THROUGH THE LENS OF ART: REPRESENTING POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The paper presents a new way of understanding Pakistani art by suggesting that Pakistani artists have, knowingly or unknowingly, engaged with Marxist ideas in their artistic practices. However, the study contrasts representations of poverty with references to Marxist ideology in Pakistan. Although Marxism can serve as a useful framework for analyzing literary and artistic works and generating new interpretations, this study also emphasizes the destructive effects of capitalism. It examines the struggle of the lower classes against the upper classes and exposes the hardships and suffering experienced by poor and marginalized people in Pakistan. The study further demonstrates how class differences create social tensions and inequalities for individuals who work at the lower levels of society, while those who own or control the means of production—the bourgeoisie—enjoy greater social and economic privileges. In this context, Pakistani art reflects the persistent class divisions and socioeconomic inequalities within Pakistani society.