This blog is a part of study activity. This blog was provided by the head of the Department of English (MKBU) professor and Dr. Dilip Barad Sir. Here is the link to the research article Click here
Introduction :
Alfred North Whitehead said ( 1861 -1947 ) Said ;
"...... All subsequent philosophy is merely a footnote to Plato. "
The critical enquiry hadbegun almost in the 4th century B.C. in Greece. Plato, the great disciple of Socrates, was the first critic whoexamined poetry as a part of his moral philosophy. Plato was basically a moral philosopher and not a literarycritic.Plato’scritical observations on poetry lie scattered in The Ion, The Symposium, The Republic and TheLaws. In The Ion, he advocated poetry as a genuine piece of imaginative literature, but in The Republic whichis a treatise on his concepts of Ideal State, he rejected poetry on moral and philosophical grounds. Plato was agreat moral philosopher and his primary concentration was to induce moral values in the society and to seek theultimate Truth. So when he examines poetry his tool is rather moral and not aesthetic. He confused aestheticswith morality and ultimately concluded poetry as immoral and imitative in nature. On the other hand, Aristotle– the most distinguished disciple of Plato – was a critic, scholar, logician and practical philosopher. The masterwas an inspired genius every way greater than the disciple except in logic, analysis and commonsense. He isknown for his critical treatises: (i) The Poetics and (ii) The Rhetoric, dealing with art of poetry and art ofspeaking, respectively.
1. To what extent do you agree with Plato's objection to the freedom of expression and artistic liberty enjoyed by creative writers? Identify texts (novels, plays, poems, movies, TV soaps, etc.) that can be justifiably objected to and banned based on Plato's objections.
Answer:
Plato, in his philosophical works, particularly The Republic, held a very critical view of certain forms of art, especially poetry and dramatic arts. His objections to artistic liberty were rooted in his broader metaphysical and ethical framework.Plato believed in a world of perfect, eternal Forms (Ideas) which are the ultimate reality. The physical world we perceive is merely an imperfect copy of these Forms. Art, in turn, is an imitation of this already imperfect physical world, making it a "copy of a copy" and thus twice removed from true reality. He argued that art, being an imitation, offers no genuine knowledge or truth and can even mislead people by presenting illusions as reality.
To understand Plato's objections in a contemporary context, we can look at various forms of media that might be considered harmful by his standards. For example, some modern novels, movies, and TV shows depict violence, immoral behavior, and unrealistic portrayals of life, which could be argued to negatively influence their audiences.
1. 'Udta Punjab' (2016 - Indian film):
1.1 plot of Summary:
'Udta Punjab' is a crime drama film written and directed by Abhishek Chaubey. This is an Indian film that depicts the widespread drug abuse problem in the stat of Punjab. In the movie Udta Punjab, Shahid Kapoor plays the character Tejinder "Tommy" Singh, also known as Gabru. Alia Bhatt portrays Bauria, also known as Mary Jane. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays Dr. Preet Sahni, and Diljit Dosanjh plays ASI Sartaj Singh.
1.2. Plato's Objections:
The film explicitly portrays rampant drug addiction, violence, and moral degradation. From a Platonic perspective, this could be seen as showing "evil habits and vices," potentially corrupting viewers, especially the youth, by exposing them to such themes without necessarily providing a strong, uplifting moral counter-narrative throughout. Plato might argue it normalizes or glamorizes these behaviors, even if the film's intent was to highlight the problem.The film is intense, raw, and emotionally charged. Plato would likely object to how it stirs strong emotions of despair, anger, and distress, which he believed could lead to irrationality and a lack of self-control in citizens.
1.3 Critics View's :
The film was criticized for oversimplifying the complex issue of drug abuse in Punjab, potentially overlooking the socio-economic factors that contribute to it. Udta Punjab" faced criticism primarily for its portrayal of drug use in Punjab, with some viewers finding it overly negative and inaccurate.
2. 'Animal' (2023 - Indian film) :
2.1. Plot of Summary:
'Animal' is a controversial Bollywood film directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. It stars Ranbir Kapoor as Vijay Singh, the angry son of a wealthy businessman who embarks on a violent rampage to avenge his father's would-be assassins.
2.2. Plato's Objections:
The film's portrayal of violence and vengeance could be seen as morally problematic.The intense and brutal scenes may disturb viewers emotionally. The film's realistic depiction of violence might align with Plato's concerns about deceptive art. The glorification of violence clashes with Plato's preference for dignified portrayals.
2.3. Critic View's:
Critics have pointed to the film's graphic violence as excessive and gratuitous, with some finding it disturbing and unnecessary. The film has been criticized for its portrayal of misogynistic themes and its depiction of toxic masculinity, with some arguing that it glorifies harmful behaviors.
2. Referring to the literary texts you studied during your B.A. program, write a brief note on the texts that followed the Aristotelian literary tradition (i.e., his concepts of tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia, etc.).
Answer:
During my B.A. program, I studied several literary texts that align with Aristotelian literary traditions. Aristotle's concepts of tragedy, catharsis, and the tragic hero with hamartia are evident in many of these works.
1. 'Julius Caesar' by William Shakespeare :
The concept of a tragic flaw is central to understanding the characters' downfalls. Both Caesar and Brutus exhibit flaws that lead to their tragic ends. Both Julius Caesar and Brutus fit the description of a tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle, by possessing a noble status, a flaw (hamartia), and ultimately experiencing a downfall that evokes pity and fear in the audience.
2. ' King Lear ' by William Shakespeare :
"King Lear" strongly aligns with Aristotelian tragedy, featuring a noble protagonist with a tragic flaw (hamartia) leading to downfall and catharsis. Lear's pride and poor judgment cause him to divide his kingdom, leading to suffering and ultimately, his death. The play elicits pity and fear in the audience, fulfilling Aristotle's definition of tragedy.
3. 'Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller :
The play explores the tragic downfall of Willy Loman, a common man, due to his flawed perception of the "American Dream" and his hubris, aligning with Aristotle's concept of hamartia and the tragic hero. Willy's hamartia (tragic flaw) is his misguided belief in the "well-liked" and superficial version of the American Dream, leading to his self-deception and eventual destruction.
3. Referring to the literary texts you studied during your B.A. program, write a brief note on the texts that did not follow the Aristotelian literary tradition (i.e., his concepts of tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia, etc.).
Answer:
During my B.A. program, I studied several literary texts that did not follow the Aristotelian literary tradition. Aristotle's concepts of tragedy, catharsis, and the tragic hero with hamartia were not present in these works.
1. 'David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens:
"David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens, while a bildungsroman exploring themes of personal growth and social ascension, deviates significantly from the Aristotelian concept of tragedy. This novel is a Bildungsroman, focusing on the personal growth and development of the protagonist rather than following a tragic structure.
2. 'Pygmalion' by George Bernard Shaw:
The play focuses on social commentary and character development through language and social interaction, leaving the ending open-ended and questioning the value of imposed social mobility.
3. 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell:
This novella is an allegory and political satire, critiquing power and corruption. It does not follow the structure of an Aristotelian tragedy.
4. 'The God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy :
While it features a tragic narrative with devastating consequences for the characters, it deviates from the traditional structure by lacking a clear tragic hero, a defining hamartia, and a cathartic resolution. This novel explores personal and social tragedies within a non-linear narrative, focusing on social issues rather than following a traditional tragic structure.
There many text that did not follow the Aristotelian literary tradition. There are; 'Nagamandala' by Girish Karnad , 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison , 'Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad , 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding etc .
Conclusion :
Aristotle (384 -322 B.C) was an Ancient Greek Philosopher and polymath. In his Poetics, Aristotle tragedy is superior to epic poetry. He argues this based on tragedy's greater focus, its ability to utilize music and spectacle, and its capacity to evoke a more intense emotional experience, particularly through the purification of pity and fear (catharsis) in the audience.
Reference:
1. Barad, Dilip. “Aristotle’s Poetics.” Research Gate, Aug. 2023. Research Gate, https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31696.28164.
3. Vanga, Sandeep Reddy, director. Animal. T-Series, 2023.
4. Abhishek Chaubey, director. Udta Punjab. T-Series 2016
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