Define art as imitation by analyzing the ideas of Greek philosopher Plato and relate it to one of your personnel experiences.

Define art as imitation by analyzing the ideas of Greek philosopher
Plato and  relate it to one of your
personnel experiences.

Solution:

According to the Greek philosopher Plato, art can be seen as a form of imitation. In Plato's idealistic worldview, he believed that the physical world is merely a shadow or imitation of the true, eternal world of Forms. In this context, art is considered a copy or imitation of these Forms, which are the ultimate reality.

Plato was critical of art because he believed that it created a false representation of reality. He argued that artists are removed from the truth and only create copies of the physical world, which are themselves copies of the Forms. For example, a painting of a tree is a copy of a physical tree, which is already an imitation of the ideal Form of a tree. This chain of imitation, according to Plato, leads to a loss of authenticity and truth.

Let's consider the experience of watching a film. The film is an artistic creation that imitates or represents aspects of reality. From a Platonic viewpoint, the film would be a copy of a copy. The actors portray characters who are themselves imitations of real people, and the film itself is a constructed representation of a story or situation.

When watching a film, we are engaging with this imitation of reality. We are aware that what we see on the screen is not the actual world, but a carefully crafted representation. Plato would argue that this experience distances us from the truth and detracts from the authentic experience of reality itself.

It's worth noting that not all philosophers or individuals agree with Plato's perspective on art as imitation. Different philosophical and aesthetic theories have emerged over time, presenting alternative viewpoints on the nature and purpose of art.