Are Modern Writers Promoting Wrong Values?

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Do you agree that a writer is also an influencer such as leader? While leaders are in charge of other people life using their power, writers are having their writings as the tools to change someone’s life.No wonder, many governments limit or even more ban some particular writers in publishing and also circulating their books due to several reasons such as political feud, indecent content, plagiarism, and religious disputes.Whatever the real reason is, writers are often considered as one of the significant public opinion makers.

I have been writing and blogging since 2013.Mostly I take myself as a blogger rather than writer.Why? Am I more confidence in labeling my own self as blogger to writer, especially in this advanced era of internet development? Or maybe it is just only the matter of practicality? A blogger is also a writer, indeed.But, a writer is not always interested in being a blogger.

My main personal reason is I have not got any book written on my own yet.All my writings now are still in the digital form or published on my two blogs.Luckily, some of them have won national blogging competition in Indonesia.Honestly, I am quite proud of that baby step writing achievement.Yet, I still have little confidence to write then publish a book on my own.One thing for sure, I have been dreaming of publishing my own book as soon as possible.

Maybe my greatest fear that holds me back in writing a book is I am not sure I am good enough as a writer. It still is overwhelming enough for me for this time being if I must be able to deliver great virtues through my books.

I have been grown up in a family who are avid readers.Both my parents always ask their four children – especially for me as their eldest child – to read ONLY high quality books and dismiss the ‘unimportant’ or tacky books.They believe that the more prominent the author and the thicker the book, the better the books. Even for my parents, comic book is also not really meaningful reading materials.So during our happy childhood, I and my younger brothers never had had comic book which bought by our mother and father.We usually borrowed it from friends.

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No wonder, I am more familiar with classical and traditional stories than the contemporary ones. Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Snow White, Around the World in 80 Days, Hansel and Gretel, Little Mermaid, are some classical stories I have been read since my very younger years.The examples from Indonesia traditional stories or folktales which I have known well even from my elementary schools are Timun Emas (Golden Cucumber), Tangkuban Perahu (A Mountain Shaped like Reversed Ship), Bawang Merah dan Bawang Putih (Indonesian version of Cinderella story) and some other more.All of them – both international and national classic books – have one thing in common: The good deeds always win the life battle, no matter how hard and impossible it is at first.

Frankly speaking, I am displeased with the quality of modern stories nowadays, not to mention the values they have in it.Most of them seem belong to hedonistic lifestyle or tend to satisfy the needs of pleasure seekers only.I know, based on my personal experiences, all readers persistently look for happy ending story.Meanwhile in another side, writers want to be known publicly through their (reputable) books and also publishers are consistently longing for best-seller books.Still, does it have to sacrifice the proper life meaning and moral guide?

Maybe if Little Mermaid was written now, it might have completely different ending than people have ever possibly thought.Thank GOD, it is written by Hans Christian Andersen who has eloquently reminded his readers that selflessness is always better than selfishness.

The little mermaid could easily kill the charming prince - whom she loved dearly – and quickly she would be able to return to her own beloved family who lived under the sea after that.But, she realized.Violence never solves any life problem.

If the little mermaid killed the prince, she would ruin the happiness not only of the newlywed but also their families.Hence, it is most probably H.C. Andersen clearly noticed when he was writing Little Mermaid during his life period in his Victorian society, no one ever wanted to be remembered both as a bloody killer and home wrecker at the same time.That would be humiliating and dreadful.So, how about the ethical concern of writers and authors in this so-called modern age?

I strongly believe that literature is also greatly influenced by its society.Well-mannered community will produce the demure writers and authors.Their outstanding writings last and survive beyond their lifetime.Did at the time they wrote their marvelous stories – both in linguistic views and ethical perspective – they hoped for the modest earning from their writings and books like the writers at the moment? I think so.

One thing that totally sets them apart is the people and lifestyle around them.The classical writers did not bother too much with materialistic and capitalistic civilization such as happen in this present moment.Copy right and intellectual properties were fiercely reserved and highly respected back then. Now, people can find free downloaded files of books just by clicking their cursor.

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Nowadays, people can read this classical story, Snow White by Grimm Brothers via audio book (Photo credit: http:i.ytimg.com)

Of course, it is like talking and debating about Quantity versus Quality.Modern writers can argue that they certainly produce more books than their peers for much older days due to advancement of information and technology facilities.However, when it comes to the quality aspects – especially the ones which contain and promote good values of life – old-fashioned writers have more right to acclaim it than their recent peers. In short, promoting good life values is everybody business, including the writers of contemporary literature.