, art cannot be a commodity. But unfortunately, such things are happening today.
I think that one can either create or sell- and those who do both - and those who are abel to do both are definitely merchants and not artists. And I see such merchants as the threat for growing, upcoming and little-known writers.
Besides the traders of theatre movement, there are genuine theatre personalities and activists who are dead serious to the cause of the theatre movement. However, their refrain since a number of years is that the theatre movement is dying; no social or political movement is taking place; everything is stagnant; there is not much writing doing the rounds; and there is no writer today of the former standard.
This is what I fail to understand. Writers do not emerge readymade nor does one wait for a movement to occur. Art always moves ahead of society and creates a ground for a movement to emerge. There are a number of writers who wish to express their anger towards the present political and social scenario and would like to be a voice of culture movement. But how many established theatre organisation and directors would come forward and be the voice of such writers?
Most repond by saying that such new writers lack depth in their writings and if we take their writings, why will anyone come and watch such low standard plays? If we accept this argument then every the plays that these critics float ought to be outstanding and assured of a full house. However, this does not happen, so their criticism falls flat. Actually, the real situation is a different story altogether as the basic crunch is of image projection and maintaining a pseudo status quo.
The objective of this article is not to be cynical nor to blindly criticise anybody but to make our friends aware that artists grow in a group. If we are true artists then we all have to grow simultaneously along with the new, amateur and fresh entrants in the field. This is the treasure which we have received from our ancestors who were folk artists. And it is needless to say that folk art and artists survived just because they lived and grew together in a group and they kept handing over their art to the the younger generation.
Finally, if we are really serious about developing good writers, then we have to showcase a platform for them. And if this attempt is made then I am sure that something substantial will emerge.As the law of science lays down: quality emerges from quantity.
And if we fail to do so then we should not forget that the situation today is such that they are innumerable changes taking place in the political scenario where conservatives are in control. They influence the intellegensia, bureaucrats and even the media. And there is constant threat to the art form as well as to the freedom of speech and expression; attacks on the media and artists by the ruling political parties are not uncommon.
However, if we keep serving the same old wine (without belittling the classics) over and over again and not allowing new voices to emerge, then in the process we are not just aiding the death of the theatre movement but also prematurely killing ourselves.
Writing on different subjects is very tough.
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