Introduction
It is no secret that popular culture is accessible to representatives of all social strata and groups and has become widely accepted. Mass culture is a multifunctional and objective phenomenon of modernity, with its laws of origin and evolution (Sultanov and Pirnazarov 49). Due to pop culture, it is possible to convey actual knowledge about current issues to a broad audience.
For instance, world hunger is one of the most immoral and unethical aspects of socio-political activity. Notably, this situation may arise without a food shortage solely due to the manipulative actions of governments, supranational structures, and corporations. The issue of hunger attracts public attention and is especially noticeable in popular culture. World hunger is one of the pressing political problems reflected in various forms of popular art, including music, literature, photography, and graffiti art.
Analysis
Music
The popular song “Is This the World We Created…?” by Queen is one of the most striking examples illustrating a significant political issue, such as world hunger. This song, performed by Freddie Mercury, deliberately highlights the existence of a socio-political disaster, the cause of which is the destructive human activity and abuse of power (Sternfels 1). Nonetheless, “Is This the World We Created…?” reminds listeners that the situation is not hopeless and that one can solve the problem if clear measures are taken to bridge the gap between the rich and poor, particularly through several political and legal instruments to counter starvation. In general, Queen effectively conveys its message, using precise words, setting a somber tone, evoking listeners’ emotions, and prompting them to reflect on humanity’s role in the world’s devastation.
Literature
Another great example of highlighting the hunger problem is the famous worldwide novel trilogy, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. This book series focuses on the socio-political issue of famine worldwide, the leading cause of which is often attributed to the unethical actions of politicians, totalitarianism, oppression of citizens, restrictions on people’s freedoms, and political repression. Collins successfully conveyed the social-political message, appealing to various symbols, metaphors, and allusions, demonstrating the consequences of extreme poverty and wealth when the government fully controls citizens, and the state’s residents have absolutely no right to vote. Moreover, the writer showed that self-sacrifice is significant when true humanity and emotions are lacking. In this case, the hunger problem lies solely on the shoulders of the authorities, who do not want to share their wealth with others, and The Hunger Games are becoming a way to avoid rebellion against injustice.
Photography
“The Vulture and the Little Girl” by Kevin Carter is a well-known photograph that depicts a girl dying of hunger, with a vulture landing nearby, waiting for her death, and clearly illustrating the mass famine in some impoverished regions. Indeed, it is one of the excellent thematic works that effectively conveys the political problem. The author’s message is conveyed through the competent selection of scenes and angles, in which it is noticeable how people are dying on the streets and death literally follows them on their heels. It is hard enough to watch how a small, dark-skinned child, exhausted from hunger, lies in the fetal position, which a predator will soon eat.
This photo drew attention to the problem of poverty and hunger in Sudan, but also led to many years of debate about the line between professionalism and humanity. With the help of a camera, Kevin Carter drew public attention to the problem in Africa, but at the same time, he became a victim of the unfair cruelty of people. Due to Kevin’s picture, the UN raised several hundred thousand dollars, which it then used to help the people of South Africa.
Graffiti Art
It is essential to note that the theme of world hunger as a political issue is frequently explored in the works of street artists. For example, the portrait of a crying, starving Brazilian child created by Paulo Ito has become an easily recognizable symbol of the 2014 World Cup. Ito’s work instructively and vividly represents Brazil’s harsh reality, which the authorities still ignore. The billions of dollars spent on organizing the competition in the country could be better distributed to help those in need. Undoubtedly, the artist effectively conveyed the socio-political message by depicting a kid with nothing to eat except a soccer ball. Thus, through the graffiti, Paulo Ito intended to convey that the authorities should be ashamed of their decisions and that mass entertainment is more important to them than meeting citizens’ basic needs.
Conclusion
Considering a political issue such as world hunger helped me look at the problem from a different perspective, understand it thoroughly, and deepen my knowledge and understanding of it. It is one of the pressing problems of our time that requires special attention. In my opinion, it is noticeable in pop culture and frequently mentioned in movies, music, literature, photography, graffiti, and other areas of the arts. In general, this exercise was productive for me to gain new knowledge and improve my skills. I learned more about how people live in some emerging countries and how we should help each other because selfishness and greed are real vices that contribute to the spread of injustice and inequality in the world.
Works Cited
Sultanov, Atabek, and Nurnazar Pirnazarov. “The Phenomenon of Mass Culture.” Zien Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 1, no.1, 2021, pp. 49-52.
Sternfels, CJ. “Top 5 Songs About Hunger.” The BorgenProject.