In college, the author came across a novel by Shusaku Endo called “The Sea and Poison” which explores the humanity of perpetrators in a vivisection experiment on an American prisoner. This novel has haunted the author for nearly two decades, highlighting how individuals can delude themselves into making choices that result in atrocities. The author reflects on American morality and the inclination to confuse art with moral instruction, viewing angry reader reviews that demonstrate a dangerous trend in American culture.
The author observes a pervasive American tendency to oversimplify stories as moral instruction pieces, possibly as a reaction to the complexity and uncertainty of the modern world. Younger writers, influenced by a desire for righteousness over complexity, often focus on representing only their personal values in their work. The author is troubled by the shift towards simpler narratives that lack nuance and the ability to engage with the realities of the world, leading to discomfort in discussions about values and morals in creative work.
The author notes that industry gatekeepers, from TV networks to studio executives, often strip stories of ethical ambiguity in favor of clear lessons to avoid unsettling audiences. American art is often tied to the marketplace, leading to a preference for bland, uncontroversial content. However, the author argues that art’s value lies in its ability to show the truth about our complex world, reflecting our hidden capacities, social contracts, and contradictions. By embracing paradoxes and uncertainties, art can foster curiosity and understanding in a culture that is increasingly defined by rigidity and judgment.
The author advocates for the importance of narratives that reflect the fluidity and complexity of human experience, rather than offering easy moral lessons. In a world characterized by condemnation and division, art plays a crucial role in fostering empathy, understanding, and connection. By challenging audiences to question, investigate, and embrace uncertainties, art can offer a powerful antidote to the rigid, polarized culture prevalent in modern society.
