Writing as Reconciliation by Kara

Writing as Reconciliation by Kara - June 2020 Scholarship Essay

When I tell people that I am an English Writing major, they often ask the question, “What are you going to do with that?” Many people have lost faith in the value of a liberal arts education, especially creative writing and the visual arts. In America, success is usually measured in economic terms. People forget that in ancient Japan, poetry was one of the greatest indicators of the qualified politician, and in Anglo-Saxon Britain, bards memorized long epic poems such as Beowulf to preserve their culture. Even today, Polish poets such as Adam Zagajewski see themselves as the bards of the nation. Over the past couple of centuries, however, writers have gained a reputation for being self-absorbed and eccentric. In contemporary America, writers and other artists often strive for novelty instead of meaning, or they withdraw from the world and spiral into depression and despair.

My vision as a writer is to change this stereotype and reinstate art as a means of communication, of uniting people instead of separating them. In the 20th century, avant-garde movements tried to take the human side out of the artistic process to arrive at the pure, distilled essence of Art. This kind of thinking produced an elitism that separated artists from “ordinary” people. But art has limited value when it becomes so experimental as to longer be intelligible to “ordinary” people. The literary world should not be an elite clique. Traditionally, poetry was the language of the people, not just of the academies. I want to remind readers and writers alike that the written word has immense power for all of us, not only to express the writer’s experiences but also to unite people in a search for meaning and human dignity. Yes, we need our mechanics, doctors, scientists, engineers, and technicians. But our country also needs writers because stories teach us to open our minds and consider other perspectives and worldviews. Politicians are important, but writers have unique access to peoples’ hearts because stories engage our imaginations and allow us to consider the possibilities for ourselves and our world. As a writer, I want to show “ordinary” people that literature belongs to them, whatever their circumstances or educational backgrounds.

A second thing I would like to change about the field of contemporary American writing is to take the focus off the writer as a creative genius seeking recognition and inspire other writers to become instruments of reconciliation. While our creative talent as writers is worth celebrating, we should always use our talent to dignify other human beings and give them a voice, not merely build up our own fame. On my own personal journey, I have realized that no matter how many awards I win, my talent is wasted if I do not use my gift to bless others. I dream of working with a justice-oriented mission, writing stories of the marginalized so that my readers are more aware of the injustice ravaging our world. By sharing these stories with others, I can give marginalized people a voice, a sense of dignity, and power. But justice work need not be limited to overseas nonprofit organizations. Our country is full of racial, political, and economic tension. Traditional values are breaking down in the face of riots, divorces, school shootings, and corruption. American writers must take these broken pieces and put them together in a new way, revealing a beautiful mosaic that brings people together instead of tearing them apart. I believe that American writers should become the bards of our nation, recording the stories of our people to build bridges of understanding and reconciliation.

Ultimately, I hope to inspire other writers to seek healing, both for themselves and for our society, rather than simply criticizing the brokenness of the world. Sadly, contemporary American poetry is pervaded by a deep skepticism toward beauty. Many writers have let sarcasm, bitterness, and anger replace a deep appreciation for the sacredness of life that binds all people together. In a postmodern society, it is difficult to talk of universals such as Beauty or Truth because many people, especially artists, have stopped believing in them. But beauty does not have to be cliché or naïve. I believe in restoration. I believe in redemption. And I believe that as a writer, it is my duty to take broken things and show people to see them through the lens of hope. In the words of author Brenda Miller, “To live our lives in our shattered ways and still be happy: this is miraculous.” My goal is to piece together the fragments of human life and transform them into something beautiful, and to inspire other writers to do the same.

As a writer, I have a gift. The capacity to communicate clearly and powerfully should never be taken for granted. In my career field, I want to encourage other writers to use their gift in service of their communities to build bridges of reconciliation. Because we all belong to the world, anything that compromises human flourishing should matter to each of us, and writers have the power to communicate these values to readers. Writers should not only care deeply about what is going on the world but also inspire their readers to fight for a more just and beautiful society.