Music and Art in a Globalized World

These days we keep hearing about how small our world is becoming. But it’s true — with our smartphones and texting apps, we are more connected with people across the globe then we have ever been. This proliferation of communication has resulted in our lives being intertwined with people in all parts of the world through the food we eat, the clothing we wear, the information we get, the music we listen to, and the ideas we hold. People across the world are becoming more interconnected as a result of this massively increased trade and cultural exchange. This contact brings an incredible opportunity to make a huge impact on each other’s lives and in the world.

The role of arts and music in our society is to enrich ourselves and our cultures; they provide alternate infinite experiences and also further enhance the skills we use in other disciplines and professions. Art is communication; it allows people from different cultures and different times to communicate with each other via images, sounds, and stories. Music and creative arts are vehicles for social change, they influence society and our world by changing opinions, instilling values and translating experiences across space and time.

To me, songs especially are such powerful things; they can reassure, soothe, inspire and educate — and that’s just for starters. Perhaps one reason for this is because they are performed by real people, human failings and all. Songs have always held a mirror to the world, reflecting the things going on around us, and, even, how we are affected by them.

Traditionally, songs have been passed down generations through memorization and oral recitation. Today, all the technological advances such as cheap, widely-available audio equipment can distribute our message on a much larger scale.

So, whether your talent is singing or drawing or writing poetry, make your voice be heard, let your art be seen. Use it to share about God’s unfailing love.

Create your art and music to rebel against the evil standards societies are moving towards. Use your voice as a weapon and your paintbrush to bring people closer to freedom.

For me wherever I am in my life, I write from that point and it is usually about the lessons God is teaching me. I recently have been in the process of releasing songs that I wrote during an extremely difficult time personally in my life and the lives of my family members. Most of the songs are words I wrote down in my journal or prayed out loud. I’ve been able to share openly about that season through the lyrics that share about my faith and my doubt in the goodness of God. My hope in what He says in the sacred scripture is true. Through this process, a few of the songs have been streamed in over 50 different countries. The truth I sing about, the pain I felt in that season and the hope I clung to have been listened to literally all over the world. I’ve had people from India, Thailand, Israel, and other countries send me messages about what the lyrics mean to them as they listen and how it has encouraged or touched their lives. We have such an incredible opportunity to use our music and art in greater ways than we ever had before.

Music has the ability to encourage individuals to think about where they’re going in this world, to inform the decisions they make, to help forge an identity. But while music might be consumed in solitude, taking its hold on our imaginations as we listen in bedrooms, on headphones, or on our commutes, it has a unifying effect. They and millions of others are connected by the human emotions expressed by the songwriter, author or artist. We are unified as a society when we realize that we are more alike than we may sometimes seem.

So make your music and art count, create it to make a difference in our world. Start writing each note keeping in mind the incredible love and hope you can give people. Start each brushstroke thinking about the widow and orphan across the world in third world countries. Sing the lyrics to put hope within reach of the addict who can’t find a way out of his or her personal hell. Create your art and music to rebel against the evil standards societies are moving towards. Use your voice as a weapon and your paintbrush to bring people closer to freedom.

Zachary Ray is a singer/songwriter who has spent the last 10 years living in Calcutta, India where he taught at the Calcutta School of Music in the voice department. He’s currently back in America recording and releasing his debut album.