THE FUNCTION OF CIVILIZATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN CREATIVE LITERATURE: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LITERARY EXPRESSION IN THE EVOLUTION OF CULTURAL IDENTITY

Abstract

This study explores the dynamic interplay between civilizational consciousness and creative literature, emphasizing how literary expression serves as a powerful medium for shaping, preserving, and evolving cultural identity. Civilizational consciousness refers to the collective awareness of cultural values, historical experiences, and societal norms that define a community. Creative literature, as both a reflection and critique of its time, embeds these elements in artistic expression, thus functioning as a mirror and mold of civilizational identity. This paper examines how literary texts through themes, characters, and narrative structures, carry the imprints of civilizational thought, transmitting cultural memory across generations. Furthermore, the research investigates how modern and classical literary works contribute to the evolution of identity in postcolonial, multicultural, and global contexts. Through critical analysis and selected textual examples, the study argues that literature is not merely a product of civilization but also an active agent in its transformation. The research concludes that literary expression holds significant potential in the cultural reawakening and redefinition of collective identity in an era of rapid change and hybridization.

Key Words:  Civilizational Consciousness, Creative Literature, Cultural Identity, Literary Expression, Postcolonial Discourse, Cultural Evolution, Identity Formation