IN the natural sciences, the word “growth” has a negative connotation, referring to a wayward cell that has a detrimental effect on its host.

I find it concerning that the world we live in today embraces and spews this word like gospel and the irony is not lost on me. 

As a parent to two children, of course the word embodies a different meaning altogether, but I’m sure the word, in this context, has been used for a longer time than how it has been used to connote “development” and “wealth” specifically. 

A simple Google search of the word spits out two definitions of the noun:

1. The process of increasing in size. Similar words: growing, extension, widening, thickening, broadening, heightening, swelling, magnification, ballooning, development, maturation, germination, shooting up, springing up, sprouting, blooming, flourishing, thriving, vegetation, burgeoning, pullulation.
2. Something that has grown or is growing.

Two antonyms to “growth”, according to Google, are shrinking and withering, but of course angel investors and funders aren’t interested in these two “negative” polar opposites. In fact, they try very hard to look the other way. 

Of course, words or nouns need context, so when you are in the presence of economists, “growth” refers to a different thing as opposed to when you are in the presence of surgeons, to whom the word refers to something biologically malignant like a cancer cell or tumour. 

I find these two diametrically opposing use of the word fascinating because if you watch any business people or economist jabber away (or those annoying YouTube advertisements that interrupt you viewing your favourite content) with the word, it takes on a darker tone.

It’s as if we human beings are the cancer cell or tumour on this planet that is chipping away and crowding everything with great gusto for rewards that are ultimately materialistic and selfish in nature (selfish not only to other fellow human beings but also other creatures in nature that we share this third rock from the Sun with). 

Taking this lens to a broader scope, when it comes to cultural or creative endeavours, “growth” takes on very different meanings to different people. 

Within the context of “creative industries”, “growth” refers to the ability for artists and creatives to earn a living or receive fundings (either from the state or private companies) to generate enough interest by the public (including tourists) so that capital can be generated to fund more future creative output. 

To an artist, “growth” can be framed into two separate but related trajectories. One, is “artistic growth”, which refers to the individual’s or collective’s artistic progress – based on building their body of work through the years (from which they will receive recognition or at the very least some street credibility). 

The second is “income growth” – the typical route of many in popular music – which refers directly to the idea that the artists’ body of work should grow in tandem with the income or funding that comes along with their increasing reputation. 

This second understanding of “growth” and the artist tends to be the standard understanding of the public when they think of a singer, musician, filmmaker or actor, even though it is not the only rubric to judge whether an artist really has “growth”, so to speak. 

Personally, from my observation and experience, there’s hardly much “growth” when it comes to a majority of artists in this country. 

Most are either hustling to get by (artists are probably the worst paid) or exploiting their reputation or achievements (either through winning awards or just being the flavour of the moment) to strike it rich when it’s hot by being the face or “ambassadors” of products.

This is where we must take a step back and take stock with this simple question: what are we really pursuing when it comes to “growth”? 

It seems to be an endless carrot we dangle in front of ourselves (and worst, in front of others) to ultimately chase desires and ambitions that are profitable in nature.

And this is where the issue of overdevelopment comes into the picture. Good grief, the word “development” itself is another oft-abused word (along with the now-trendy “lifestyle”) is the partner-in-crime with “growth”. 

These two words have come to define our post-modern age (yes, we are not in “modern” times anymore people, wake up!) of which we are now facing the very real consequence of our daily lives: climate change. 

Climate change arrived relatively late to Malaysia, considering our crazy tropical weather. 

But the past decade has been the brewing period and we’ve experienced it first-hand last December, and most recently earlier this week.

It doesn’t take a climate scientist to understand that a hill sliced in half and balding will obviously not hold massive waters from a climate change-induced thunderstorm.

It also doesn’t take a genius to notice the teh-tarik quality of gushing flood-waters. 

So, let’s take stock of this unwarranted “growth” that has come to define our epoch. 

How many malls and shoplots does a nation need? And stop trying to cover up the whole logging thing that’s been going on – the teh-tarik flows have revealed what’s been supposedly hidden from plain view (heck, just check out Google Maps). 

Without realising it, we, the human race, have become the cancer or “growth” on this planet because we keep repeating the word like a mantra. – March 11, 2022.

* Azmyl Yunor is a touring underground recording artiste, and an academic in media and cultural studies. He has published articles on pop culture, subcultures and Malaysian cultural politics. He adheres to the three-chords-and-the-truth school of songwriting, and Woody Guthrie’s maxim “All you can write is what you see”. He is @azmyl on Twitter.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.