the jack kerouac school of disembodied poetics

for anyone who is curious, the jack kerouac school of disembodied poetics (or j.k.s.o.d.p.) is a small liberal college in boulder, colorado. here you will find buddhists, poets, activists, professors, mountain bikers, etc. and me.

today we had a lovely panel discuss the collective responsibility that writers have to their communities and to the world. there seemed to be some tension surrounding the issue of self-improvement eventually affecting change in the larger political sphere. some agreed quite passionately that it does, while others felt that art is more of a tool; you can choose to use it, or you can choose to let it gather dust.

i feel that, although most writers are inherently privileged, we do not all possess the time, courage, or resources necessary to bring our written work to the larger political/social community. therefore, rather than berate ourselves, we should encourage one another to do what we can -- write honestly, share our work often, show empathy towards others, and keep our eyes peeled for opportunities to make direct change.

what do others think?