BUDDHIST AND PLATONIC THEMES IN THE FILM
description
Transcript of BUDDHIST AND PLATONIC THEMES IN THE FILM
BUDDHIST AND PLATONIC THEMES IN THE FILM
Charlene Bocago, Mark Gavinio, Jervin Labro, Anne Madamba, Seul Gi Park, Jim Santos
What to you are the central themes in Plato’s allegory of the cave?
What are the ways by which the film closely resembles the allegory of the cave?
Conversely, what are the ways by which the film differs from it?
Allegory of the Cave
Central Themes• Imagination• Belief• Understanding
Imagination
• There are prisoners inside the cave that were chained since birth. They can’t look to either side or behind them. Behind them is a large fire that reflects statues that cast shadows on the wall. These shadows portray stories and because these are the only things that the prisoners can see. They believe that it is reality but they don’t know that these are just mere images, or their imagination.
Belief
• When one of the prisoners was unchained, he looked at the fire and statues that once dictated his perception of reality. He then realized that these things are now the new form of reality.
Understanding
• Once the prisoner went outside of the cave, he recognized shadows and reflections. When he looked around, he realized the existence of people and nature. When he looked at the sun, he knew that this was the Form of the Good and know he is aware of what reality really is.
What to you are the central themes in Plato’s allegory of the cave?
What are the ways by which the film closely resembles the allegory of the cave?
Conversely, what are the ways by which the film differs from it?
People are fooled into a false reality
InceptionCreating
dreamscapes
Allegory of the Cave
Projection of shadows on the
walls
People do not remember the beginning
InceptionThey do not
remember the beginning or how they end up in the dream situations.
Allegory of the CaveThe cave dwellers do not remember when
they entered the cave.
People can not anymore distinguish reality from what is fake.
InceptionMal do not know which world is real anymore.
Allegory of the CaveShadows on the wall are
the only thing the prisoners can see, thus
thinking the shadows are real, when in reality its the puppets and fire that are
casting the shadows.
Planting of idea in the mind
InceptionIdea must be planted within the person’s
subconscious for inception to work
Allegory of the CavePrisoners mistake
appearance for reality for they believed
surely in the shadows they are seeing.
What to you are the central themes in Plato’s allegory of the cave?
What are the ways by which the film closely resembles the allegory of the cave?
Conversely, what are the ways by which the film differs from it?
Difference between Inception and Allegory of the Cave
Inception Allegory of the Cave
• At the start, people already have a full sense of true reality.• From true reality to false reality• Can control the structure of the false reality/dreams• Reality is known through confirmation• Can distinguish reality and dream (use of totems)
• At the start, people have little or no sense of reality at all.• From a limited reality to a wider one• Had no idea that their “reality” is controlled by somebody else• Their “reality” is known through interpretation and inferring• Had difficulty in believing what is reality
HOW DOES THE MIND SEPARATE FALSE REALITY FROM TRUE REALITY?
Distinguishing Reality from False Reality
Basic Concepts• Memory of what is real• Physicality and Perception• Rationality and Confirmation• Personal Relevance
Specifically in the Movie• Totems
ENUMERATE INSTANCES (KEY SCENES) WHERE THE FILM CLEARLY DELINEATES “FALSE” REALITY FROM “TRUE” REALITY.
IF SOMEONE CAN INFILTRATE YOUR DREAMS IN ORDER TO MAKE YOU BEHAVE A CERTAIN WAY, DO YOU REALLY HAVE FREE WILL? IS FREE WILL THAT EASILY MANIPULATED?
• “Dreams feel real while we are dreaming and it is only when we wake up that we realize that something is actually strange”
DREAMBELIEVE
NOT
REALITY
DREAM
Suffering (Dukkha)• Cobb was suffering because of his desire to see his
children and of the pain and guilt of Mal's death, which is evident in his dreams or subconsciousness
Origin of suffering (Samudāya)• Pain from loss of loved one (Mal) and inability to see
his children in reality• Guilt out of the belief that he has caused Mal's
death
DISCUSS HOW COBB’S ACTIONS FOLLOW CLOSELY TO EITHER SOME OF THE 4 NOBLE TRUTHS OR ALL OF THEM
Cessation of suffering (Nirodha)• Taking the opportunity to see his children by performing
inception• Cobb was able to liberate himself from attachment when
he confronted Mal in his dreams and acknowledged reality of her death
Path to the cessation of suffering (Magga)• Cobb tries to resolve his inner conflicts with his memory
of Mal with the help of Ariadne• Cobb's right mindfulness by developing awareness of the
body, sensations, feelings and states of mind (Eightfold path)
DISCUSS HOW COBB’S ACTIONS FOLLOW CLOSELY TO EITHER SOME OF THE 4 NOBLE TRUTHS OR ALL OF THEM