A World Without Culture
TLMUN Herald’s Writing Competition Essay (3rd Place)
It all started when the sadistic ruler wanted to have fun with the citizens and silenced their cultural expression. No celebrating festivals, no art, no stories, no cultural practices, no — anything. There were always guards patrolling around; There were cameras on each corner of their house, and people there were never free from surveillance. When the rules were first introduced, the citizens were enraged. They did several rallies and riots in defiance, but those people’s efforts were crushed mercilessly. They ended up being dragged away and were never seen again.
The ruler knew people would want to leave, so they preyed upon human desire for material wealth and comfort. All they have to do is obey that only rule. Despite the ban on cultural expression, the city was known as a materialistically perfect utopia. Technology hummed in harmony; There was no poverty, the air was clear, and the environment was clean. Some people succumbed to the illusion of perfection, yet occasionally some snapped out of their drunken daze. The long-lost melodies, the delightful traditional food and the vibrant festive celebrations flashed through their minds and the sparks for change rekindled. Even so, people who were complacent did not wish for the illusion of perfection to crack. They became the guard dogs of the rulers and bared their teeth towards the rebels, barking up to the rulers whenever they caught a whiff of any rebellion. Soon, resignation settled in and the people could only accept the reality.
It’s been decades since the new rule has been enforced. The cultures were soon forgotten as the new generation arrived. The cultural landscape faded into dust as if there weren’t one. Every morning the citizens woke up to their minds blank, eyes staring into the void; There wasn’t anything to do the whole day. People wandered around aimlessly and were isolated from each other; People in the past talked about ideas, fashion, movies and everything, but now there was nothing to talk about; People were deprived of connection — they didn’t know what the neighbours did, nor did they ask. The citizens ate the same food and wore the clothes the ruler gave them. Culture once weaved people together, and the city was vibrant. Yet, it has now faded to shades of monotonous hues.
Every night, there was a loud bang, but no one ever bothered to check it out. “Who am I?” “What am I doing?” “Is it even important?” “What do I live for?” As they holed up in their four walls, these questions always lingered in the back of their mind. They never understood why things were the way they were, nor did they understand the existence of life. Suddenly, their thoughts were disrupted by the sound of knocking. The guards were here to give out food and also necessities. However, the guards gave them an extra box this time — an unexpected deviation from their daily lives. They were stunned for a second, but they took the box in. After contemplating for a moment, they decided to open the box. Laying inside was a gun. They blinked hesitantly, carefully holding up the gun. After placing the gun beside their bed, the people continued staring into blank space, this time seemingly lost in thought. That night, a loud bang echoed across the city as usual.
Written by: Britney Wong Jing Wen.
