In this reflective essay, the author contemplates what he calls a cultural battle. This clash triggers a divisive process across Western societies and threatens the very freedom of knowledge. The work titled The Trenches of Letters, by a Spanish writer and journalist associated with Prensa Ibérica, received the XXX International Essay Prize Jovellanos this Wednesday. The author expressed surprise and immense joy upon learning of the honor. The prize, promoted by Ediciones Nobel and carrying a prize of 9,000 euros, was praised by the jury for its brilliant and witty approach. It is described as tackling timely topics such as the dominance of political correctness, all while maintaining a provocative yet conciliatory tone.
“Thinking today is a contentious act,” the author notes, because well-formed thought can lead to conclusions that challenge the dogmas held by others. This line of thinking anchors the central argument: the essay analyzes how free thinking can collide with entrenched beliefs, provoking debate and resistance alike.
The author explains that the essay grew from years of examining these cultural clashes. Numerous examples and controversies serve to raise a fundamental question: what exactly are we constantly debating, and why does politics seep into every aspect of life? Why does a song that one has enjoyed for years suddenly feel problematic? The investigation is grounded in careful reflection on these curiosities and tensions within contemporary discourse.
The analysis suggests that the current situation began around 2008, amid the mortgage crisis and the rise of social networks. By 2017, a peak of tension emerged, and today the field seems unsettled, with new fronts opening and no clear resolution in sight. The argument continues: movement toward equality had once enjoyed broad consensus, but a stronger, more identitarian current within feminism has gained traction. The author asks how to move forward toward a shared ground of coexistence, while recognizing the emergence of a masculine backlash that resists that unity.
“The cultural war represents an interference with knowledge,” the author states, expanding on a core idea. Parts of knowledge become preferred or rejected based on ideological positions that do not always align with traditional definitions. This dynamic helps explain why a once-popular rock anthem or a familiar song can suddenly become controversial, as culture itself is politicized. The piece emphasizes how everyday cultural artifacts can be reframed as political statements, turning what was once commonplace into a source of division and debate.