Nicole Somma Art as Imitation CR1

Nicole Somma

The Nature of Art

Art as Imitation: Plato (pg 13-24)

Class Reading #1

One of the first philosophers that every philosophy class studies is Plato. He was the first person to really make an impact on all realms of thought and reason. When it comes to Plato’s theory of art he believes that all artistic creation is a form of imitation. He claims that art imitates the physical world and that creating art is basically an act of copying the physical world.  Plato bases his belief off of his view that there is a world of “forms” which is a realm of perfection.  This realm holds all truth which ordinary people cannot experience directly. Plato sates that everything in the physical world is an imitation of the world of forms.  A way that I have come to accept Plato’s theory on art is that works of art go through a copy machine. The original document is the “Form”.  The first photocopy made is what we experience as an object in the world. Then the artist comes along and makes a copy of this copy. For Plato that means that art is an imitation twice removed from the truth. It is clear throughout the reading that Plato is not a fan of Art.  Plato states that “The arts are to be banished sp that the attitudes and actions of the citizens will not be tainted by inappropriate influences” (Wartenberg 14).  He believes that viewing art is a waste of time.  Instead of wasting your time focusing on art, one should be trying to find the knowledge of truth. Plato even goes as far to claim that art corrupts man's sense of reason and order. For Plato, works of art are at best entertainment and at worst a dangerous delusion.

After reading Plato’s theory of art it was clear to see why Plato theory is still relevant today and considered today. When looking at a painting most people still think that a picture must be a picture of something.  Artists are viewed as someone who can make a picture that "looks just like the real thing".  Personally, for Plato to say that art is dangerous is a little outrageous.  Art can be enlightening and expose different truths to society. When reading Plato’s opinion on art, I wonder if he would accept the importance that art has in modern day society. Would he think that we have all gone mad or lost all true sense of the true world?