Thinking people become more thoughtful as they go along. I do know that people in all ages of history and in all places and cultures have produced art, including forms of literature. Art goes beyond mere survival and aims at growth of the soul. It touches the deepest places in us precisely because it is universal. It comes out of the deepest places, too.
Art comes out of deep feeling and addresses our emotions.
Art comes out of thought and addresses our thinking. Art comes out of questions and addresses our concerns. It struggles to identify and clarify values and challenges us to do so. It rejoices in its own capacities through its medium and invites us to do the same. It plays It probes.