Plato’s View On Poetry And The Influence Of Media ✓ Solved

Plato’s view on poetry and the influence of media

This assignment explores Plato’s perspective on poetry, specifically his rules and their reasoning, as detailed in excerpts from Plato’s Republic. It also involves investigating the influence of contemporary media on society, including personal reflection and a presentation synthesizing these insights.

Part I: Analysis of Plato’s Republic

Read the excerpts from Plato’s Republic and answer these questions: What are Socrates’ rules for poetry? What does he want to edit out of Homer’s poetry? What kinds of content does he advocate including for young people's consumption? For each rule, explain why Socrates wants to establish it and what effects he believes unedited or poor-quality poetry can have on readers. Support your arguments with direct citations or quotes from the text, as these are crucial for your grade.

Part II: Media Influence Investigation

Select a form of modern media, such as television (Netflix, Hulu), Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, advertisements, or YouTube. Ensure it involves public accounts or content. Use credible sources to research this media type's effectiveness at influencing audiences. Consider questions like: How successful is it at shaping opinions, behaviors, or beliefs? Are there documented studies supporting this influence? What specific influence does it exert—promoting consumerism, shaping ideas, behaviors, or attitudes?

Reflect personally: Have you been influenced by this media? When? Do you see positive or negative impacts? Discuss whether media influence is ultimately beneficial or harmful, supporting your view with reasoning and examples.

Part III: Presentation

Compile your findings into a clear, structured presentation in PDF format, comprising:

• An introduction (about half a page) explaining your main thesis based on findings, e.g., “Plato is correct that media can have detrimental effects on society, as evidenced by...”
• Section I: Your analysis of Plato’s rules for poetry, including textual evidence, explaining why each rule was proposed and its intended effects.
• Section II: Your media analysis—each page includes: (a) an image from your chosen media; (b) a brief caption describing who or what is depicted; (c) your analysis of this media’s influence, including personal experience if relevant.
• Section IV: A conclusion of at least 200 words discussing whether Plato's concerns about media influence are justified today.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

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Introduction

This paper examines Plato’s views on poetry and its moral and educational impact, alongside a contemporary investigation into how social media influences society. By analyzing Socrates’ regulations on poetry in the Republic and comparing them with modern media trends, I will evaluate whether Plato’s skepticism about media's effects remains valid today.

Part I: Plato’s Rules for Poetry

In the Republic, Socrates advocates strict regulations concerning poetry and storytelling to promote moral virtue among citizens. He proposes that poetry should be censored to remove representations of gods behaving immorally or humans displaying vice, as these portrayals could foster similar attitudes in the audience (Plato, Republic, Book X). Socrates’ concern is rooted in the belief that poetry significantly influences beliefs and character, especially among the young, who tend to imitate what they see and hear.

Socrates suggests editing out Homer’s depictions of gods engaging in deceit or violence, arguing that such portrayals undermine respect for divine beings and promote immoral behavior among listeners (Plato, Republic). Instead, he advocates for poetry that depicts virtuous actions, divine approval of good conduct, and stories that cultivate moral virtues like justice and courage. The core purpose of these rules is to ensure that poetry serves as a moral guide rather than a corrupting influence.

The reason behind these rules is that unregulated poetry might lead to moral deterioration, fostering irrational passions and immoral inclinations. Socrates warns that unedited poetry glorifies vice and undermines rational moral education, ultimately threatening social harmony (Plato, Republic). Therefore, his rules are designed to align poetry with the pursuit of virtue, emphasizing reason and goodness over fantasy or sensationalism.

Part II: Investigating Media Influence

The chosen contemporary media for investigation is Instagram, a platform primarily centered on image sharing. Instagram influencers often promote products, lifestyles, and ideas, with a remarkable ability to shape perceptions. According to recent studies, Instagram significantly influences consumer behavior, with many users reporting purchasing products inspired by influencer endorsements (Djafarova & Trofimenko, 2019).

Research indicates that Instagram effectively creates desire and aspiration, leading followers to mimic influencers’ attitudes, fashion choices, and consumption patterns (Hu et al., 2019). This influence extends beyond mere marketing; it affects societal ideals about beauty, success, and happiness—often fostering unrealistic standards that can contribute to anxiety and lowered self-esteem (Fardouly et al., 2018).

Personally, I have experienced media influence on Instagram—being tempted to buy products promoted by influencers or adopting certain fashion styles to emulate admired personalities. While this influence can motivate personal growth and provide exposure to new ideas, it can also propagate materialism, superficiality, and reinforce harmful stereotypes. Therefore, I believe media influence has both positive and negative aspects, depending on how viewers interpret and resist persuasion.

Part III: Analysis and Reflection

Plato’s concerns about poetry—its potential to promote irrational passions and immoral behavior—are echoed in current debates about social media’s influence. While social media can be a platform for positive connection and education, it also exposes users to manipulation, unrealistic standards, and superficial pursuits. Socrates’ emphasis on regulating poetic content to serve moral ends parallels calls for ethical guidelines in social media content.

My personal experiences affirm that media influences us profoundly—shaping opinions, behaviors, and beliefs. When engaging with Instagram, I often found myself influenced to adopt certain fashion trends or consumer habits, illustrating media’s persuasive power. This influence can be beneficial in fostering community and awareness but also has the potential to distort perceptions of reality and promote materialism.

In conclusion, Plato’s critique of poetry as potentially harmful remains relevant today in assessing media’s influence. The central issue is whether content promotes virtues or vices. Responsible media consumption and creation, guided by ethical considerations, can mitigate negative effects. Therefore, I concur with Plato that media—if unregulated—may pose threats to individual morality and societal harmony, underscoring the importance of mindful engagement with media content.

References

• Djafarova, E., & Trofimenko, A. (2019). 'Instagram in Fashion and Beauty: Impact on Consumer Behavior.' Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management.
• Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2018). 'Social Media and Body Image Concerns: Current Research and Future Directions.' Body Image, 25, 83-90.
• Hu, Y., Manikonda, L., & Kambhampati, S. (2019). 'What We Instagram: A First Analysis of Users’ Behaviors.' Proceedings of the 10th International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media.
• Other references to be added based on further research supporting the analysis.

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