As per the generosity of the Platonians and their agreement to allow a piece of art to flourish on their planet, it is the duty of the humans to aware them of the fact that the movie is not up to the Platonic standards; rather it fails the Platonic test. As Plato clearly addresses the art of this world as a mimicked version of the art that is in the ideal world which is the real truth and all that we see in this world is a mere reflection of that real world. (Bio). This means that the movie or any other piece of work that is created by humans is actually a fake and unreal representation of things which are actually futile and ineffective in reality. Therefore, movies and the ideas represented in it are false and not genuine, which makes them unfit to be taken to the plant of the Platonians. The movie Rocky is an example of a movie that needs to be left to be destructed on earth because it fails to stands on the test Plato gave to determine its effectiveness for society. The movie fails on many standards mainly because it is not a realistic depiction of how matters are resolved in the world or how people should behave in order to create peace and settlement in their homeland.
There are many examples in the movie that portray it as a failure and misleading film with characters whose actions go against Plato’s orders in life. It is about making a living as a man who boxes with other people for a living, and the man is not rich or influential, rather he is struggling. However he is also a brute who is used by men who appear to be troublemakers in society, and they need him to do their dirty work in the form of shackling money from poorer men only because Rocky is a tough, sturdy young man. However, he is someone that people from the neighborhood and his know-how look up to, and he is a hero to them because of his boxing skills. (Jackson). However as Plato states, such people only make up the cream of the society because according to him, “the Guardian and Auxiliaries are the first class of men in society” (Bramman) which means that they are the protectors and like one would profess in the present world, the elites. He also explains their characteristics regarding their duties as the Rulers. These include their physical and mental competence and their ability to fight and protect. They need to be trained mentally, philosophically, mathematically and also deal with the political aspects of the world. (Bramman). However, on the other hand, there is Rocky, who is physically competent but he lacks everything else in terms of education, training, philosophical knowledge and even monetary richness which would make him a respectable figure in the Platonic world. (Jackson). The worth in this world (on Earth) is measured by political power and influence, wealth and status and being able to manipulate people and submit them to obedience. However, Rocky is a person who loses a match and yet has the importance and worth of a ruler or a winner. At the end of the movie, although the match was a draw and the players had decided to call it even, the opponent Apollo Creed won the match. (Jackson). This means that the movie gives an unworthy and unfair impression of how art reveals matters to the world and that people who have worth by former impression are made winners and given importance, whereby fairness in decisions is a myth.
Moreover, the movie shows the hero as an ideal man who is uncontrolled in his actions, words, and speech. He is not tactful, and he will blurt out his feelings and emotions only because he cannot control them. For instance, Rocky is seen flirting with and trying to coax Adrian into becoming his girlfriend and going home with him, but Adrian is shy and hesitant. (Jackson).
Instead of backing off and letting her be, Rocky persists and forces her to go out with him on Thanksgiving. She is still very shy and does not want to express or say anything emotional, but Rocky takes her to his apartment, which is an unimpressive setup and leads the girl to submission of his love. Although it happens in a fairytale-like fashion and the girl does like him afterward, it is not the kind of action that would have been permitted in a Platonic world. (Jackson). Plato takes to a very different belief regarding the concept of an ideal man. According to him, an “ideal man is one who has complete and conscious control over his instincts and emotions.” (Bramman). Therefore, this man always makes rational decisions and good choices which he will not regret later on in life. He also believes that such a man always functions on rational thoughts rather than desires and whims. Contrasting what is shown in the film and what Plato professes to the world, there is a stark comparison between the two ideas. Hence, if this movie were taken to the Platonians, it would corrupt them and mislead them to a great extent. They would deviate from the idea of ideal man, and it would create havoc amongst them.
The other aspect in which the movie fails Plato’s standards are the quest for justice. Plato says that “justice is when a person pays all their debts, is free of any kind of borrowing and lending and trouble, and he always says the truth and turns to honesty in every matter.” (Cameron). Therefore according to Plato, justice is everything good and honest. It is about righteousness and obedience to the gods and putting everything into the correct perspective. But in the movie, justice is portrayed by deception and fraud. This is shown by the way the character in the movie ‘Gazzo’ is portrayed as a figure who takes money from people who owe him, and he believes threatening them into giving the money by using Rocky as his middle man will help him recover the money. (Jackson).
Rocky is seen taking the money from a man who seems to be a garbage man and looks extremely poor and needy. Yet Rocky threatens to break his thumb if he doesn’t give him $200. The man doesn’t have the money and gives Rocky about $130. It is not known whether this man lied or told the truth however he never gave the money he owed Gazzo, and he was dishonest to not repay in due time. Rocky lets him go without harming him and for that, he is chided by Gazzo. However the matter still lies that this piece of art showed that no matter what the circumstances, righteousness, and truth are given a back seat whereas people lie and do what they wish to do. This, in the Platonic world, is corruptive and dangerous for the society. It can mislead people and cause serious societal damages which include people becoming deceptive, by hiding in a cloak of poverty and misery. (Cameron).
Moreover, a ‘warrior’ as prescribed by Plato, “is a man who can fight and save the lives of the fellow citizens by selflessness and devotion as well as honesty in living his life for serving the nation he is born in.” (Cameron). Therefore, the fighter must only fight the enemy and no one else. But in the movie, the boxers are shown fighting one another, and their aim is to make money and fame for themselves out of this rather than doing anything beneficial for the people. They are spreading a message of hatred because it is seen in the movie that Rocky’s trainer easily replaces Rocky with another boxer and even cleans out his locker for him, without Rocky’s permission. (Jackson). Therefore, this means that warriors in the modern world are more concerned with fighting for their own rights rather than the citizens.
On the basis of the evidence given above, the movie Rocky should be destroyed on earth and must not be carried off to the Platonians. It fails to stands by Plato’s test, and it is an antagonistic representation of his philosophy and teaching. Taking it along would corrupt the society and become a hazard for the well-being of the people.
Work Cited
Bio. Plato Biography. 2016. Web. 18 Mar 2016.
Bramman, K. Jorn. Plato: The Failure of Democracy. Faculty . Frostburg. N.d. Web. 18 Mar,
2016.
Cameron, Janet. Plato’s argument: Art is an imitation of an imitation. Decoded past. 2013. Web.
18 Mar 2016.
Jackson, Thomas. Rocky 1. YouTube. [video]. 2013. Web. 18 Mar 2016.
