The Non-Reality of the Larger Than Life Epics An Essay on the Perception of Art, Reality and Illusion in the Films, 300 and Snow Falling on Cedars
Art and beauty has always been an important aspect of our lives as it creates inspiration in what could have been a dull, dreary and bleak world. Would anyone want to imagine what the world and humanity be like without art and the beauty it brings The things that surrounds usliterature, sculptures and natureall of them are works of art that has been either created by humanity or was naturally created. Art has been appreciated and loved so much that recreations of previous artworks or naturally occurring things has been done over and over again. Are there not many paintings or drawings of leaves, forests or sunflowers over the course of history, considering that people can see them anyway and its just a leaf, just a forest and just a sunflower However, through the course of history, humanity has also debated over what art is and what makes art, art. Through the course of history, societies have also debated on the need for art and its importance. This is because even if art creates beauty and inspiration within a person, there is still the concept that it may be misleading. Artfor all is beauty and intricate splendour is believed to be false and a lifesomething which even Plato insists on. And a notion which is reflected in the portrayal of life and history in epic films as what transpires in the movies, 300 and Snow Falling on Cedars.
Greece is a small country and yet it is very important to the rest of the world since the birth of Western civilization comes from this small country. It is Greece who gave birth to the importance of educating ones self in math, the sciences, and the arts and which entitled the Greeks as the educated and the more civilized kind of people. With regards to the aspect of art and beauty, it has long been the debate on what can be considered as beautiful and ugly by humanity. Thus, in Ancient Greece, a civilization that is known to form and influence all the other civilizations, they created a mathematical perception of beauty so that art can be set for all the other artists. The mathematical perception of beauty relies on symmetry wherein a specific measurement of things will be balanced to other measurement of things. The Grecian artists thus, were known to create beautiful sculptures, paintings and other art objects that not only depicted their artistic creativity but also created a form that bank on technical language. Thus, beauty in art and beautiful art is measured not by how a person admires it and finds it pleasing but by the notion of whether the art is said to be in perfect symmetry and harmony with the other, technically speaking. The ironic thing is that men and women are not aware that such technical and mathematical definition of beauty exists after all, it is only the ancient Grecian artists who pioneered such way of perception. The ancient Greeks idea of beautiful and beauty can be seen in the various physical evidences that history chose to leave us behind. For example, the standard of Grecians concept of beauty is evident in sculptors from the bodies of soldiers and kings wherein it originated in the battle of Thermopolis in 480 B.C. that truly proved how the Greeks value war.
But with even if Greece is known for a civilization who appreciates beauty, there is still some who opposes art and the supposed beauty it brings to humanitythose include the famous philosopher Plato. In Platos collection of dialogues entitled The Republic, he discusses various philosophies on life, literature and other things which interests or concern humanity. Among them is the teaching which is to be famously known as The Allegory in the Cave. In this particular dialogue, Plato insists that people are blind with reality because they think that they see reality not knowing that what they are seeing is what they perceive to be reality but is not actually reality. In simple terms, it is like seeing a cow because we believe it to be the definition of a cow not realizing it may really be a pig or some other animal. Plato believes that it is philosophy which makes a man see things in the real and genuine perspective or what is termed as the coming out of the cave and the experience of seeing things in light.
This particular teaching has importance implications regarding the viewing of epic films like 300 and Snow Falling on Cedars. This is because the society or the general public are made to pretend for a while when watching such movies (or become blinded inside the cave in Platos terms) and when the movie ends, reality eventually takes over them. Thus, films which is just one form of art, drowns us in deceit and lies making us live in an illusion while making us think that this is our perception of reality not knowing that reality is far from how we perceive it to be.
In the movie, 300, the Grecian country of Sparta is put under pressure as Persia makes a move to conquer them. The Persian King sends an envoy to deliver a message to Spartan King, Leonidas that Sparta should submit themselves to Persian rule or be forced to wage a war over the submission. However, King Leonidas chooses to kill the envoy and meet the gigantic Persian army for war, proving that Sparta and Spartan warriors are made for war since they treat it as a form of art. Thus, what the movie centers on is not just the war itself between Persia and Sparta but the identity of the Spartan men and women as warriors who are brave and willing to do anything for their land. As the movie progresses, the King Leonidas and his men fight bravely and succeeds on killing wave after wave of the massive Persian army since the wise King has managed to come up with a plan that would ensure their victory. However, things turn for the worse when the Spartan men were travelling toward more battles, a banished and hunchbacked Spartan man endeavors to King Leonidas that he joins the Spartan men in the fight with the Persian army. But Spartan law and Spartan practice promotes perfection in form and performance and King Leonidas says no the hunchback which earned the creatures ire. This rejection is King Leonidas flaw as the hunchback betrays them by informing the Persian army about the plan of the Spartans. In the end, King Leonidas and the brave 300 perish not just because they were betrayed but because they chose to abide by a Spartan law banks on physical perfection and beauty.
In this cultural film which is banked on the Second World War wherein Japan and America are vehement enemies creating a conflict for Japanese people in America and American people in Japan. Though the story is set on American shores, the plot concerns two nations and the people caught up in war they did not want Kazuo Miyamoto is under trial for the supposed murder of Carl Heine, a death that will be proven to be an accident later on. What is very important about Miyamotos case is the fact that it is set in a period wherein much prejudice occurs against the Japanese. Thus, Miyamoto is pushed and pulled against people who want him to be convicted for a murder he did not commit just because he is Japanese-American. In the middle of all this trial is the friendship of Hatsue, Miyamotos wife, with Ishmael Chambers and the amorous feelings that he has for her ever since they were young. The film concludes in Hatsue rejecting Chambers even with the knowledge that her husband may be convicted and in Miyamotos freedom due to the help of Chambers himself.
Both films are indeed creatively beautiful when it comes to the artistic quality that they presented. Since 300 is a graphic film, it is but natural and understandable that the directors paid careful attention to small details and all the scenes that would depict Spartan courage and strength, Persian brutality and peculiarity, and most of all, the melodrama all concerning war. This is the same case with Snow Falling on Cedars wherein much aesthetic beauty is given to the film scenes and set, most especially with nature or environment that surrounds the characters and which creates the mood for the film. Rain, snow, raging waters and a calm wind are all created or filmed to depict the emotions of the characters or the collective feelings of the people.
However, even with all the exquisiteness that the scenes of the two films provide, it is undeniable that Platos claim regarding deceit and illusion is true concerning art is somewhat true in the two films. When watching the films, the audience are not merely treated to a narration of the lives of the characters but they are living the lives of the characters. The films not only inspire people but it can also serve as an escape from reality. Reality becomes far away from the publics mind when they watch the film and while viewing it, ones thoughts are captured and captivated by the notion of heroisma notion that a person can be courageous, valiant and strong with a mission in life and with a possible glory with the fulfilment of such mission. Even if King Leonidas and Chambers were not that successful as the other died and the other did not end up with the person he loves, there is still the atmosphere which the films created that sacrifice and sadness in ones life is still beautiful. In fact, this is what the films create altogetherthat humanity should feel this emotion when undergoing this experience, or that a person should act like this when another person does somethingthus, the films not only creates an illusory world that captures the publics interest, it also suggests and even dictates what the publics interest should be.
In conclusion, it is undeniable that large than life films such as 300 and Snow Falling on Cedars which feature characters and scenes that serve to illustrate overly dramatic or overly active encounters are confusing the public. But this situation is not new as the society itself even yearns for some form of escape from the reality they knowthe negative thing is that society escapes so much from reality that there is the probability that they are unaware of what is even reality in the first place.
Art and beauty has always been an important aspect of our lives as it creates inspiration in what could have been a dull, dreary and bleak world. Would anyone want to imagine what the world and humanity be like without art and the beauty it brings The things that surrounds usliterature, sculptures and natureall of them are works of art that has been either created by humanity or was naturally created. Art has been appreciated and loved so much that recreations of previous artworks or naturally occurring things has been done over and over again. Are there not many paintings or drawings of leaves, forests or sunflowers over the course of history, considering that people can see them anyway and its just a leaf, just a forest and just a sunflower However, through the course of history, humanity has also debated over what art is and what makes art, art. Through the course of history, societies have also debated on the need for art and its importance. This is because even if art creates beauty and inspiration within a person, there is still the concept that it may be misleading. Artfor all is beauty and intricate splendour is believed to be false and a lifesomething which even Plato insists on. And a notion which is reflected in the portrayal of life and history in epic films as what transpires in the movies, 300 and Snow Falling on Cedars.
Greece is a small country and yet it is very important to the rest of the world since the birth of Western civilization comes from this small country. It is Greece who gave birth to the importance of educating ones self in math, the sciences, and the arts and which entitled the Greeks as the educated and the more civilized kind of people. With regards to the aspect of art and beauty, it has long been the debate on what can be considered as beautiful and ugly by humanity. Thus, in Ancient Greece, a civilization that is known to form and influence all the other civilizations, they created a mathematical perception of beauty so that art can be set for all the other artists. The mathematical perception of beauty relies on symmetry wherein a specific measurement of things will be balanced to other measurement of things. The Grecian artists thus, were known to create beautiful sculptures, paintings and other art objects that not only depicted their artistic creativity but also created a form that bank on technical language. Thus, beauty in art and beautiful art is measured not by how a person admires it and finds it pleasing but by the notion of whether the art is said to be in perfect symmetry and harmony with the other, technically speaking. The ironic thing is that men and women are not aware that such technical and mathematical definition of beauty exists after all, it is only the ancient Grecian artists who pioneered such way of perception. The ancient Greeks idea of beautiful and beauty can be seen in the various physical evidences that history chose to leave us behind. For example, the standard of Grecians concept of beauty is evident in sculptors from the bodies of soldiers and kings wherein it originated in the battle of Thermopolis in 480 B.C. that truly proved how the Greeks value war.
But with even if Greece is known for a civilization who appreciates beauty, there is still some who opposes art and the supposed beauty it brings to humanitythose include the famous philosopher Plato. In Platos collection of dialogues entitled The Republic, he discusses various philosophies on life, literature and other things which interests or concern humanity. Among them is the teaching which is to be famously known as The Allegory in the Cave. In this particular dialogue, Plato insists that people are blind with reality because they think that they see reality not knowing that what they are seeing is what they perceive to be reality but is not actually reality. In simple terms, it is like seeing a cow because we believe it to be the definition of a cow not realizing it may really be a pig or some other animal. Plato believes that it is philosophy which makes a man see things in the real and genuine perspective or what is termed as the coming out of the cave and the experience of seeing things in light.
This particular teaching has importance implications regarding the viewing of epic films like 300 and Snow Falling on Cedars. This is because the society or the general public are made to pretend for a while when watching such movies (or become blinded inside the cave in Platos terms) and when the movie ends, reality eventually takes over them. Thus, films which is just one form of art, drowns us in deceit and lies making us live in an illusion while making us think that this is our perception of reality not knowing that reality is far from how we perceive it to be.
In the movie, 300, the Grecian country of Sparta is put under pressure as Persia makes a move to conquer them. The Persian King sends an envoy to deliver a message to Spartan King, Leonidas that Sparta should submit themselves to Persian rule or be forced to wage a war over the submission. However, King Leonidas chooses to kill the envoy and meet the gigantic Persian army for war, proving that Sparta and Spartan warriors are made for war since they treat it as a form of art. Thus, what the movie centers on is not just the war itself between Persia and Sparta but the identity of the Spartan men and women as warriors who are brave and willing to do anything for their land. As the movie progresses, the King Leonidas and his men fight bravely and succeeds on killing wave after wave of the massive Persian army since the wise King has managed to come up with a plan that would ensure their victory. However, things turn for the worse when the Spartan men were travelling toward more battles, a banished and hunchbacked Spartan man endeavors to King Leonidas that he joins the Spartan men in the fight with the Persian army. But Spartan law and Spartan practice promotes perfection in form and performance and King Leonidas says no the hunchback which earned the creatures ire. This rejection is King Leonidas flaw as the hunchback betrays them by informing the Persian army about the plan of the Spartans. In the end, King Leonidas and the brave 300 perish not just because they were betrayed but because they chose to abide by a Spartan law banks on physical perfection and beauty.
In this cultural film which is banked on the Second World War wherein Japan and America are vehement enemies creating a conflict for Japanese people in America and American people in Japan. Though the story is set on American shores, the plot concerns two nations and the people caught up in war they did not want Kazuo Miyamoto is under trial for the supposed murder of Carl Heine, a death that will be proven to be an accident later on. What is very important about Miyamotos case is the fact that it is set in a period wherein much prejudice occurs against the Japanese. Thus, Miyamoto is pushed and pulled against people who want him to be convicted for a murder he did not commit just because he is Japanese-American. In the middle of all this trial is the friendship of Hatsue, Miyamotos wife, with Ishmael Chambers and the amorous feelings that he has for her ever since they were young. The film concludes in Hatsue rejecting Chambers even with the knowledge that her husband may be convicted and in Miyamotos freedom due to the help of Chambers himself.
Both films are indeed creatively beautiful when it comes to the artistic quality that they presented. Since 300 is a graphic film, it is but natural and understandable that the directors paid careful attention to small details and all the scenes that would depict Spartan courage and strength, Persian brutality and peculiarity, and most of all, the melodrama all concerning war. This is the same case with Snow Falling on Cedars wherein much aesthetic beauty is given to the film scenes and set, most especially with nature or environment that surrounds the characters and which creates the mood for the film. Rain, snow, raging waters and a calm wind are all created or filmed to depict the emotions of the characters or the collective feelings of the people.
However, even with all the exquisiteness that the scenes of the two films provide, it is undeniable that Platos claim regarding deceit and illusion is true concerning art is somewhat true in the two films. When watching the films, the audience are not merely treated to a narration of the lives of the characters but they are living the lives of the characters. The films not only inspire people but it can also serve as an escape from reality. Reality becomes far away from the publics mind when they watch the film and while viewing it, ones thoughts are captured and captivated by the notion of heroisma notion that a person can be courageous, valiant and strong with a mission in life and with a possible glory with the fulfilment of such mission. Even if King Leonidas and Chambers were not that successful as the other died and the other did not end up with the person he loves, there is still the atmosphere which the films created that sacrifice and sadness in ones life is still beautiful. In fact, this is what the films create altogetherthat humanity should feel this emotion when undergoing this experience, or that a person should act like this when another person does somethingthus, the films not only creates an illusory world that captures the publics interest, it also suggests and even dictates what the publics interest should be.
In conclusion, it is undeniable that large than life films such as 300 and Snow Falling on Cedars which feature characters and scenes that serve to illustrate overly dramatic or overly active encounters are confusing the public. But this situation is not new as the society itself even yearns for some form of escape from the reality they knowthe negative thing is that society escapes so much from reality that there is the probability that they are unaware of what is even reality in the first place.
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