Image 1:
In this image, we see a transformation of Grant Wood's The American Gothic, into a modern political and cultural piece. In place of the farmer and his wife, we see two of American culture's most candid faces. President Bush and Paris Hilton make quite the pair. I believe the artist has entitled his version of the famous artwork very well, by changing it to "The American Nightmare". We have allowed the less intelligible to become the icons four our day and age. Although many see through the lack of depth and careless natures both of these individuals possess, they are still, unfortunately, two of the most influential members of our society. This image demonstrates how thoughtless and lazy-minded Americans have allowed themselves to become, yet can lead the nation forward by forcing them to realize who it is they are truly idolizing. This type of art can reach all types of people because it uses an older, more popular work and transforms it into something radically different.
Plato, however, would see differently. Firstly, this work of art is only a representation of another piece of art, and could also be said to be suggestive propaganda. Instead of actually seeing President Bush and Paris Hilton, we see humorous replicas of them doctored into what becomes an imitation of reality.
Image 2:
http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/imagefolder/abughraib.jpgThis second image is a blatant representative of what is hindering our nation's prosperity, both internally and internationally. Of course many opposed the recent war (and the "non-war actions we are currently involved with) for various reasons, yet no positive sentiments will ever be received by the Governmental agencies that were involved in happenings such as the one the image displays. This displays an inmate at the Abu Ghriab prison who is being threatened with electrocution by his guards. Sadly, this is one of the many torturous events that took place. Our country cannot benefit from acts such as the one this image displays and Plato would agree with that fact. Yet, he would not recommend the controversy that would arise in the community from this apparent truth. But, as a philosopher seeking what is true and real in the world, why shouldn't the people be aware of what is going on in society.
6 comments:
For the most part, I agree with your analysis of the second image. Acts represented by this image have no place in a respectful society. However, I do not believe that Plato would have felt that the citizens of his republic should be aware of these acts if they were going on. As you can recall, Plato and Socrates were big fan of war (as long as it wasn't civil) and probably would not like acts of war being displayed in a negative way.
I completely disagree with your analysis of the first image, however. I think that this image is very detrimental to society. It puts our president on the same level as Paris Hilton, which not only promotes disunity but is a complete fallacy. Paris Hilton has never earned a thing in her life. She is an unintelligent and immature girl who cares about nothing but the superficial. President Bush is by no means perfect but he certainly is not "thoughtless", "lazy-minded", or "less intelligible". If he was, he would not have been able to become our president, and if he had, our nation would be in a much worse state that it is. I believe that Plato and Socrates would agree with my opinion of this image. It discredits the current leader of our society through lies.
I found your view of the first image very interesting; seen the way you described it, the reasoning which you gave for it being an image to lead the country forward makes perfect sense. Regarding Plato though, I think the main reason he would have tried to ban the image is because of the fact that it does make fun of the country's icons (specifically and most importantly the president) which can divide the country instead of unifying and strengthening it. And of course, it doesn't help that its an imitation!
I also agree with a lot of what you say regarding the second image. Most important though, i think, is the question that you brought up: "...as a philosopher seeking what is true and real in the world, why shouldn't the people be aware of what is going on in society."
Its actually very interesting, because it seems as though Plato the philosopher and Plato the advocate for a military state are contradictory: one urges people towards enlightenment whilst the other is willing to keep the masses uninformed. I suppose the only way to explain it is that the enlightenment and understanding he speaks of is only with regard to the ideal realm (the things one reasons within himself). Those occurrences in the world around us fall into the second realm... where i suppose the same rules, in Plato's mind, do not apply.
What I like about the first image is that is promotes our ability as Americans to be able to say what we want about our current government and culture. I don't see how it is "very detrimental to society", unless people prefer that we only be allowed to speak positively in regards to what we think of the current general state. When did promoting ideas that weren't pro-president and government become a terrible thing?
Also, due to a difference in personal interpretations of this image, I didn't really see it as equating President Bush and Paris Hilton. I saw the image as poking fun at society as a whole. These are the American leaders of our day in our government and entertainment realm; maybe it is our own fault for our current situations. You can defend President Bush, but I'm sure there are plenty of individuals who may also willingly defend Paris Hilton. I am also completely aware that some people see President Bush in a much different light than I do. Plato and Socrates probably would agree that this image shouldn't be shown, but they seemed to enjoy attempting to form the impossible Utopia by keeping everyone in the dark. And, I don't understand what "lies" you see in this image that discredit our President.
The first image in your post is very conflicting to me. While I understand the point being made in the image, I don't know if Plato would ever approve of an image that lampooned the nation's leader. That being said, or current leader is the anti-thesis of everything Plato himself represented, so in this particular instance, I'm not sure how he would feel. In an ideal Platonian (I'm unsure if that is an actual term) world, though, images like that would not exist. In Plato's ideal world, only images that praised the government would exist. Another reason why I think Plato would disagree with images of this sort is because it promotes an emotional response that I think Plato would view as detrimental to people. When I view that image, I feel a little bit of shame over the general cultural state of our nation. There is no pride evoked from that image, and while in an ideal society this image could help us to unite against a common detriment to our cultural society, the general public probably wouldn't get it in the actual world.
Also, as far as the second image is concerned, I agree that it is an image that could hinder our prosperity. But on the other hand, while the image might do nothing to unify our nation, it could be unifying to another nation, like a Middle Eastern country. Concerning Plato he might approve the image depending on what country was being represented.
Not only did I find the first image you chose to be utterly hilarious, but I completely agree with you that, because of the manner in which it displays these iconic American figures, it is a worthwhile piece of artwork and contributes to the betterment of our state of being as a nation. George W. Bush and Paris Hilton, though certainly differing in many particulars of their individual ways of living, share a similarity in that, no matter how many countless times they make blatant and thoughtless mistakes, either as the leader of a nation, or as the heiress of a fortune, they continue to be admired, sought after and given great attention in the public eye. I personally don't think that this is attention that these individuals have earned, and relish the thought of an image like this calling into question their status in American society. I fully agree with the artist of this image in their belief that to have people such as these placed upon such infinitely high pedestals is nothing short of a nightmare.
I also agree fully with your statements regarding the events shown in your second chosen image. The torturing of any defenseless human being, whether or not he or she is an enemy of one's nation, is unacceptable, and to be honest, I would have liked to think that our country's military was above that sort of behavior. Obviously, what I would like to think is not always, and certainly not in this case, the reality. Although, as I stated before, I do agree with your views that what is taking place in this image is not a progressive way to lead a nation forward, I'm not sure that the image is therefore detrimental to our state of moving forward. Due to the fact that it exposes an otherwise secretive wrongdoing of our armed forces, I, in fact, find this image to aid in bettering our state of being as a country.
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