Language of Indifference: The Voice of the Powerless in the Select Works of Filipino Artists

The study focused on the elements of nationalist consciousness as the language of indifference in Philippine literature through the works of select contemporary Filipino writers. Identified masterpieces of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature[1] awardees that have Marxist tendencies were evaluated using the  Marxist Literary Approach to identify the elements of nationalist consciousness and to deduce the implications on the relationship of literature and society. The elements of nationalist consciousness were identified by taking in consideration the main struggles of the characters which were revealed in the characters’ lines. These were classified using a researcher-made checklist. Common and recurring themes like class struggle, injustice, wanton disregard for human worth, indifference, moral degradation, political unrest, insurgency, inequality, exploitation, harassment, police brutality, poverty, and violence were considered negative elements as they mirror the struggles of the oppressed and abused characters. The significant contribution of the study lies in its richness in values, realities, and insights into human experiences as it ascertained the socio-economic problems embedded in the works. Evidently as concluded, reforms, justice, and true peace were found absent in the works and these were the essential values that the characters and personas tried to find as they relate with other characters. Fundamentally, literature and society are inseparable and that literary prisms can be vehicles of change in the society.

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