So today we talked about allegory as a form and also discussed the meaning of "The Allegory of the Cave". Find something from popular culture that you can argue makes use of Plato's "Allegory of the Cave". Provide convincing evidence that it mirrors Plato's argument about enlightenment. Please provide a link to the piece that you choose. Also, use quotes and or examples from The Allegory of the Cave to prove your point. When commenting on other's blogs, agree or disagree that the argument is valid.
PS. No repeats please. First come first serve!
PSS. If you cannot find any pre-made connections, you must think of your own. Read interpretations and analysis of "The Allegory of the Cave" and then think. There are an endless number of songs and tv shows and movies that embody the themes of Allegory of the Cave. Best of luck.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oUHlx119Cv4
ReplyDeleteI feel that the song "Light" from the musical Next To Normal, is a very good representation of the Allegory of the Cave. Since it is one of my favorite musicals, I have heard the song countless times, but it wasn't until now that I realized it's true meaning. The musical is about a woman with psychological problems trying to figure out her life, and this song sticks out as a song about becoming enlightened and going from the darkness to the light. In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, Socrates says, " Imagine once more, I said, such an eye opening one coming suddenly out of the sun to be replaced in his old situation; would he not be certain to have his eyes full of darkness?" In "Light" one of the lyrics says, " And when the night has finally gone. And when we see the new day dawn. We'll wonder how we wandered for so long, so blind. The wasted world we thought we knew, the light will make it look brand new." Both are saying that the old situation, being in the cave or the darkness is being blind and not knowing what else is out there. They also talk of how things are much different when you grow to see the new reality in the light or the sun. They also tell of the world or reality that they thought was real but turned out to be fake. "Light" is a pretty accurate portrayal of the Allegory of the Cave and its focus on becoming enlightened.
Rachel,
DeleteI really like your comparison of "Light" and The Allegory of the Cave. You made a great point about the blindness portrayed in both The Allegory of the Cave and "Light." The quotes you chose mirrored each other almost perfectly.
A piece in pop culture that mirrors "The Allegory of The Cave" is the movie Gods Not Dead. It is not the main character of the movie that best portrays this, but rather the atheist teacher. This man was an avid atheist, and ridiculed others if they were not. People were constantly trying to convince him that God did in fact exist. However, he was comfortable with his life and it would be painful for him to convert, much like it would be at first painful for a prisoner of the cave to be blinded as he escaped the darkness. The man is like he second prisoner, staying in his dark and miserable place because he is unwilling to take a leap of faith. And when the freed prisoner comes back down to the cave to help his friend, much like Josh Wheaton tried to free professor Raddison form his hate, the man refused to be unchained. As well as refusing to be freed, the man scorns the freed prisoner in the same way that Professor Raddison mocks his student.
ReplyDeleteA second parallel in the movie is the Muslim girl Ayisha. Ayisha is much like the first prisoner in the "Allegory of the Cave", making a journey from shadows to truth. Much like the first prisoner, she has to endure a painful adjustment period where she is thrown form her family and her life changes. After her so version, she sends a text message begging others to free themselves from their chains to live in Christ. These are two examples of the many parallels between the movie Gods Not Dead and Plato's "Allegory of the Cave"
Catherine,
DeleteI really liked your comparison between the Muslim girl, Ayisha, and the first prisoner. She finally digs herself a path through the troubles and obstacles of her life and finds God. She really did free herself from the chains and found Him, then she even tries to help others. Great mirror between the film and story.
Catherine,
DeleteI think you made a great comparison between Professor Raddison and the prisoner who was not free. He does everything he can possibly do to avoid God and shot down every argument Josh presented. It is just like how the prisoners shot down the prisoner who was freed and had stories about the shadows that the other prisoners just did not want to accept. I think it was a great comparison to The Allegory of the Cave.
Catherine,
DeleteI agree that God's Not Dead is a very good example of the Allegory of the Cave. I like how you bring up that Professor Raddison's conversion would be painful because he was blind in his old ways it really connects to coming into the light, out of the cave, and into the truth.
Catherine,
DeleteI think you found one of the best examples so far that go with the "Allegory of the Cave." I think it was very true how you said that it would be too painful for the professor to covert because he did not want to come out of his own darkness. I think it was also a good pick because each of us students can relate to the movie because we all watched it as a school community. Great analogy.
Catherine,
DeleteI really think that relating atheists versus Catholic or other religions is a very good point relating to Allegory of the Cave. I was even thinking about talking about this point too. There is the point that atheists are looking for the light in their lives, same with other religions. With any religion or atheist there could be puppeteers trying to sway someone into their thinking. I agree with your comparison to God is Not Dead.
Catherine,
DeleteI really liked your comparison between the atheist teacher and the prisoner. I thought that was a really great comparison because it matched so well. I do believe that people that are atheist haven't seen the light and when someone tries to show them the light it hurts the atheist because they have never seen it before. It hurts because they are being shown the real truth and reality. I agree with your comparison with the movie God is Not Dead.
Catherine,
DeleteThis movie is one of favorites. I really enjoyed the comparison you made about the teacher and prisoner, it really makes sense! When I would think back on this movie, I would never encountered that interpretation. These parallels are great things I never would of thought!
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ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite old rock songs I consider a piece of a pop culture Allegory of the Cave is "Bohemian Rhapsody". Bohemian Rhapsody is one of my favorite old rock songs that I would listen to all the time as I grew up. I never realized it portrayed this meaning, until I found out. As I interpret the song closer, I see that it really does resemble true enlightenment and same ideas from Allegory of the Cave. As I think back on the many times I have sung this powerful, fun song, I realized I never thought about its meaning until the past couple times I heard it. It shows a true allegorical (hidden) meaning. This song talks about a murderer and his wrong choices. It shows enlightenment because the murderer at the end of the song tells up on the murder he has encountered, but in the long run he realizes nobody is actually there anymore for him to stay true to. He faces this fact though. Plato talks about how the prisoners are searching for truth in Allegory of the Cave. In Bohemian Rhapsody this resembles because the murderer is searching for someone to have and believe in again, just like the search for the prisoners for truth. In the Allegory of the Cave Socrates states, "Moreover I said, you must not wonder those who attain this beatific vision are unwilling to descend in human affairs; for their souls are ever hastening in the upper world where they desire to dwell". This concerns deeply with Bohemian Rhapsody because even though the murderer committed this crime affair, he faces the fact that no one is there to believe in and he still somewhat dwells throughout goodness, truth, and the light he still has within.
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R3_0Pky8vVg
I completely agree with the connections that you made using this song. The connection that you made between the murder in Bohemian Rhapsody and the prisoners of the cave truly represent the Allegory of the Cave. I also enjoyed how you analyzed the search for enlightenment in this song.
DeleteThe greatest modern day representation of "Allegory of the Cave", in my eyes, is "The Matrix". It has many similarities and tells a story of mankind's enlightenment throughout the whole movie. I thought it was a great film when we watched it in Computer Apps and until I read Plato's story, I have never made this connection. The movie is about a man named Neo, who is shielded from the real world by a computer simulation called earth, much like the shadows created on the walls of the cave. Morpheus tells Neo that, "The Matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth." When he is offered a pill from Morpheus, he takes the opportunity and is freed, just like when the prisoner escapes the chains in "The Allegory of the Cave". Plato states, "when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him". When Neo finally sees the real world, he too feels sharp pains and realizes that his former life was a total scam, a complete waste of time. As the movie continues, Neo learns what it means to be called "The One", and has to help the real world save humankind from the power of the Artificial Intelligence Machines. Just like Neo, the liberated man from the Cave must use his new knowledge to help his former companions be truly free. I believe that "The Matrix" and "The Allegory of the Cave" are almost exactly alike in their motives and goals.
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ1_IbFFbzA
Charlie, I like your comparison between Neo being freed by Morpheus with the pill that opened his eyes, and the prisoners that broke free of the chains and were able to go and see the light of truth. I also like how you talked about each of us having to free not only ourselves but the people around us as well. Very well done making a comparison between these two scenarios.
DeleteCharlie, I was in your Computer Apps class last year and I remember watching the Matrix. I knew it was a movie with deep meaning in regards to the truth, but I had no idea these two works were so interconnected. I like how you compared Neo and the prisoner and titled them as "The One," because they both have obligations to save society from such limitations.
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DeleteCharlie, I love your comparison with the Matrix being a world pulled over your eyes. It is very similar to being underground in the cave. I also like how the pill is the escape into reality and enlightenment.
DeleteCharlie,
DeleteI agree completely that "The Matrix" is exactly like "The Allegory of the Cave." I really like your comparison of the pill and the prisoner being freed from his chains. I also really like how you compare Neo being in pain in the real world, and the prisoner being in the sun.
Charlie,
DeleteI really liked how you compared "The Matrix" to "The Allegory of the Cave". I think that is the closest anyone could get to "The Allegory of the Cave." I liked how you compared the prisoner being freed from his chains and Neo being freed by taking the pill. I really enjoyed that movie and I never knew how much these two were alike. I agree with your comparison completely.
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DeleteCharlie,
DeleteI think your decision to compare "The Allegory of the Cave" with the "Matrix" was perfect. I would say that the two stories are very similar. Neo doesn't realize what is happening in his life just like the prisoners don't understand what is going on in the cave. "The Matrix" was a great choice!
After doing a little overlook of websites on the internet, I found that a good representation for the Allegory of the Cave would be in the song "Wide Awake" by Katy Perry. In her lyrics, Perry explains to us how people are sitting in darkness too afraid to come out of the showdown. She states "Yeah, I was in the dark. I was falling hard. With an open heart. (I'm wide awake). How did I read the stars so wrong? (I'm wide awake). And now it's clear to me, that everything you see ain't always what it seems. (I'm wide awake). Yeah, I was dreaming for so long." The last line of lyrics when she said she was dreaming can be best related to the cave because the cave is just one big dream. It is a way to help us visualize a picture in our heads of what we blind ourselves from seeing and believing. Also, other lyrics from the song can also show us how we may have misconceived what is actually the truth and what is not. This would relate to the cave when a prisoner is set free and is able to finally see the truth. You must work to get out of the cave. It is a hard thing to overcome; seeing, believing, and understanding the actual truth of the lives we live. We cannot live with a fog over our eyes that blinds us from breaking free of the chains that bind us and entering into the light of truth.
ReplyDeletehttp://popmusicandphilosophy.blogspot.com/2014/07/katy-perry-walks-out-of-platos-cave.html
Dan,
DeleteI really like your comparison of "Wide Awake" to The Allegory of the Cave. Tho comparison you made between dreaming in "Wide Awake" to being in the cave was spot on. People need to wake up and realize the truth, just like how the prisoner was released and turned to enlightenment. I think did a great job compsrign "Wide Awake" to The Allegory of the Cave
Dan,
DeleteI agree with you completely about how this song relates to the Allegory of the Cave. When the lyrics speak of how things are not always what they seem, it is just like how the shadows seem more real than the actual things themselves. I have not thought about this song in ways of enlightenment before, but now I see how connected they truly are.
Dan, I really like the description and explanation that the cave is just one big dream. Also, when you made the statement about the fog that I fully and wholly agreed on. In all I loved how you made this relatable and used examples to make it easier and better to understand!
DeleteDan,
DeleteI agree with you that the the song "Wide Awake" parallels the Allegory of the Cave in many ways. Your point on how we misconceive lies to be the truth make a lot of sense. The line "How did I read the stars so wrong." Shows how we are given false signals that are deliberately meant to throw us off track, much like the way the prisoners were deliberately shown the shadows from the people behind the wall.
I like the connection you made between the cave being like a dream. Like a dream, the people in the cave can't really control what is happening. Our dreams help us realize what is real and what isn't, which is similar to being enlightened. Dreams can be complicated though, as they provide a false sense of reality.
DeleteThe selection I chose that chose is the song "Blinded by the Light" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. I think this song can be interpreted or related to the Allegory of the Cave because constantly Plato tells us how once the one prisoner was set free he became blinded by the light. When Socrates was telling Glaucon about releasing a prisoner he described it and then went on saying, "he will suffer sharp pains, the glare will distress him." In a sense, this is what the song "Blinded by the Light" is saying. The song is saying basically that when people finally realize something they are blinded by the light just like the prisoners are in the Allegory of the Cave. An example of this is when Manfred Mann's Earth Band sings, " some all hot, half-shot, heading for a hotspot, snapping fingers clapping his hands." Basically when a "know it all kid" realizes he really doesn't know it all, and then realizes that he is blinded by the light. The Allegory of the Cave and "Blinded by the Light" both are similar in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteLink: http://youtu.be/OlBifX0H3yg
Gabriel, I think you found a great comparison to the Allegory of the Cave. We are all blinded by the light. Whether it is the good light leading us to the truth or the bad gloss over our eyes keeping us from believing what is right. The song "Blinded by the Light" is a perfect example showing us that we are blinded from seeing, just as the freed prisoners were blinded when they first exited the cave. Nice job.
DeleteGabe,
DeleteI really liked your comparison between the song and the story. I never thought of that song in this manner. I think that it's good when someone is finally Blinded by the Light because like you said, even though it will distress thrm sometimes, they finally will understand the truth. This was a great comparison between the upbeat song and the old story.
A modern day representation of The Allegory of the Cave is the movie Unknown. The movie is about a character Dr. Martin Harris played by Liam Neeson. Neeson is really an assassin working to steal importan information from a scientist and making it look like it was an assassination attempt on a prince at the same hotel. This isn't not revealed to the viewers however, the movie begins with Neeson taking a cab to the airport to retrieve a bag. The cab gets in an accident and "Dr. Harris" wakes up from a coma four days later. At the time the viewers do not know Neeson is not really Dr. Harris because Neeson had been studying the role for the mission and believes he is the character when he wakes up. Neeson believes he is this person until the organization he is part of nearly kills him because he continues to get in the way of the mission by accusing the assassin, who is taking his place, of stealing his identity. After he realizes he is not Dr. Harris, he sets out looking for his real identity. Upon discovering that he was chosen to carry out the hit and steal the information, Neeson sets out to stop it. He succeeds in protecting the prince, the information and most of the people from the bomb. The movie relates to The Allegory of the Cave because when Neeson wakes from the come, he thinks he is someone else, similar to how the prisoners thought the were viewing images that were real instead of statues. It is also similar because Neeson comes to the realization that he is not Dr. Harris, similar to how one prisoner discovers that the images and statues were not real after exiting the cave. Finally, the two can be compared because Neeson uses his new knowledge to stop the plans being stolen and misused and the prisoner came to enlightenment from his experience. Unknown and The Allegory of the Cave are very similar in the fact that a character realizes they have been believing lies and seek for the truth. Both of the stories portray the message that not everything we believe is true and that we must work to find the truth.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unknown_(2011_film)
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ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ahTZ83tDjxE
ReplyDeleteI believe "I Saw the Light" by Hank Williams has a definite connection to The Allegory of the Cave. Williams uses a theological approach that exemplifies The Allegory of the Cave. Religion is often associated with enlightenment, which makes "I Saw the Light" an even more accurate portrayal of the cave. The first and most obvious connection to this analogy is light. Hank Williams uses the analogy of seeing light when he discovers God. The sin Williams refers to in his song is represented in The Allegory of the Cave by the darkness of the cave. Hank Williams was "chained in the cave" by his own worries and fears, but Jesus led him out of the sin and darkness by showing him the light of God's grace. Hank Williams is like the first prisoner who saw the light and returned to the cave to enlighten the others. The song spreads the word of Williams' enlightenment so others can also be enlightened.
Later in the song, Hank Williams sings that he was blind and simply followed others, much like the people trapped in the cave who believe the shadows to be reality. Lastly, Williams says that he has learned wrong from right. Once the prisoners went above ground and saw the light of day, they learned true reality rather than just the shadow shown to them by others.
I agree with all of the connections that you made between this song and the Allegory of the Cave. I really enjoyed how you used the example of religion to show enlightenment. From your explanation of the song, I believe that it was also a song written about the cave. Many examples that you gave, like the chains and shadows, also show the true meaning of the cave.
DeleteEminem- Beautiful Pain ft. Sia
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E2hzC6vaPYo
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DeleteAllegory of the Cave can be applied to many topics in today’s society, especially politics. It all depends on how you look at the political discourse, from which side. September 11, 2012 in Benghazi, Libya, the United States Embassy building was attacked, four Americans lost their lives, “one of the most damaging terror attacks since 9/11”. In the midst, the 2012 Presidential election was occurring, creating the never declared terrorist attack to be put aside. In my opinion, the whole attack was never brought to the full attention it should have been due to circumstances of the close Presidential race. The emails of the communication between Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and other governmental officials was kept on the down low and kept secret from the American people. Relating the issue to Allegory of the Cave, the puppeteers would be the government officials, Hillary Clinton, President Obama, and others in office at that time. The prisoners shackled to the wall would be a clear representation of the American people being disgusted from the truth of the issue. An issue revolving around Benghazi is Clinton’s emails have been removed, leaving evidence of what truly happened on the night of September 11, 2012 possibly gone. Time will tell if the prisoners, American people, will be able to come out of the cave to see the light, the truth about Benghazi.
ReplyDeletewww.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/07/21/irs-benghazi-fast-and-furious-will-ever-know-truth-about-obama-administration.html
Elise, I like how you interepreted this from a political standpoint. I had never really thought about "The Allegory of the Cave" being interrelated with the ideals of government. I definitely agree with your proposition that higher officials, like President Obama and Hillary Clinton, would be the puppeteers due to their control and potential divulgence of misinformation.
DeleteElise,
DeleteI like how you related the allegory of the cave to a real thing. Like a real event. I like your thoughts on this, and I agree.
Elise, I love the political and thought provoking idea!! This is a really interesting idea. The idea and thought of the prisoners, as being us Americans, being shackled away from the truth Is very agreeable and pure.
DeleteElise,
DeleteI very much agree with you that the Allegory of the Cave can be used to represent the politics in America. It is very interesting that you interpreted America as the shackled prisoner. If we believe this is true, then we should ask ourselves how many other times this has happened. How many other times has the majority of Americans played the part of the prisoner, being shown false information from the media. Also, if this is happening to American citizens, it is alarming that none of them really seem to care, much like the second prisoner who would not leave the cave.
Catherine,
DeleteI agree completely that Benghazi is not the only time the American people have been lied to. This is why I am such a political nerd I would say. I worry about the information being given to the American people. A bigger issue is that who really cares, a slim population it seems, especially in our school.
Elise,
DeleteI enjoyed the way that you compared government officials to the puppeteers in "The Allegory of the Cave". It seems like the government tries to mask the truth a lot similar to what goes on in the cave. Your blog was interesting to read.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI believe the Allegory of the Cave particularly relates to the song "Amazing Grace." The lyrics that describe Plato's work perfectly are "I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see." I think the Allegory of the Cave can relate to religious beliefs in a sense that God is our light. Once we find God, we can truly see the light. The prisoners in the cave were trapped only to see deception and shadows of reality, but when we know the truth, we can really be true followers. Plato states, "At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains... When he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has clearer vision." This statement directly relates to religion. The two are connected because we all hope to be "blinded by the light" someday and find our way to eternal light, out of the cave. As lyrics in "Amazing Grace" say, grace will lead me home.
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u4qbmPpfG6s
Kara,
DeleteThe song you picked portryed "The Allegory of the Cave" rather well. The lyrics you mentioned in your write up were perfect because the prisoner was lost from the real world, and was found by reality once he was freed from the cave.
Kara,
DeleteGreat work with this blog. That was a very genius idea. That song seems like it would be the first to come to mind but I never thought of that. I like how you said that the Allegory of the Cave can relate to our religious beliefs. I agree. Good work.
Kara,
DeleteI greatly agree with your blog. When thinking on a pop culture image, I also thought about this song. I truly believe that the Allegory of the Cave can relate with our religious beliefs also. The lyrics too that you chose greatly portray the prisoners throughout Palto's work!
In my opinion, the thesis of the song "Beautiful Pain" by Eminem can be thoroughly likened to that of "The Allegory of the Cave." Eminem, as most know, is an artist who displays a rich amount of emotion in all of his works. It so happens that in this composition, featuring Sia, Plato's ideas and theories are reiterated and illustrated in a unique way. The song begins with the following: "I can feel the heat rising. Everything is on fire. Today's a painful reminder of why we can only get brighter. The further you put it behind ya, and right now I'm on the inside lookin out, cause, I found her in the flames. There's a beautiful kind of pain, setting fire to yesterday. Find the light, find the light, find the light." In these opening lyrics, I noticed several, particular connections with Plato's work. For instance, a lasting fire goes on and on behind them and they are on the inside of the cave "looking out," so to speak. This, in turn, inevitably reveals that the prisoners can only see mere shadows of everything in the cave. They are unaware of the true nature of any person or object. However, the relationship between finding the light and its ramifications remains of the utmost importance. In Plato's allegory, the prisoner who was released found the light and discovered the unbelievable transformation to the real world. Although, he discerned the luminosity in a painful manner. "And suppose once more, that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he's forced into the presence of the sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he approaches the light, his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities." After being in the darkness his entire life, the transition from darkness into light was brutal. Think about when you wake up in the morning and you turn on the light. The brightness is blinding for a few seconds, but your eyes make a quick adaptation. Once this stage passes by, the purpose of turning on the light is fulfilled: you can see things for what they really are. My point is that Eminem's outlook on this situation is equivalent to Plato's. Eminem describes being enlightened as a "beautiful kind of pain." Understandably, there are going to be obstacles along the way, many filled with agony, but the most important part lies in the scenario when one discovers the light of truth in the midst of all misconceptions and illusions.
ReplyDeleteJared,
DeleteThe song you chose related to the story well, and i enjoyed how you brought up emotion and pain in your write up. The "Allegory of the Cave" can be seen as an emotional allegory when the prisoner is freed and sees reality for the first time, although it may cause him pain.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BQeMxWjpr-Y
ReplyDeletehttp://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/coldplay/midnight.html
The song "Midnight" by Coldplay reflects the message of enlightenment and the Allegory of the Cave almost perfectly. One lyric that is constantly repeated discusses light. When I began analyzing this song I learned that the light was a connection to enlightenment. When I read the lyrics, I began to understand that everything began connecting to the Allegory of the Cave. Coldplay also mentions things like darkness, swirling storms, and thorns. In my opinion, these represent the characteristics of the cave. However, they also use the light and the dawn to represent freedom from the cave and enlightenment. I believe that the Allegory of the Cave was greatly represented through this song. Coldplay made many connections to the cave and enlightenment that helped me to understand Plato's work even further.
I loved this connection and I wouldn't have made it myself. I also agree Coldplay made many connections to The Allagory of the Cave in this song. I agree that light is a connection to enlightenment especially in this song.
DeleteI think an excellent example of the allegory of the cave is the movie "Inception." In "Inception" the characters are trapped in a dream state where the constantly question reality. Just like in "The Allegory of the Cave" how after the prisoner is shown the real world he questions everything he knows. People in "Inception" question whether or not they are in a dream, they can't differentiate the the real world from the dream world. Another example from how "Inception" is an example of "The Allegory of the Cave" is how there are two different worlds, and how the people in each believe the world they are in is real. In "Inception" the people in the dream world the people dreaming think they are in real life, and that they are in the real world. Just like in "The Allegory of the Cave" the people chained to the cave think they are in the real world, they don't know about the outside world, to themake the real world is the cave. Another example is how neither group of people remember the beginning. The people trapped in the cave do not remember being placed in the cave. They have been in the cave for their entire lives. They don't know anything other thenight the world of the cave. Just like in "Inception" the dreamer doesn't remember the beginning of the dream. When you fall asleep and dream do you remember the beginning of dream? You do not. They assume that the dream is real because the cannot remember falling asleep.
ReplyDeleteInception was a really good example of "The Allegory of the Cave". I like how you pointed out how the people are chained to their dreams, just like the people are chained in the cave. In the movie and in the cave, the people aren't truly in charge of their own lives and lack free wil.
DeleteZach, I really like how you tied in the questioning of reality into the allegory of the cave it really fit well. I love the comparison with the different worlds and how everyone thinks that they are right. It was a great comparison.
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ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/watch?v=xP-ZwmCPBAs
The movie "Limitless" protrays examples of enlightenment much like "The Allegory of the Cave." In the movie, the main character consumes a pill which allows him to access 100% of his brain. He was living in the shadows before he took the pill, much like how the chained prisoners, who were only seeing shadows on the wall. The prisoners were unaware that there was life beyond the shadows in the cave. The prisoners and the main character in the movie "Limitless" both had experiences that made them realize that they were not seeing life in its most true form. When the main character in the movie took the pill and his mind was opened, he experienced a brightness and his vision is blurred by all that his eyes are now able to see. The same happens to the prisoner who escapes from the cave. He is blinded by the light outside and all the things he is now able to see.
Brad,
DeleteI like how you mention the view that the prisoners did not know there was life beyond the shadows. I have never seen "Limitless" but it sounds as though it ties in quite well with the "Allegory of the Cave." Overall, from the examples you gave I agree with you.
I think when I read "Flowers for Algernon" this summer I was enlightened by the thought process of Daniel Keyes. I think these handicapped people are like the prisoners in "The Allegory of the Cave." Everyone in our society today is under the allusion that these people need fixed. Society serves as these people as their shackles. They are scared to "see the light" because society makes fun of who they are. When Charlie had his surgery done he learned how society really thought of how he is. The people who thought were his friends really weren't. This compares to how Socrates explained how the prisoners saw the light then retreated back to the safety of the cave. When they saw the real world they went back to how it was because they didn't have the courage to face the light. Charlie retreated away from his "friends." Charlie did have the courage to face the world and learn all that he could. He struggled to fit into society like the prisoners. The illusions that the prisoners saw which were the shadows and Charlie's illusion is that the surgery is working. When they found out the surgery didn't work the illusion was over and he went back to normal just like the prisoners did
ReplyDeleteMakenzie,
DeleteI love how you connected our summer reading book to The Allegory of the Cave. I never considered all of the connections that could be made be made between the two. You provided excellent examples of a mental disability being the "chains" that keep Charlie from enlightenment.
Makenzie,
DeleteI love this connection. When I read this book two years ago, I loved and hated it. It made you realize certain circumstances about handicapped people that you may have not known. Also, just because that person may have a disability does not mean they are incapable in partaking in life. You made that point very well.
Kenz,
DeleteI really like how you connected "Flowers for Algernon" and "The Allegory of the Cave." I like how you compared the handicapped people to the prisoners in the cave. Also how Charlie's surgery was him "seeing the light."
I think the song Coming Home by Diddy relates to the allegory of the cave. It talks about forgiving mistakes, and "let the rain was away all the pain of yesterday". And in the allegory of the cave, you learn from mistakes and become a better person. So I feel that they are related, because they both talk about becoming a better person and putting yesterday's mistakes behind them.
ReplyDeleteChester,
DeleteI can see where you are coming from with your analysis and I agree. Coming home relates because they both stipulate the past and look into the future with positive remarks.
This is teeny tiny!!!!!!! And throw me a bone and send the link Chester!
DeleteHotel California is a great example of the allegory of the cave. The person arrives at the hotel, but he is not sure about the place. "This could be Heaven or this could be Hell." He is a prisoner in the hotel with drug addicts and people who only care for material things. "Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends." The "captain" said that there hasn't been a spirit since 1969. Which means no one comes and goes. He says that the voices wake him up in the middle of the night. This is very similar to the echoes in the allegory of the cave. The mirrors on the ceiling are the distorted images like the shadows from the fire. At the end of the song, the main character tries to get out of the hotel, but he is told he can checkout, but never leave. The women says that everyone in the hotel has there own reasons for being prisoners. The refrain says that there is always room in the hotel, anytime of year. The cave in the allegory of the cave can hold many prisoners and they do not even you that they are there.
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyy4yaVwsv0
DeleteHey Mitch,
DeleteI really like your comparison. Especially with the " this could be heave or this could be hell".that shows that it's your choice to either become better or stay the same. I like it.
I think you did a great job making this connection. I really like the comparison of the echoes of the cave.
DeleteThe song "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars relates to Plato's tale in a secretive but distinct way. In the song, there is a verse that goes "Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound." I believe that this phrase is relative to the story, The Allegory of the Cave, due to the fact that when they find the light they will find the enlightenment, happiness, and peace. The prisoners cannot see what is good for them, and they cannot look out and try to find the light. Just like this song, one day they will be able to seek what they are missing and they too will be safe and sound. This song portrays that a new day will come and we all will find a new light and satisfaction that we've been chained away from. The song mentioned the lyrics, "When all those shadows almost killed your light". The prisoners could only see what their shadows showed them, and this distorted them to think what the real light was. This lyric spiritually expresses and relates to the prisoners because if they would let the shadows distort their views then they would not be able to see the light.
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f_FkM0S-PgY
Reilly,
DeleteI really like how you thought this through on such an intellectual and deep level. I agree with you when you bring up that we someday will find a new light and be free from the world we are chained too. Throughout your blog you bring up very good points that support your relation between the two.
I believe the song Arlington, by Trace Atkins, has a remarkable amount of similarity to the Allegory of the Cave for the reasons that they both speak of enlightenment, peace, honor, and respect. The lyrics, "And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property, I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company, I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done, I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones, I made it to Arlington" means that he has done everything to make the world a better place based off of what his dad had told him about his granddad. It relates to the cave because in the cave they are looking for the light of freedom. In the song he fought for his country to give everyone the light and chance of being free.
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1fIDU_sLTK0
I think that "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein makes use of "The Allegory of the Cave. The tree gives its branches, leaves, and trunk to the boy. When the boy was older he even used the old tree as a seat. When he grew in age he realized that the key to happiness was giving. In "The Allegory of the Cave" the prisoners were like the main character when he was little. He was unaware of what the tree was doing for him. When he got older or, came out of the cave, he realized what the tree had done for him over the years. After he had realized how generous the tree was he had an unbelievable appreciation towards it. The same thing goes for "The Allegory of the Cave. Once people understand life, they have a much better appreciation for it.
ReplyDeletehttp://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/35C1809B-B30D-450E-AE7C-1F399C7CA5AF/155278/TheGivingTreePoem.pdf
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6143wSYlwn4
ReplyDeleteI believe that a good pop culture example is "A Whole New World" from the movie Aladdin. The song tells the story of a princess and a poor boy both who were secluded from the world, who finally see the world as a new, exciting place place as they fly around on a magic carpet. Just like in "The Allegory of the Cave", the song is about enlightenment and realizing there is more to life than meets the eye. Both the poor boy and princess were "shackled" throughout their lives. The princess was held back by her overprotective father who kept her in the house all day. The poor boy was limited in life by his lack of resources, such as money. The boy was treated badly by the townspeople, which gave him the illusion that the whole world was full of ignorant people. Once the two managed to break free from their limitations, they soon realized the world was a much different place than they once thought. A line in the song is "A dazzling place I never knew. But when I'm way up here, it's crystal clear that now I'm in a whole new world with you." A line from "The Allegory of the Cave" that I think relates to the song and story well is "like leaden weights, were attached to them at their birth, and which drag them down and turn the vision of their souls upon the things that are below-if, I say, they had been released from these impediments and turned in the opposite direction, the very same faculty in them would have seen the truth as keenly as they see what their eyes are turned to now". This quote relates to how the two had burdens that prevented them from seeing the world rightly.
Found this through a random google search. I am obviously not one of your students, but I figured you may enjoy these:
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/aqVWmgrWK08 They Might Be Giants - No One Knows My Plan directly references the allegory with the lines, "When I made a shadow on my window shade/They called the police and testified/ But they're like the people chained up in the cave/I n the allegory of the people in the cave by the Greek guy." The song is also from the perspective of a prisoner, like the dwellers of the cave. It doesn't necessarily have any deep connection, but it's a fun song and it's a very clear reference.
https://youtu.be/I7MHumO_SgM Shield Your Eyes - Jawbreaker
Blake Schwarzenbach, the lead singer of Jawbreaker, graduated NYU with an literature degree and is currently an English Professor at Hunter College in the CUNY system in NYC. His song Shield Your Eyes is basically the Allegory itself re-imagined as a punk song.
There was a sun once.
It lit the whole damn sky.
It kept everything alive.
And there was a man once.
He looked it straight in the eye.
He saw everything.
He went blind.
The truth burns bright.
There's too much there sometimes.
The sun it shows, the sun it blinds.
Best to keep your eyes.
Stare at the sidewalk lines.
Let lies lie don't let them shine.
The blind man staggers.
And he grabs at his eyes.
He can't do anything.
Everything is a lie.
Now he sits around.
And he stares at the walls.
He can't do anything at all.
Shield your eyes from all this misery.
The Song is essentially a prisoner of the cave telling the story of the man who experience the allegory to someone else. He speaks of the man who saw the sun and went blind. The line, "The Truth Burns Bright/There's too much there some times/ The Sun it shows, the Sun it blinds" refers to the both the process of being blinded by the literal sun, but also the man becoming blind upon return to the cave. He has seen so much of the truth he can no longer see from the perspective of the cave dwellers.
Since the narrator lacks the perspective of enlightenment, he only sees that the trip to see the sun has blinded the man from the cave dwellers perspective: "Now he sits around/and he stares at the walls/he can't do anything at all/shield your eyes from all this misery."