imagine an isolated tribe on a remote island would lose the knowledge and skills to construct boats. after a few centuries not only the knowledge could be forgotten, but also the existance of the boats themselves. the idea to travel the ocean and visit other islands would be like fairytales and myths to them.
the same has happened in western culture with the truth that art can change the world.
for centuries, people knew that books, plays, poems, music, paintings can change society.
yet if you state nowadays that art can change society positively, that, for example, a single piece of music, when done right, can spark a revolution, one is met with disbelief and ridicule.
yet this was the belief for a long time, even for most part if the 20th century.
for example, for more than half a century the soviets knew that certain art could damage their authoritarian society and lead uprisings, and took great pains to eradicate and ban it.
but also in the west people knew this.
when rock'n'roll happened in the 50s, americans realized this music could overthrow their old, conservative and also authoritarian society.
and indeed this music changed society for good. that a fullscale revolution did not happen was only because the artists and fans lacked true faith in the end and gave up with the total uprising already in sight. not because it was not strong enough for it, or because the authoritans could have stopped it.
it didn't end in the 50s. similiar fears by society happened with 60s rock, punk in the 70s, and plenty of other subcultures.
the last subculture that was seen like this, as a possible "downfall of society" (in fact a positive revolution) was techno and rave in the 90s.
again, the social "techno revolution" was indeed very much possible back then and only stopped (maybe in almost the very last second) because the DJs and producers "switched side" and joined the capitalist business branches and markets instead - for petty self gain. but the revolution is still possible, even today.
so until the end of the 20th century, in both the western and eastern bloc, people knew that art can thoroughly change society. it is only at the turn of the millenium this knowledge was lost.
if we go back in history, we are met with this knowledge again. remenber the "scandalous" books or paintings of the 19th century.
again, the oppenents claimed that if these were allowed to spread, the whole of society would be in danger (again, in these cases a good thing - because not positive social aspects were in danger but rather oppressive, authoritarian structures of society).
imagine that! in the 19th century a single book could have led to a revolution. but this is very much still possible with art today.
if we go even deeper in history, we again see how the church and monarchs went out of their way to battle certain books and texts - because they knew they could end their reign.
if we look at other cultures, for example islam, we again find the knowledge and fear of societal powerful art.
but even in western society today! the far right artists know they can change society by art (and they should be fought on this). the left radical artists, for example political punk bands, know it too.
the church types are scared of certain art due to this. the esoterics believe in the power of art.
there is only a self proclaimed "elite" of conservative media persons, subcultural people and false, boring "rarionalists" who think that music, art and culture couldn't "change a thing"
most examples i mentioned involve a certain "fear" of powerful art; but the fear was only there because it was voiced by those who were entangled in an oppressive and authoritarian society, profiteering by it, and fearing everything that could lead to real change.
almost every culture and society in history and right now knew that art can change the world. isn't it then very unlikely that the "media conservatives" are right?
believe in it - no, rather *know* it - that music, books, all of art can start a revolution - and change the world positively for good.
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