Simulacrum

Simulacrum

Art has become detached in meaning and identity, therefore its representation in the real world becomes heavily distorted. An artistic piece grows in stages, as it evolves the image it forms (its basis) is lost completely until it bears no meaning or relevance to the subject it had once portrayed.

“Art today has totally penetrated reality.”

The Simile of the Cave

The simile of the cave is a decidedly despairing situation which is derived to beg the ultimate question of nature versus nurture in all of mankind. Is it naturally inbuilt that men should believe only what they can see or weather they should have faith outside of what they are exposed to personally ('he would think what he used to see were far truer'.) Moreover if reality means different things to different people depending on their circumstances who can truly say what reality is or isnt. Reality is entirely subjective, the black cave or the wide world are both reality and yet at the same time by definition neither is because reality must consider all and no one person can do so. Reality is the ultimate ultimatum.

Arguably there are two theories that I have divulged from this text;

The first being a religious comment on faith. One of the abilities that mankind have over animals is foresight particularly where punishment and reward are concerned. Religious faith, without proof is the same principal behind the simile of the cave, faith in something better may give you a reward but faith itself along with the drive and motivation it gives can often be reward enough.

The second is a counter argument for the above;

The word cave itself is an ambiguous translation, in this instance it means 'an underground chamber like a cave with a long entrance open to daylight' however the literal translation from Latin from which this text was cited it means 'beware.'  (Η παρομοίωση της οποίας να προσέξουμε: Translated in Latin 'Beware of the simile) Possibly Plato was trying to warn people about the destructive effect that belief beyond what a person is exposed to personally can have in shaping misguided views about the world and its other inhabitants.

Visual Culture

'With a sudden loss of gravity these lines waver an collapse.' This in many ways is the most depressing of all of these theories and ideas. Not to form anything new, even if it is not representative of its subject like the simulacra and not to have faith like the simile of the cave. This theory simply states that congratulations and punishments are all that remains when no creative innovation thrives. We must review in negative or positive light all things but because of the mediocrity and therefore lack of meaning the line is very blurred.