The Higher Layer

most people's life revolves completely about direct, tangible things. their work, their family, their house, their city, their district, etc.
yet there is also a higher layer, the layer of politics and economics, that is above this, and in the end complete decides and influences their "everyday" experiences; politicians, big corporations, national economies, conflicts, wars, multinational trade agreements. these effect work, city, house & home and can make people lose their jobs or their money or their till-then way of life.
now, in the past, both the more "advanced" thinkers of the right and left claimed there is an even higher level: the social classes for example; the bourgeoisie of seemingly hostile nations will stick together to fight a threat by a possible takeover led by the lower classes; the national politics are defined by higher economical issues that are above the national level; and so on. while the right would claim that there is a general leftwing / communist threat not bound to any nation or politician.
but, there is an even higher layer. this is the layer of art, of music, of language, symbols, philosophy, and everything related to it and so much more.
of course, to the everyday citizen, this will be completely absurd. most people find it hard to realize art and music could be more important than work and family (as most teenagers in a conflict with their parents will find out) - to believe art could be more important and powerful than the goverment is insanity to them.
but yet - think of it. it is true. elvis presley's music had a bigger impact and did a deeper change to western and general society than any single US president in the 20th century. british citizen at first were more shocked by punkrock then by the threat of a soviet war.
this is because in this layer lies the actual power. a change of art in society can change its politics, its structures, its modus, and then by this how everyday life is lived and its conditions.
now, the very everyday citizens will dismiss this claim. but it shows they're hypocritical and contradictionary about it. if rock'n'roll was just meaningless rubbish, auditive waste - why were they so afraid it, why did they fight it so heavily? if it was of less importance - they could've just ignored it. same could be said for any new art movement that was introduced in the last centuries, or even fashion - also subcultures, new modes of language, of symbolism, such as in rap or graffiti culture (although for today's kids it might be hard to realize how deeply their parents' parent generation was scared by these things).
the introduction of a new, brilliant art form was almost immediately met by panic and outrage of politicians and conservatives of any camp. this is a testament to the power of art.
why is this this way? i'll give an attempt at an explanation - that is hardly complete or objective. politics is not just politics or economics; they're based on philosophies, on a thesis, on concepts, thought out structures, an analysis. and this is where we reach the realm of - philosophy, and symbols, and language, from which these concepts and programmes are created and taken. thus, language, philosophy and symbolism is the very basis, the root, the creating power of political programmes and economical strategies, which are then employed by politicans and CEOs and effect the workplace and everyday life. art and music is the other side of the coin of philosophy - not visibly seen as "philosophy" or reflected thinking by many, but also based on thoughts, concepts, ideas, creative, conceptualism. art is connected to symbolism and logic and language.

most people do not even look at political philosophy or likewise things when considering their dire everyday life and work situation anymore. even harder would it be to them to look up further and see that art and language towers above all this.
yet, art and music and language have this power; even if it was forgotten it can be resurrected; and we as artists should have good intentions to better the world and give people something to hope & inspire for, and should use art and other forms to achieve this.