Jenn Shea
Image 1
In this post- September 11 poster, the New York City World Trade Center buildings are represented and shown billowing with smoke prior to collapsing. In the background is the American flag waving and the phrases “Never Forget” and “United We Stand” are a very bold aspect of this poster. This image, although it portrays a very disturbing and upsetting image, is seen by many to promote unity and forward movement in the United States. It calls for a more unified nation in the war against terror. In this sense, this poster could also be seen as propaganda in support of the war the United States is currently fighting. Nonetheless, whether one supports Bush’s war policies and actions after September 11, it is clear that this image strives to bring the country together in an era of mayhem, uncertainty, and threat. According to Plato, even though this is imitation and clearly not the actual World Trade Center, this image would be acceptable in the advancement of the state because it is trying to move America toward order after the tragedy of September 11, 2001. This can be seen in Book X of The Republic when Plato writes, “…let us assure our sweet friend and the sister arts of imitation that if she will only prove her title to exist in a well-ordered State we shall be delighted to receive her—we are very conscious of her charms; but we may not on that account betray the truth.”
http://www.ybf.org.uk/neverforget1024x768
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Image 2
In this apparent anti-Bush piece of art, George Bush is shown on a U.S. stamp with “Patriot Act” written under him and a gun pointed at his head. Personally, I am not a huge fan of many of Bush’s policies, but I still find this to be backwards progress in the Unite
d States, as apparently many others also would because this image was banned in Wisconsin. This image shows animosity toward the president in reaction to the USA Patriot Act, but takes disagreement to a new level by displaying the gun pointed at President Bush’s head. Not only would Plato see this as a false representation of a stamp, he would also comment on the manipulation of the photo, as he comments in Book X of The Republic that, “Thus every sort of confusion is revealed within us; and this is that weakness of the human mind on which the art of conjuring and of deceiving by light and shadow and other ingenious devices imposes, having an effect upon us like magic.” Another idea that Plato touches upon is the ignorance of an artist in regards to reaching the truth of something when he says, “The poet is like a painter who, as we have already observed, will make a likeness of a cobbler though he understands nothing of cobbling; and his picture is good enough for those who know no more than he does, and judge only by colours and figures.” This piece of artwork then, according to Plato, would only be worthwhile to those who agree with the creator of this art and who do not fully understand the intentions of the Bush administration. To Plato, this would create disorder within the state in the obvious sense that it furthers the political divide in the United States and in a deeper
sense because it furthers the ignorance of the American people as they only look for what displeases them about Bush.
http://www.bigredandshiny.com/issues/issue28/pix/news/ANTI-BUSH_ART_CENSORED_24191115_thumb.jpg
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