Politics shape literature in both fictitious and historical settings. The issues that we deal with as a global society on a day to day basis will make textbooks as soon as next year. But why is this important? Because these political and social issues often tie into allegorical levels that can be analyzed while watching films or reading literature. Furthermore, events go on to shape society for not only this generation, but for generations to come. This is evidenced by the lingering distrust in the U.S. government from the days of counterculture and the Vietnam War. The works that were crafted because of political happenings from ten, fifteen, even fifty years ago still hold relevance today. Part of this is because we are still dealing with the same issues today that have always been there.
The most prominent of these politically-influenced works that I've had personal experience with is Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The plot is set in a 1930s Alabama that faces the issues of poverty and racism, because of the Great Depression and the Jim Crow laws, respectfully. Its release was during a time of great racial strife that resulted from the politics surrounding the South and even up north. Lynchings were still popular and African-Americans were still victims of violent attacks from the Ku Klux Klan. This racial tension is shown in the book when the town is quick to accuse Tom Robinson of rape, simply because of the color of his skin. This dilemma goes on to challenge the morals of the Finch family as well as the public's views of the local government. The parallels between the novel and the events during its release go without being noticed. It's obvious that Lee's intention was to open up an important conversation that concerned race and race relations in America. It's astounding that these issues are still an issue today.
Another work that affects us on a personal level today (that is especially close to Booker T.) is Hair, a musical set in the late 1960s/early 1970s that highlights the conflicts that came with the Vietnam War, desegregation, and counterculture. This also helps establish a platform for race and political corruption in a time where it was hushed. As we continue to move into a more tolerant society, we still have to remember what the past held for this country, and with that comes with the lingering effects that we still debate about today. Police brutality and discrimination aren't anything new, but they still seem to be inextricably tied to minorities, for the worse. And in a way, it has become easier to voice political opinions because of social media, thus making it almost acceptable to excuse questionable police behavior in some settings (gross). But with Hair coming to our own campus at a time where Ferguson, Baltimore, and many other cities are dealing with extreme racial tensions, it once again reveals the importance of these issues.
It's up to our own individual opinions whether or not we enjoy political works, but it's undeniable that these works seem to be timeless. They may highlight different issues based on a certain era, but at the end of the day, the same issues are still around, and there's a reason for it. We can't keep ignoring these issues if they keep coming up time and time again in the media, literature, or film. The writers of these works are practically begging for a revolution.
Something to consider: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/books/review/does-fiction-have-the-power-to-sway-politics.html?_r=0
