Ted Henderson post 2 first half

A piece of relatively current artwork that I find to support the idea of the state which we, as a nation, continually move forward towards is the film American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes. Certainly, upon first glance, this film would appear to in many ways go against many of the qualities which are associated with the pursuit of an ideal state or nation. The film's focal characters involve themselves by choice in the use of illegal drugs, adultery, verbal abuse, physical abuse, extreme arrogance, selfishness, and towards the close of the film, even murder. Why would I choose a movie that seemingly glorifies the people who take part in this type of disorderly and immoral behavior as a piece of artwork that supports an ideal state of being? In order for me to answer this question, I must first make known the fact that the Sam Mendes' American Beauty in no way glorifies the aforementioned actions of its central characters. These immoral thoughts and actions which are depicted in the movie are not, in fact, meant to be seen in a light which deems that acceptable and appropriate, but in fact are used to give the message that such a style of living destroys individuals, families, homes, careers, marriages, friendships, and so much more in the lives of those who act in such ways. The consequences of the wrongdoings which the characters in the movie take part in are plainly shown, and all move toward the central idea by the end of the movie that such a dishonest lifestyle will not provide any sort of happiness in the grand scheme of one's existence. Dishonesty such as a wife having an extra-marital affair. Dishonesty such as a husband with blatant homosexual tendencies ruling his own home with the iron fist of an ultra-conservative blindness so as to try and counter his own guilt caused by his underlying desire for a same-sex relationship. Dishonesty such as a middle aged, married man secretly lusting after the seventeen-year-old friend of his daughter, while repeatedly denying thoughts and desires of such a perverted nature when questioned by his family members. Dishonesty such as a man waking up every day to the very same beat of the very same drum, driving to the job he hates, arguing with the wife he has lost nearly all connection with, and yet continuing on in this existence he so vehemently despises so as to avoid conflict or change, perhaps a true cowardice or sloth on his part. This movie is about honesty to one's self, and honesty between loved ones, and between neighbors, between friends and coworkers. This movie does not glorify the dark, unhappy lives of its main characters which are utterly riddled with secrets and deception, this movie glorifies the breaking free from such a dishonest existence, and the realization that life is simply to damn short to live in fear of change, and in fear of truth. That is why I believe that this film is a work of art that without a doubt encourages a state of mind and lifestyle which promotes a general state of well-being for any who were to subscribe to it. Certainly, the movie American Beauty is not in any way the answer to all questions of morality and how to live happily, but in my opinion, its writer and director certainly had an important moral message to portray through cinema with their work on the film.
I make absolutely no hesitation in assuming that, were I to send American Beauty back to the time of Plato and were he to watch the film, he would find it to be anything but art that supports movement toward an ideal state. I'm quite sure that he would find the many immoral acts and thoughts displayed in the film to be absolutely detrimental to the pursuit of ideals in the actual realm. I also believe that the philosopher would find the use of such exaggerated and dramatized emotions in the writing of the film and subsequent performances of its actors entirely unnecessary. In Book X of The Republic, when speaking of a poet who uses "lamentation" and seeming emotional "impatience" as reactions to painful circumstances in his art, Plato states that:
"...we may fairly take him and place him by the side of the painter, for he is like him in two ways: first, inasmuch as his creations have an inferior degree of truth -in this, I say, he is like him; and he is also like him in being concerned with an inferior part of the soul; and therefore we shall be right in refusing to admit him into a well-ordered State, because he awakens and nourishes and strengthens the feelings and impairs the reason."

Thus, Plato would certainly deem the use of extreme lamentation and lack of control of their emotions that the characters in American Beauty display as unacceptable to be shown in a "well-ordered State". I must admit that, in this particular instance, I completely disagree with Plato. Even if it is true that this type of overly-emotional reaction to painful life circumstances is not what we as human beings should strive for in our own behavior, it is something that every single person since the beginning of mankind has stooped to many times over in his or her lifetime. Not any one of us reaches the "ideal realm" in our behavior, and for the love of God, I'm quite certain even the beloved Plato himself at one point or another reacted emotionally to an unpleasant event or circumstance that affected his life and comfort. Thus, I believe, there is absolutely no need to try and ignore these reactions in the art that we create, and in fact, such display of human imperfection can, as I believe it is in American Beauty, be used to teach a moral lesson to the viewer, and can therefore be a very effective tool for an artist.