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Expression and Values in Today’s Society

AFP

The working of human society is such that it is built with a certain structure and on a system of beliefs that control and limit individuals. Society after all is the response to the human need for an order amidst diversity. For society to continue to exist and be able to contain the self-interest and individual agenda of some, it is a sociologically sound way of means to control people. This is the origin of values, norms and laws. These are objects by which society regulates the multitude in it. A set of values are identified and held as the greatest ideals of the human community. These ideals are then made into policy. They are enforced by laws and the institutions of government. Suffice to say these are the norms and standards of society.

Law And order

In society the idea that the norms and values be protected made deviant activities criminal, even if the acts stem from individual expression. Society is built to service the whole not the individual, thus his or her expressionism is to be set aside. Any act, however creative, are suppressed if it goes against social morals. Nevertheless, this kind of suppression is legitimate, given the values being upheld. This is the case of the editor of playboy who is being hounded by the authorities in Indonesia for his part in what is referred to as pornography. This is the fate of those who go against the system or the established standards of society.

Social Defiance

From the alternative point of view, the lines separating pornography from art and literature is never well-defined. Moreover, it is always a difficult task to create a clear-cut delineation between the two. This makes the realm of expression overlap with the domain of law, norms and values. Furthermore, given the context of Indonesia’s cultural and socio-religious framework this becomes a matter of great controversy. To defy the very core of the community’s belief all for self-expression and creativity is a grievous thing.

Is it worth it? Society is struggling with rapid change and the shifts in behavior in terms of expression of its members, that is to say, expression that adheres or contradicts its values.

Shift Of Paradigm

Defying the established order of things is not essentially viewed as negative. However, only in contesting the standards and values of a certain society are these things re – evaluated. This serves as a catalyst for genuine social transformation. Certain segments of society will likely resist this change. Nevertheless, some will institute these changes and be the basis for changes in trends in the status quo. The start of a revolution as to how society works will begin with radically new ideas adopted by some.

References:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ggfR-j53_R2J5YUimg32vWLLU4HQ?docId=CNG.5eafcba4bf53b470f39c1ecb5aaf1e29.121

http://www.esextherapy.com/dissertations/islam%20dissertation.pdf

November 3, 2010 - Posted by xian perkins | Society | Expression and Values, Law and order, Shift of Paradigm, Social Defiance, Social Order and Norms