Brian O'Hare, Author

IS WOKERY STULTIFYING ART?

I am a writer. I write fiction and non-fiction. Very few people have ever heard of me.  I used to think that was a bad thing.  Now I’m not so sure. At least, because I am relatively unknown, I do not have to suffer the malignant intensity of the wokerati minutely examining my every dot and comma for transgression against their unforgiving ideology.

For the past year or so, I have found myself constantly chagrined by the extent to which the tyranny of political correctness is infiltrating every stratum of society -  universities, schools, the theatre, the cinema, journalism, sports, literature. Nothing and no one is safe from their fanatical scrutiny. The irony is that the woke brigade scream stridently their aim in life is to ensure equality of opportunity and freedom of expression for all groups in society, yet it has become increasingly clear that this equality is only for those who agree one hundred percent with their views. Those who disagree are castigated, hounded and ultimately cancelled. JK Rowling, after reading an article which was sprinkled with numerous repetitions of the awkward and inelegant phrase, ‘people who menstruate’, had the temerity to tweet that she recalled the use of a simpler, much more precise word to describe this societal grouping – women. Howls of outrage, even death threats, followed that perfectly sensible comment.  She was, of course ‘cancelled’, even by those three mindless ingrates, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, who made millions on the back of Rowling’s talent.

I recently had my own, very minor, skirmish with a ‘woke’ reviewer. My most recent novel deals with human trafficking and a key character is an evil gang-lord who happens to have come from China. One of the detectives investigating this personage referred to him during a conversation as, ‘the Chinaman.’ This was in dialogue, I point out again, not part of my narration. I have always been of the opinion that the truth of dialogue in real life is that it is intrinsically careless. Should characters in a story operate by different rules? Apparently they should, says this reviewer. I was vociferously berated for my inherent racism and was awarded one star for my book. The reviewer went on to point out that I got ‘one star’ only because there was no facility to award ‘no stars’. (In the interest of balance, I should note that of the hundred plus reviews for this book from countries as far apart as the USA, India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, almost 80% are five stars. Just sayin’.)

The rot is everywhere. Almost every aspect of art must now be seen through the prisms of gender diversity, white privilege, left-leaning ideology ... etc., etc., etc. One of Hollywood’s most cherished traditions is the knockabout think tank where a group of writers will sit in a room tossing out all sorts of wild and idiotic ideas. It is banter, it is fun, but it is also serious and invariably some great ideas come from it. Now I read of one writer who says, “I sit there now and am afraid to open my mouth. These brainstorms have become potential death-traps for the politically incorrect where loose talk can cost careers.” Shades of 1984! The thought police are everywhere and they are determined to reshape society into their own image and likeness.

Even the great classics of literature are under attack at schools and at universities. The most glaring example I have come across is the ‘cancelling’ of To Kill a Mockingbird because of its institutional racism. Good heavens! When we studied this wonderful book during my schooldays, my entire class were made fully aware that the book’s central message was about the evil injustices of racism. But logic seems to hold no sway with the wokerati.  Even university lecturers are writing ridiculous triggers about Shakespeare and other great classics. Students about to read Kidnapped, for example, are warned that the book may contain ‘episodes of abduction’.  I despair!

So, what now for writers? When we write, must we forever write with one eye on equality and diversity? Must our characters be fully representative of different races, the LGBTQIA spectrum, and the extreme views of the Left? Must our dialogues be whitewashed of all human foible and become bland vehicles for political correctness? Many movies and series on TV have become so woke-conscious, so inclusive, pushing so many agendas, that they have become unwatchable.  Are novels to head that way, too? 

 I think I'll just go on doing what I'm doing and risk the wrath of the woke.