To hold a pen is to be at war.
- Voltaire
Just a short drive from where I live lies Ferney-Voltaire, a quaint village in France where the philosopher and writer Voltaire spent several years in exile during the 18th century. Voltaire wasn’t just a philosopher; he was also a poet, playwright, and critic of the intolerance, religious dogma, and violence of his time. His thoughts were so central to the Enlightenment that historian Will Durant named the period between 1715 and 1756 The Age of Voltaire.
Today, we find ourselves in another turbulent era. Intolerance, dogmatic beliefs, and polarizing rhetoric seem to dominate. Even accessing factual information feels like wading through an overwhelming sea of punditry, fragmented news sources, and subscription-based journalism. Former mainstream media journalists like Paul Krugman, Carol Cadwaladr, and Anand Giridharadas have turned to platforms like Substack to continue their work independently.
Is this the new normal? Paying for multiple subscriptions, sifting through countless sources, and privately subsidizing journalists to ensure they can report on the issues that matter?
Many of us, overwhelmed, have opted to tune out. I’ve done so myself at times, as have many of my friends. Yet, ignoring the political, economic, and geopolitical shifts of our time feels like a privilege we cannot afford. Art can provide solace, but can we simply focus on creating and keeping our heads down while the world around us burns?
Art as Resistance
Art is more than beauty or craft; it is inherently political and subversive. Art can challenge systems of power, dismantle intolerance, and inspire change. I truly believe this.
"Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do."
– Voltaire
Art, stories, and creativity open minds to new perspectives and experiences. Music soothes our anxieties. Poetry articulates truths we dare not speak. Dance reflects the fragile, vibrant human condition. These forms of expression are essential in times of despair, anger, and confusion.
But the challenges we face are compounded by a global system that conflates price with value.
The Trap of Capitalist Realism
British theorist Mark Fisher coined the term Capitalist Realism, describing the pervasive belief that there is no alternative to capitalism. Fisher famously observed, “It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.”
This mindset has seeped into every facet of modern life, reducing value to what can be bought or sold. As Sarah Chayes argues in her book Everyone Knows: Corruption in America, materialism has infiltrated society, benefiting an elite few at the expense of true value—natural resources, human labor, and even life itself.
Social media further exacerbates these issues. Platforms like YouTube, designed to maximize engagement, often lead users down rabbit holes of biased, intolerant, or extreme content. Caleb Cain’s series My Descent into the Alt-Right Pipeline chronicles how he was lured into increasingly radical ideologies while initially searching for self-help content.
Social media’s unchecked funneling of extreme viewpoints underscores the urgent need for action. We can no longer afford to laugh off or ignore the growing platform of toxic ideologues; doing so risks leaving the desperate and disenfranchised at the mercy of those who incite hate and violence.
The Role of Artists and Thinkers
The Enlightenment was shaped by thinkers, writers, and artists who refused to remain silent. Voltaire, Rousseau, and others challenged the intolerance and injustice of their time, paving the way for seismic political and ideological shifts.
Today, we must ask ourselves: do we wait for another calamity, revolution, or war before we act?
Can we afford to let things spiral further into despair before speaking up?
As I read Voltaire’s Traité sur l’Intolérance and the dystopian Silo series, I grapple with these questions daily. The stories we tell and the art we create must do more than offer an escape; they must ignite the desire to make the world better.
Finding Balance
In the face of fear, confusion, and anxiety, we often have two instincts. One seeks solace in humor, art, and brightness to ease the mind and soul. The other demands action, asking: *How bad could this get, and what can we do to stop it?*
The answer lies in finding balance. We must create art that resists, challenges, and inspires. We must think critically, share stories, and speak truths that open minds and combat intolerance. If the thinkers and artists of the Enlightenment had stayed silent, the world would not have known the seismic changes that defined their age.
Art, philosophy, and action remain our most powerful tools. It’s time to wield them.
