►Philosophy: “Plato´s Cave and Fifteen Million Merits” (Black Mirror):
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Hello readers! This is a post in collaboration with Christy Birmingham, from Poetic Parfait and When Women Inspire. You might wonder how the idea of writing this post came up. Well, basically, I had begun watching Season Three of Black Mirror, which was recently released on Netflix. I told Christy how much I liked it, and, from that moment, we started chatting about the series. Soon after, Christy watched “The Entire History of You”, which is the third episode of the first season, followed by “Fifteen Million Merits” (the second episode of the same season).
We discussed both episodes. And we decided to do a post on the latter. Therefore, this complete post was a result of the exchanges of points of views. But each one of us focused on particular themes.
Christy Birmingham
Christy wrote about Abi (before and after “Hot Shot”), the concept of being overweight (as it is socially considered and shown in this episode), and added the final thoughts. She also had a major task proofreading the entire article and helping me sort out doubts along the process. For all this, I wish to take the opportunity to convey my gratitude to Christy.
As to me, I wrote other parts of the review, the allegory of the cave, and the ending section concerning the existing analogies between Plato´s Allegory of the Cave and this episode.
With that being said, keep in mind that you can watch this episode of Black Mirror on Netflix or here. Thanks for dropping by and we hope you enjoy the reading.
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⇒The Allegory of the Cave:
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is written as a dialogue between Plato’s teacher Socrates and Plato’s brother Glaucon at the beginning of “The Republic”, Book VII (514a–520a).
In the allegory, Plato likens people to prisoners chained in an underground cave, unable to turn their heads.
All they can see is the wall of the cave, upon which shadows of the world above are thrown.
The puppeteers, who are behind the prisoners, hold up puppets that cast shadows on the wall of the cave. These so-called “puppeteers” are just people outside the cave who walk along this walkway, who presumably carry things on their heads. Hence, what the prisoners see and hear are shadows and echoes cast by objects that they do not see, believing that the shadows of objects are real objects.
One of the prisoners then is freed from their bindings and leaves the cave.
Blinded by the light, he is unable to see anything and longs for the familiar darkness. But, eventually, his eyes adjust to the light. Finally, he beholds the sun, which is the main source of knowledge.
As he becomes used to his new surroundings, he realizes that his former view of reality was wrong.
But he is despised when he returns to the cave. Those who never left the cave ridicule him and swear never to go into the light lest they be blinded as well.
The allegory of the Cave explains Plato´s Theory of Forms.
The Theory of Forms maintains that two distinct levels of reality exist: the visible world of sights and sounds that we inhabit and the intelligible world of Forms that stands above the visible world and gives it being. The visible world or World of Appearances consists of Images and Visible Things. But images have less entity than visible things (tangible things). In the Intelligible World we have the mathematical objects (not important for this analysis) and The Forms.
Plato (427/347 BCE).-
For Plato, the Forms were basically the Ideas (also called Essences behind the visible Things).
Forms are not mental entities, nor even mind-dependent. They are independently existing entities whose existence and nature are graspable only by the mind, even though they do not depend on being so grasped in order to exist. Things are “useful” because as they allow us to recognize the Idea or Form behind and Beyond them.
An example concerns the Idea of Beauty. All the beautiful things we can see are beautiful only because they participate in the more general Form of Beauty. This Form of Beauty is itself invisible, eternal, and unchanging, unlike the things in the visible world that can grow old and lose their beauty. This applies to all objects, as they are ideas for them too. Natural objects, such as trees and animals each link back to their respective Form or Idea. As to manufactured objects, that´s a different issue as Plato would rather consider them “artificial”; meaning “images of Things” (and so that was the case for Plato with all artistic creations, for instance).
⇒Fifteen Million Merits:
Black Mirror is a British television series created by Charlie Brooker that features dark, speculative fiction and examines modern society, particularly with regard to the unanticipated consequences of new technologies.
This series has three seasons so far, and it streams on Netflix.
Fifteen Million Merits is the second episode of Season One of the series.
The episode depicts a society in which people have to generate the energy that runs the entire society, pedaling on stationary bikes for hours at a time. This is a world where technological pleasure and instant gratification always depend on computers, where the real world and the virtual world are completely intertwined and almost everything natural has been replaced by technology.
“Fifteen Million Merits” has all of these elements. It is also a satirical approach to the capitalist society from a technological perspective. Characters are mainly clients and their “money” is a fungible value. Not money, though, but “merits” instead. The idea of merit, rather, seems to respond to the demands of a society in which the Division of Labor is no longer needed.
So, basically, everyone plays the same role. Each individual is both a creator and consumer of manufacturing inputs. Besides, leisure time and working time are not clearly divided. While people work (pedalling to generate energy), they are allowed to watch television.
Everyone wears grey clothes, except those who clean the place, who wear yellow and are most times bullied and even depicted in video games as “targets” to shoot.
The cleaners wear bright yellow outfits, which is in sharp contrast to the blasé grey sweat suits of the peddlers. Look closely at the cleaners, who carry dust bins and brooms, and notice that they are all overweight.
Soon it becomes clear in the TV episode that their weight relates to why they are cleaners rather than peddlers, and that being a cleaner is a job that is beneath the people on the bikes. For example, one very excitable man on a bike taunts the workers whenever they come around him. He mocks the outfit and weight of one male cleaner, who never talks back to him.
It seems that when a person becomes overweight, they are removed from the bike work and put to work cleaning the floor instead.
There are many issues being brought up here. Firstly, the way society is organized is that overweight people are considered lower-class citizens. Fitness is considered a strength while being large is symbolic of the weak.
Also, there is obviously bullying going on here, from a “higher” class of society to a “lower” one. Being bullied for a person’s weight is something that happens today, but Fifteen Million Merits takes it to a whole new level in the future.
Aside from talking down to the cleaners, the people in grey outfits also shoot at the yellow figures who appear in video games. The yellow people who look like the floor cleaners are part of games that are similar to “Call of Duty”. They are shot at by the peddlers on the bike and the shooting games continue when the peddlers return to their homes too.
Furthermore, if people are not working at same sole task, they are locked in their prison cell of video screens that cover every surface from floor to ceiling, pumping out an endless stream of inane comedy, reality TV and softcore porn. It is worth noting though that under these televisual circumstances, there is no place for intimacy. Being spectators of TV shows means that you appear in the show as an avatar who makes your reactions public .
We could assume that this “world” is the result of some sort of energy crisis. Hence, the population is needed to power their lights instead. Their existence is pretty miserable to contemplate; so much of the energy is used to distract the same citizenry as they perform their mundane tasks.
The story has two main characters. Bing and Abi.
Bing is confronted with an artificial, media-saturated world, and yet he is hungry for something more.
Like most dystopian stories, he gets a hint that there could be something more when he meets the pretty Abi, and soon after he hears her singing, he falls for her.
Her innocence and naïvety are attractive to Bing, but her singing hints at something even deeper. In his eyes, her beauty is something that goes beyond everything, in a world covered with dark multimedia screens (black mirrors).
Even if they don´t have physical contact (there is an occasion when they briefly hold hands in an elevator, though), there is something magical between them, a spark of reality, so to speak.
There is symbol which seems to represent their bond. The little penguin, which recurrently appears. It probably represents “something lost” (maybe Nature as it seems the characters are locked and pent-up in a “fake” world where real things are barely available).
That´s when the we learn about “Hot Shot”, as an equivalent to “The X Factor” or “American Idol” in this episode, which seems to be the entrance to fame and a life free of duties (the bike).
“Hot Shot” depicts pretty much a “roman circus”.
The committee on the TV-show “Hot Shot” consist of three judges named “Wraith”, “Hope”, and “Charity”. The theological virtues of Christianity are “Faith”, “Hope” and “Charity”. These were traditionally the path to follow in order to attain salvation. The change from “Faith” to “Wraith” is justified because our faith is now on the virtual world. The new salvation is to be successful, to obtain a more real virtuality.
Bing is so charmed by Abi´s song that he spends his dead brother’s 15 million merits to get her on “Hot Shot”, where she’s an instant sensation. Drugged by some sort of milk called “Cuppliance” (which is a composed word, resulting of the sum of “cup” and “compliance”), she goes along with Judge Wraith and becomes a porn star, in a wrenching twist.
Celebrity culture entails a sort of moral nihilism, the show in question leads to a dark voyeurism, which goes deep into other people’s humiliation, pain, weakness, and betrayal. Spectators appear as avatars, a crowded, anonymous audience facing the stage, staring at the contestants while they are just watching the screen in their cells (and represented as avatars in the audience).
The crowd starts to chant for Abi to take the spot offered to her by the judge to become a porn star. In this case, when Abi is on stage, having drunk the “Cuppliance” beverage, she gives in to the social pressure of the crowd. While she is uncomfortable with the idea of becoming a porn star, as shown by her hesitation, the crowd’s chanting become gets stronger and louder.
Abi is being bullied. After all, the floor cleaners are not the only ones bullied in this society. She is being harassed digitally, which we can already see happening in real life today with death threats on Facebook and Twitter, for example. We soon learn the negative impacts of intimidation when we see the career that Abi ends up feeling forced to choose.
In addition to the bullying, Abi is also submitting to something bigger than herself, which happens in many societies today. Whether you call it peer pressure (the crowd) or the pressure of authority (the judges), or a combination of the two, this Black Mirror episode takes the influence of others to the extreme. She wants approval, as so many people do in the world today.
But Abi suffers terribly for getting this approval. She enters the porn world, as the judges and audience both encouraged her to do, and soon videos of her being demoralized by men are flashed across digital screens everywhere. While she no longer has to ride the bike all day, her new role is demeaning, including an image on the screens of a man putting his finger into her mouth and she is physically beneath him, which shows he has the power over her, body and all.
Abi is now officially part of the “Wraith Babes” stream that has “the hottest girls in the nastiest situations” as the announcer’s voice on the stream repeatedly says when it is shown on screens. So sad, as no girl says that she wants to grow up to star in pornography. Instead, Abi – like some women in today’s world – have been pressured into doing degrading sexual acts to please others. It is a depressing look at women’s bodies being exploited for the instant gratification of other people.
This example of Ali is taken to the extreme in a few ways. Firstly, she is viewed by Bing as being pure and innocent, including having an angelic voice; she is the ultimate example of peer pressure’s consequences. Also, the pornography featuring her is spread across huge digital screens for everyone to see, rather than being viewed on private websites or seedy theaters.
It is mostly an act of rebellion that leaves the audience numb and silent until Judge Hope proclaims it the most heartfelt thing they’ve ever seen on the show. Soon after the Judge´s evaluation, the audience begin to cheer and clap hands in a standing ovation.
Bings´s speech is a little bit of the major irony here. He speaks out the truth (maybe because he cheats and avoid drinking the beverage Abi had when she performed, as he had hidden the dispenser under his bed).
Judge Hope says he is deeply moved by his words and offers him to have his own show twice a week for half an hour each. And Bing, persuaded by the judge and audience, accepts.
So, ultimately he also sells himself out. In other words, he becomes entertainment himself. Speaking trite truths about consumerism and vociferating sold out prejudices concerning non-genuine life. While using the glass in his throat while he speaks, in a threatening tone as if he is going to commit suicide.
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⇒Concluding Thoughts on Fifteen Million Merits:
As with the other Black Mirror episodes, Fifteen Million Merits is a smart hour of science fiction television. It shows a dark side of technology and the excesses that the world could come to in the future if electronic devices are not used wisely by humans. It could wind up that the world is short on energy, that we cannot get away from digital screens, and that bullying is a bigger side-effect of a tech-savvy lifestyle than ever before.
But, perhaps we have to squirm in our seats watching this kind of television to be able to make more sense of the world, our place in it, and how to use technology responsibly in the future.
Or, it could just be that we recognize that technology can also challenge our ways of thinking about the future, human nature, and electronic gadgets. What we know for sure is that we do not plan to buy or wear a grey sweat suit anytime soon.
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⇒Fifteen Million Merits and Plato´s Allegory of the Cave:
The interrelations between this episode and Plato´s Allegory of the Cave could be summarized as follows.
People´s approach of Reality is given basically through images of things. These things are screen images, and all sorts of images most times on the screens, of the cells or on TVs in front of the Bikes.
People are represented by avatars, meaning by images of themselves, the merits are charged to those avatars, as if it was a video game.
Most importantly, people are prisoners of a cave.
They live locked up there. Everyone has his own cells, in which each perimeter consists of screens.
The screens continuously emit shows and do so unless it is the night.
If the prisoner wants to watch a show, he´ll have to pay for it. And if he wants to skip ads, he´ll have to do the same.
The main shows are hosted and owned by the Judges of the show “Hot Shot” (Judge Charity, Judge Hope and Judge Wraith). So, basically, the Judges are somehow the puppeteers.
Bing is the “released prisoner”. After Abi´s performance and after she enters the Porn Industry (hired by Judge Wraith), he begins to see images as “things,” so to speak. The scene in the elevator, in which the main characters hold hands, is quite meaningful and one could even say it is a hinge moment.
Bing´s speech in “Hot Shot” shows that he is somehow the philosopher. The one who has a sharp intellect.
Bing’s awakening makes evident the fact that the system is a huge lie and that the ideals proposed by power are alienating people instead of making them happier. Having seen the light, which is paradoxically darkness as it has to do with Abi´s prostitution, he wants to tell his former fellow prisoners about his experiences, as a sort of revolutionary leader would do. He tries to raise awareness.
But, the irony here is that even if Judge Hope gives him the credit for his “moving” speech, whilst highlighting the importance of being “genuine”, he is not taken seriously, at least in the expected terms.
Judge Hope (who would be a sort of Crowd Pleaser) takes him to his own field and beats him, once there.
Bing becomes an entertainer, and of the system he was defying. Light beyond the screens is unattainable as we can see in the last sequence of the episode, when he looks through a big window something that could be both thing: a real landscape or… even something more sinister: a landscape digitalized image on yet another screen.
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You can watch this episode of Black Mirror here and/or here.
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Aquileana
⚡️La Audacia de Aquiles⚡️ 
What an amazing collaboration, Argentina and Canada united!!
Congratulations to both of you!!
Thank you for appreciating the Argentine and Canadian efforts, my friend! It was a pleasure collecting ideas for the post with Aquileana
Every post of hers is an astounding piece of art, and if you add your fine lyricism, well, this is the sumum 😉
Kindness abounds!! 🙂
Thanks so much … successfully delivered from Argentina and Canada… straight to Spain!. 😀 Wishing you the best! 🙂
Always the best for you two, too!!
Thank you kindly ❤ 🙂
Aqui! Sweet Aqui! The post looks wonderful here 🙂 I love the way it all came together and the happy adventure we had creating it. Thank you for posting it here and now I will reblog it. I appreciate the kind mentions too and the way you added the images. BM brought us even closer together, sweet star! 🙂 ❤
I love this post, dear CB… and our discussions concerning this episode, the way how the post began to take shape somehow… in other words: the process until it was published!… So grateful for your help and for being your friend… Thanks so much for everything!… Hugs and love! Aquileana 😀 🙂 ⭐
Ohhh I love what you wrote here and thank you for it! ❤ I am ever grateful for you, our friendship, and the notes we share. Much love right back to you! xxoo
Many hugs ❤ xoxo
Reblogged this on Poetic Parfait and commented:
Today I am over at Aquileana’s blog La Audacia de Aquiles to unveil our collaboration on the groundbreaking television series Black Mirror! I hope you will stop by to partake in the philosophical discussion, which includes discussion of Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave, technology, obesity, relationships, and more.
♥ Christy
Congratulations on your collaboration! I have not heard of the series but your description is intriguing. A bit frightening the bullying and role definition based on obesity. Thank you for including the links. I think my husband would enjoy watching these too.
Hi dear dear Sue, thanks so much, also on Christy´s behalf!. We are glad to know that you enjoyed the post and points analyzed here. I am sure that both, Dave & you, will like the series. So, keep it in mind in case you want to give it a try!. Sending much love ⭐
Is our world not already like this … the fact alone that people watch this show means that it has many areas touching their (my) own life. today’s ‘crowd’ seems only to be interested in prepackaged experiences, peppered with their parents’ way of life. Only deep suffering seems exceptionally to be a way out. Our eyes have become the plastic screens my eyes are now watching too. But perhaps there is an advantage: nobody can deny that our screens are but a limited representation of reality. Hence we can make a choice.
Such a deep comment Bert!!!!:… you are right. We became more aseptic, more materialistic,, more insensitive, more pitiless and inhuman… I guess this series aims to show us that… But we might end by consuming it as if it was yet another “product”.. Regardless, I personally felt that it reached me while shaking me, somehow… I´d say It helped me see certain things with a more critical point of view! 😉 Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts… all the best to you!. 🙂
Felicitaciones. Genial tu blog. Pensas y escribis como pocos.
Muchísimas gracias… Aprecio mucho tus palabras… Saludos, con afecto!. 😀
Thank you Aquileana and Christy. I was not familiar with Three of Black Mirror. My only TV is Netflix and YouTube, so I can’t wait to check it out!
The prisoners, unable to see anything but the walls of the cave is so profound… but of course — it’s Plato. Thanks for this terrific discussion. Huge hugs to you both.
Hi there dear Teagan!… we are so grateful to read your words… thanks so much, truly!… You´d love Black Mirror, if you get the chance to check it out! 😀 Wishing you the best… many hugs. Christy & Aquileana 🙂
Nice collaboration! It looks like a very enjoyable team effort.
Thanks so much Bull… we are so glad to know that you enjoyed the reading… thannk you for dropping by and leaving your thoughts! 😀
My darlings, speechless with admiration –well sort of speechless, or I’d not be writing this. What a fabulous post from two extremely talented ladies at the top of their game, a position I know they won’t slip from either, not given this terrific post, one that restores my faith in the fact the world is anything but mundane xxxx
Hi dear She ❤ thanks so much… coming from you it means a lot… Christy and I are highly appreciative & very happy to know that you enjoyed this post, almost as much as we enjoyed writing it… Sending much love !!!! Christy & Aquileana ⭐
Félicitations, génial….bonne soirée et belle semaine…bises
Merci beaucoup cher Georges. On t´embrasse, Christy et moi… Aquileana 😀
You are both so clever, it bends my mind trying to follow you.
Awww… thanks so much dear Susan… we Both appreciate such nice words. . Wishing you the best!.😉 ❤
Interesting analysis of Plato’s cave and the Black Mirror – a show which I’ve never heard about but it does sounds painfully close to reality.
“Painfully close to reality” is a great way to describe BM´s facts (and projections!?)… Thanks so much for dropping by!… All the best to you😀
A brilliant post that links the past, with our current reality, and to an unknown future. Mythology and technology working simultaneously in our existence reminds me that we are active participants in human history. Thank you, dear Aquileana and Christy – your collaboration is a testament to the art of conversation. Many hugs coming to you both.
Hi dear Rebecca. The unknown Future, a bright glittering light, just seconds away from us! 😀 This could be a way to define it using BM´s precepts!.
Thanks so much for your support!. Christy and I appreciate you very much… Sending love. All the best to you😀
💛❤️💛
enjoyed this review of Plato
and knowing of this current
expression of these
deep questions
of existence 🙂
You always leave such clever comments, in the shape of Poetry!. Thank you very much!. All the best to you😀
I’ve only watched a limited amount of “Black Mirror’, but I enjoy it, like a “Twilight Zone” or maybe more like “Night Gallery” and sometimes I get a “Twin Peaks” feel, but without the chrono to it, all for a new age. Loved seeing Christy here with you, Aquileana. This week is a perfect time to for Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, we can we really see? Sigh. Off to share. Hope this week treats you kindly. 🙂
Hi dear Donna… I know what you mean when you say that Plato´s allegroy is quite well- timed… Chomsky would agree (just watched “Requiem for the American Dream” the other day)… he says that the maingoal in elections times is to make people believe they are having certain needs (even new needs) and then act in order to direct their votes in a certain direction… he finally concludes that most times those choices are irrational, as they are based on beliefs that the voters initially didn´t have
Thanks from me & on Christy´s behalf for your words!. All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀
Powerful post A and C. Thank you for putting it together and allowing us all to feel the discomfort in questioning our own reality. 💛
Thank you very much dear Val… We are glad to know that you enjoyed the reading… I loved teaming up with Christy ❤ Wishing you the best.🙂
This is an amazing collaboration! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you very much dear Takami… we are pleased to know that you liked the post… Wishing you the best.🙂
I haven’t watched a television show in decades, but this one sounds like it’s worthy of breaking that streak. I love reading science fiction because of the philosophical questions that come up with different views of the future. Thank you both for letting me know about this one!
Hi dear Sheila… Thank you very much for your words, also on CB´s behalf… Black Mirror is worth watching! 😀
You are quite right: SciFi always leaves us thinking… It is an interesting genre in that sense.
Wishing you the best. 🙂
I’ve actually never seen show this but I LOVE the Allegory of the Cave. Always have. What a fascinating comparison here.
Hi Sarah!!!… thanks so much for dropping by… Black Miror is the kind of upsetting and yet mind- blowing series that leaves you thinking… 🙂
I am with you: the allegroy of the cave is just brilliant!… sending you best wishes. Aquileana 😀
An extremely fascinating and informative piece. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much dear Gene… It is great to “see” you here!. All the best to you 😀
A wonderful treatise comparing Plato’s cave and The Black Mirror! Such a lot of work has gone into this fantastic post. Congratulations to you both, Aquileana and Christy!
Hi there dear Clare. Thank you very much for such kind words!!!- We are glad to know that you enjoyed the reading!. ❤ Sending you much love, across the miles!!!! 😀
Thank-you my dear Aquileana. Hugs and love ❤ xx
Wonderfully woven together, well done.
Thank you very much, dear Maverick!… I appreciate your words. Wishing you the best!. 😉
Your posts are so interesting. I learn so much.
Thank you very much!… I truly appreciate your words. Love & best wishes. . Aquileana😀
This was such a powerful piece, and such a wonderful collaboration with Christy 😊❤ I liked the themes you brought up. It is so true that the light can blind. Too much of light or too much positivity can make us delusional, unrealistic and destructive. Beauty – it is certainly more than what we see. It is an idea that you said. Beauty is a feeling that sometimes cannot be explained in words.
These two themes segway in so beautifully to the review of the episode in Black Mirror. Bing and Abi sound destructive for each other, but I suppose that is what infatation and ironically love can do to you. Sad to hear Abi had go degrade herself but sometimes we might be looking for something better and we can’t help it. Hope the two of them find their way. Love and lust can both be dangerous, hard to control but it all takes time to find ourselves 🌟💜😊
Hi there dear Mabel… Thanks for this clever comment… Abi & Bing´s relationship doesn´t come to a proper term…
Isolation and alienation seem to be the rule in this episode… Although Bing aims to be romantic and earn her affection, it all turns out in a whole different and quite ominous direction… There are many ironies and paradoxes in this chapter as well… It seems that all what it is unsolvable is in fact the common denominator, here.
Christy and I appreciate your comment (and YOU!)… wishing you the best! 😀
Love is such a complex thing…and you always talk about it so wonderfully through Greek mythology 😍❤ Keep writing, and I look forward to reading more 😊
You two are amazing! Two creative minds that blend so well together. There is definitely lots to think about from this post, and although I’m not a fan of science fiction, the parallels to real life are eye opening. Hugs to you both! <3<3
Thanks so much dear Debbie… Christy and I are grateful to know that you enjoyed the post … and yes: we blend well. I was thinking about that after the psot was published. We understand each other well and it is easy to adapt to each other´s ideas and suggestions. Sending love & hugs. Christy & Aquileana 😀
Hugs back to you two sweet gals! xoxo 🙂
❤ xo Thank you, Debbie. Nite nite ⭐
Good night my friend. ❤
Excellent article!
Thank you very much dear Nico. Love & best wishes. . Aquileana😀
I am so sad that just the fact you have more than 140 characters worth of words will lose the majority of people who should give this a good read.
It was a great read.
Sorry . . . it IS a great read.
I hear you! 😀 TY dear Disperser!. Aquileana 😀
Quite right!… We are so used to live “hanging on” the moment…. But instantaneity leads to Depersonalization, most times… It is quite paradoxical if you stop to think about it!… Thanks for the comment dear Disperser. Good points!… Love & best wishes. . Aquileana😀
What a great collabration of creativity! It’s fascinating how you linked the past to the present and the future! I do find frightening elements in this in relation to what’s becoming of the world and its inhabitants. The times are very unsettling indeed. Have a great week both you, Aquileana, and you too Christy!!! 🙂 ❤
Hi there dear Natalie… Thanks so much for the comment… we are glad to know that you enjoyed the post!… You are right: there are many elements in this show that could be considered warning signals for us!… Sigh!… Love and best wishes. Aquileana😀
Hey missy! Always good to hear from your my sweet friend‼️❌⭕️ I pray you have a wonderful week Aquileana👍😘
Thanks so much dear Natalie…. Love and blessings to you. Aquileana 🌺
My pleasure my friend‼️ Hugs and blessings and love to you, Natalie ❣️😘
Many hugs!!!!! ❤
👍😊💞
What a fantastic post, Aquileana – you certainly keep me in your circle very happy 🙂 Hugs XX
Thanks so much dear Ina!!!. Your words are highly appreciated. Love and best wishes. Aquileana😀
I was fascinated by Plato’s cave analogy when I first read it. And I apply it to a number of areas where people would prefer to stay in the dark with what’s comfortable, Yet untrue and confining.
Right on, dear Georgia… Darkness could be comfortable… No challenges, just ignorance, submission and unconditional acceptance.
Thanks for sharing those accurate thoughts! All my best wishes. Aquileana😀
Like always an extraordinary post.You can be so proud,my congratulations.You really do very serious work.Thanks a lot.I wish you a wonderful time.Many greetings.
Thank you very much dear Jeannette. Your words are highly appreciated!!!. ❤ Wishing you the best. Love and best wishes. Aquileana😀
Kudos Aqui and Christy for a beautifully crafted presentation of Plato’s Cave and the dark BM episodes. Indeed life is hurtling towards a dystopian world where humans are projected to become subservient to AI and robotisation. My warm wishes your way…
Thank you very much dear Raj!… I was so glad to team up with Christy… she is a genius, and I admire her and I am so happy to know her and share things with her! 🙂
This episode depicts a dark dystopian world… but it´s practical corolaries are not so far away from our daily existences, I am guessing.
Fantastic post!! Plato´s Cave and Black Mirror great!! Enhorabuena, es un placer leerte y aprender contigo
Thanks so much my dear… We are very grateful!. Love and best wishes. Aquileana😀
Enhorabuena a las dos!!
Muchísimas gracias! 😉 Christy & Aquileana! 🙂
I am not familiar with the series but like the part on Plato. Good reminder of important things Aquileana. I was in Greece recently and thought of you 🙂
Thanks so much dear Sylvie… I completely second your statements… 😉 Love and best wishes. Aquileana😀
Great post 🙂 I both love and hate Black Mirror, it’s so well done, but such uncomfortable viewing!
Quite right!!! 🙂 the first episode of Season One is simply gross! Thanks a lot for your comment, dear Lucy. Love and best wishes. Aquileana😀
Ciao Aquileana, Buon pomeriggio 🙂
Un abbraccio, Omar
Tante grazie caro amico… Un abbraccio per te! Aquileana 😀
That was very fun. I’m going over to check this out on Netflix.
You´ll love this series, dear Jacqui!: A #mustwatch (hashtag included) 🙂 Love and best wishes. Aquileana😀
You girls are amazing, I guess I am missing some good shows by not watching TV, but the allegory of the cave by Plato it’s an eternal metaphor of not perceiving true reality, and what’s more important works by other philosophers, and explorers of self like Jung and the Archetypes a never exhausting theme, myself wrote a post talking about the importance of Plato’s allegory in March 2012 titled: The World without dust geographical Archetypes of the Soul.
Thank you both for this almost antipodean collaboration! 🙂
Thanks so much for your clever comment… we are very pleased to know that you liked the post…
You are quite right as to Plato´s allegory of the cave. I´d say it is more about those ones that “don´t want to see things as they are”… that´s why it is probably linked to Knowledge and Truth (the Idea of God or the Sun represented this ideal)… I´ll try to find Jung´s article… thank you for the recommendation!.
Sending best wishes. Aquileana 😀
Aquileana ! You and Christy ! …amazing collaboration filled with inspiration of new thoughts ….I am grateful to follow you both ….sending love always , megxxx
Hi dear Meg… Thank you very much… Doing this post with my canadian friend, Christy was a wonderful experience … We are very grateful for your feedback!.
Love and best wishes. Aquileana😀
Najít a mít spřízněnou duši, je vždy dar.
We can find ours similars, even in a differentiated and Hostile world, I assume!.
Thanks so much dear Anna. Love and best wishes. Aquileana😀
not looking for ??? little time and strength, catch old, good.
new excuse.
A truly fascinating, in-depth post, though I would never expect anything less than the two of you. I’ve heard people talking about Black Mirror here and there, so this post only makes it more obvious that I should start watching this show!
Hi there dear Jeri… thanks so much, also on Christy´s behalf… coming from you it means a lot… You´ll love BM: I recommend you the series. It streams on Netflix but there are some episodes available on Youtube and Daily Motion as well!. Sending best wishes, always. Aquileana 😉
A brilliant post, love the collaboration, I’m not aware of the Black Mirror sounds like awful dilemmas, I appreciated your research and writing on Plato’s Cave fascinating 👏🏻✨
Thanks a lot for your words dear Charlotte!. You are right: dilemmas are a common denominator in the series!…
Sending love & best wishes, my friend. Aquileana 😀
Eek! I knew all this tech stuff would get us into trouble one day.
The bike thing is a freak out for me because I have a repeating dream that “pedaling” (on recycled bikes from 1st world countries) is a form of energy. In third world countries where there are no jobs or energy, it is a job for which people get paid. Of course in my dreams everything works out great for everyone.
Plato’s Cave seems intellectual. Black Mirror seems frightening.
However, they are documented ideas from the past and a perceived future.
No wonder “now” is so attractive.
Can we live in the “now”?
All I know is that when I am deep into creating an Art Gown, or writing a poem or looking at art, I have a suspended sense of the moment.
Aquileana & Christy I love this article.
What I love most is the collaboration of ideas, the exchange and coming together of minds. You are blog rock ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Hi there dear Resa… You are quite right: BM seems scary… and yet there are so many things which seem so valid nowadays… I highly recommend you the series, If you have Netflix… If you don´t you can find some episodes on Youtube & Daily Motion. Interesting to read about your dream… And “now” (right now) “Now” is always. The creators of Black Mirror said that the Future is here, right now 😏
Thanks so much from Christy and I… Looking forward to our next project together: CB, You & I … it will be awesome, I already can say so!!! 😉 Sending you warm wishes for the week ahead❤
Great post … though Plato was talking nonsense, of course, and the virtual world can never be mistaken for the real one unless self-delusion takes over. Plato hated poetry, too …
I know what you mean… Yes, Plato was not very fond of poets and artists… I spoke a little bit about that in the introduction of this post (section: allegory of the cave & Theory of Forms)… I wouldn´t say he was talking nonsense though as his theory of Forms was extremely useful: mainly in Linguistics 😉 Wishing you well!. Aquileana 😀
Sorry if my comment sounded a little brusque – in no way was it intended to disparage your excellent post which was a model of clarity and balance. Any mention of Plato always gets me going, as his essentially metaphysical viewpoint I regard as the start of many human problems – the extremes of religion, for example, or the nastier manifestations of nationalism. His dislike of art is partly jealousy and an attempt to hijack the link between creativity and nature which I see as crucial to human survival. Wow, a real can of worms here, reckon I’m going to have to blog about it. Thanks for the heads up …
I think you make some accurate points, so no need to apologize… Plato endorsed the elitist government of an enlightened aristocracy. His book Republic is basically about that “ideal”…. You are right as to his disparaging attitude towards writers, poets and artists in general…
But when it comes to his legacy as a whole; I I have no objections! 😉 He was a genius and set up the Foundations of Western philosophy, alongside Aristotle 😀
He certainly was! He’s not a figure one can easily step around. He’s also our only link with Socrates. I thought your joint effort to apply their joint ideas to the modern world was fascinating and has got me thinking.
Thanks so much dear Dave… your words and support mean a lot!!! 😉
Reblogged this on wwwpalfitness.
Thanks so much for reblogging dear Paul… It is very much appreciated. Sending love & best wishes. Aquileana ⭐
You’re quite welcome and i of course thank you.
xo Thanks so much dear Paul!!! 😀
You’re welcome my dear
Reblogged this on a nomad in cyberspace and commented:
I’d like to write about this in a future post but in the meantime thought it was well worth sharing. If you haven’t seen ‘Fifteen Million Merits’ I can recommend it – see link in the reblogged post.
Thanks so much for reblogging dear Dave… I am on my way to your blog!…. Sending best wishes, always ⭐
Collaboration works! United we stand divided we fall!
Thank you very much for dropping by and for your accurate words!.
All the best to you! 😀
Thanks for posting this, ladies. I’ve been wondering whether to watch Black Mirror, but I think it’s almost too depressing, as this episode you described is already too much like our present society.
Thank you very much dear Carolee… we much appreciate your comment ❤ Black Mirror Is a show that can produce different sorts conflicting sensations, but that is what I precisely like about it… Plus, you are right, there are many elements that could make reference to our daily lives, and some others that take things a little bit farther, and yet that intend to explain our near future ahead. All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀
Well, I’m tempted to give it a try… though I usually try to escape into historical or fantasy worlds, especially when I’m feeling vulnerable. Have a great weekend!
I am quite sure you´ll enjoy it… 😀 Wishing you a great friday & weekend ahead, dear Carolee!!! 🙂
What an epic collaboration! I love finding out about all the Greek literature that I haven’t come across yet. Black Mirror is a good show as well, only just got into it myself so will add it to the list with more Plato
Thank you very much Ste… we are very appreciative…. So glad to know that you eoyed this collaboration… All the best to you! 😀
I always enjoy your collaborations, they always have so much depth and are always a joy to read.
What an interesting comparison! You two writers mesh well. I first read the Allegory of the Cave in college. It has stayed w/ me ever since. Though I have not seen the program, Black Mirror seems to present a similar analogy re: our own society.
Thank you very much… We are happy to know that you enjoyed this collaboration. The Allegory of the cave is so important and helps us understand many things, if you stop to think it… As to Black Mirror, it is a great series, despite the “darkness” that might surround certain episodes… All the best to you! 💛😀
A magnificent and unique joint post – well done to you both! My mind has been doing mental gymnastics absorbing your thoughts about the programme and I can’t wait to check it out on Netflix – I’ll have this with me whilst watching to compare / analyse!
Thank you very much, dear Annika… Christy and I appreciate your kind words and it is great to know that you liked our post… we are quite sure you´ll enjoy Black Mirror, so—> Go ahead 😀 All the best to you! ⭐
Interesting comparison, I wouldnt have seen the relation. That is because in my Memory the cave is not the main Thing that sticks, but the forms. And there I always have thoughts seeing the form of our Body given by the Forms outside our reality. The genes have many functions, but growth of the Body into a certain form I see as something different. Who tells the tooth to stop growing, or the finger nail?
Thanks for the post.
There is a sort of spooky game… ghostly shades that seem to be things but are only illusions… The other day I listened to one of Lady Gaga´s hit songs called “Perfect Illusion”… she says : It was not love… it was a perfect illusion, mistaken for love”, I couldn´t avoid thinking of Plato´s allegory of the cave… 🙂
How natural processes develop, growth, death, birth: well that is something that seem quite functional with regard to a trascendent order somehow. No orders as you say, Nature Is autonomous and it thus acts consequently…
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts… It is great to read your comment… All my best wishes! ⭐
What do we really know of nature (or of creation and the creator)? We are in a cave and see through a narrow opening… 🙂
I suspect it could be the case… The Universe is infinite… we are just a grain of sand!!! 😀
Bonsoir BELLE AQUILEANA
SAVOIR PRENDRE
Prendre le temps d’aimer
C’est l’éternelle jeunesse
C’est du rire
C’est la musique quand on se sens en pleine forme
C’est pleurer quand on a l’émotion
C’est du cœur à partager avec les siens ou avec ses amis
C’est de lire pour s’instruire et avoir su savoir
C’est écouter
C’est l’intelligence
De penser est la clé de la réussite
De jouer nous rappelle notre enfance
De rêver c’est un souffle de bonheur
Il faut prendre le temps de vivre car les jours passent vite
Passe une belle soirée
Gros bisous Bernard http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/835002berna1.jpg .
Je te remercie de coeur mon cher Bernard…. Pour ta visite et pour ton beau commentaire… Je t´embrasse. Aquileana ⭐
Thanks, much to peruse.
Thanks so much dear Sally… I appreciate the feedback… Love and best wishes 🍀
Well now I’m a thousand times intrigued!
What a great little piece.
Thank you very much dear Jay!…. Very pleased to know that you liked this post and that it might even lead you to watch the series… Love & best wishes from Christy & I 🙂
Sempre notevoli, e di particolare interesse, i tuoi magnifici articoli
Un caro saluto,silvia
Ti ringrazio di cuore cara Silvia… Sono contenta che ti è piaciuto l’articolo. Un abbraccio. 😉
Bonsoir ma chère Aquileana pour ce beau billet partagé avec Christy. Je ne connais pas cette série mais j’ai apprécié vos mots. Un grand merci.
Je te souhaite une douce semaine avec mes amitiés et bisous 🙂 ♥
Je te remercie ma chère Denise… C´est toujours bon de te lire, mon amie… Gros bisous!. Bonne fin de semaine!!! ❤
Well done to you both! At least, we are free to interpret the Allegory 🙂 The Universe is much bigger and more amazing than even a free mind can imagine. Best wishes! xxxx
Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your beautiful comment, dear Inese!. 🙂 we are really pleased to know that you liked the post… Wishing you a great friday & weekend! 😀 ahead,
Hello dear Aquileana !
Many thanks for the good wishes for me and my country, Romania! 🙂
I want to get you informed that I like what you post on your blog and therefore come with love and joy in your virtual box! 🙂
Thanks to our virtual continuation of the dialogue and that not go into details versus the subjects of my posts, I do not mind because I know from personal experience that Google Translate does not always translate correctly for technical reasons and does not depend on us . Hopefully that pass by me and leave a like and a second question for me is enough! 🙂
Best wishes for you and your country start now wholeheartedly generous and good for your soul! 🙂
A happy Friday and a wonderful weekend! 🙂
With esteem and friendship,
Aliosa 🙂
Thanks for your words, Aliosa… very heartfelt!!!! happy weekend to you. Enjoy it! ⭐
Beautifully done, and a wonderful collaboration with Christy!
Thanks so much dear Erin… coming from you it means a lot!!! 😉 have a great weekend. 😀
Reblogged this on lampmagician.
Thanks a lot for sharing… It means so much to me!… sending best wishes. 😀
Magnifica serie arrivata anche in Italia!
L episodi o più sconvolgente x me è il terzo della seconda serie ” orso bianco”!
Ciao Shera
è una serie eccellente … episodio si parla è difficile … ci fa riflettere sulle forme di controllo sociale … il tema riappare nel terzo capitolo (season 3, episode 2)
Un abbraccio!. Aquileana 😀
Grazie del suggerimento.
SherabuonWE
Un abbraccio cara! ❤
There is so much here that I want to come back and read this, and potentially watch the show. I’m sorry I haven’t been around much! xo I always get excited when I see collaborative projects such as these, and Allegory of a Cave always stands out to me. Here’s to hoping I can return soon! All my best wishes, Ka
Thanks so much dear Ka… we are beyond appreciative to read your words. Thanks again from me and on Christy´s behalf … 😉
Wishing you an excellent weekend… sending love!!!! ⭐
It sounds like a very thought-provoking drama. As I was reading about the story, and the way Bing’s good intentions toward Abi ended up leading her down a very bad path, I suspected that the plot was heading toward his tragic suicide. I was surprised to discover that the eventual ending was even bleaker and more depressing!
It was also interesting to read how the story could be compared to Plato’s allegory of the cave. I had heard about this allegory before, but the connections you pointed out are not ones that would automatically have occurred to me. All in all, I think the post was a very successful collaboration. 🙂
Thanks so much Bun… yes, the ending entails a dark, ironic twist!. I was expecting him to commit suicide… or to kill Abi
We are pleased that you enjoyed our collaboration… have a wonderful weekend. Aquileana ⭐
Thank you, Aquileana. You too. 🙂
Best to you ❤️
Love Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. It can be used as a foundation for study of many of today’s major issues all around the world. I have not heard of Black Mirror though so i’m going to have to check that out. Thanks for sharing, Aquileana, and Christy… Love it when you two come together. 🙂
Thanks so much, dear Kev… Christy and I really appreciate your words. You´ll like Black Mirror: make sure to check it out, if you have time!!!.
Wishing you the best. Happy weekend. ⭐
Hi Aquileana! I’ve nominated you for the inaugural Treasure Trove Award! There are no rules or tasks involved. You can find your award here: https://danicapiche.wordpress.com/2016/11/19/treasure-trove-award/
If you prefer not to be involved with awards, please accept this as a gesture of my appreciation.
Thanks so much for the nomination!. I usually do awards… but have been saving links for a while now, so I´d better catch up soon!. I am planning to post all the last awards I received in a post (will try to do it before 2017!) 😉 I truly appreciate that you thought of me!!! ❤ have a beautiful sunday!!!!
Very interesting story, I haven’t seen the series as I very rarely have time to watch something. Once a week maybe, for some 30 minutes. I agree that people have to decrease their dependence on devices. Simply decrease all the social media exposure and everything which comes with it. It is very smart to use our brain to the fullest in order to have it. Great post, greetings to Christy and you, I really love you both!
Hi there dear Inese…. Thanks so much from Christy and I 😉😊 you are quite right: unplugging could be such a good thing 🌞 but Social Media could be a good thing as well… I guess it depende on how you use it and the connections you make… I’d say that Balance is the key. Love you too ❤️
Since I enjoy sci/fi and fantasy, I’m going to watch the first few few episodes of Black Mirror– which I’ve only heard about from other sources. Have a wonderful day, Aquileana.
Thanks so much… I hope you get the chance to give it a try ✌️🌞 I am quite sure you’ll enjoy it. Best wishes and happy week ✋
Great post and I love the comparison very much. I have not seen Fifteen Million Merits and thus do not know it.
I am Sci-Fi lover and I have 1500 Sci-Fi books in French since 1975. In this amount of books, nearly every kind of ideas have been treated earlier.
Have a wonderful day!
Wow 😮 that’s a great amount of books 😀 I know what you mean: in fact, this episode reminded me of “1984”, “An orange clockwork”, just to mention a few ones…. Thanks so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts, dear Sartenada,… Wishing you the best… Happy week 💛
I love the sound of Dark Mirror, thanks for the info will check it out. Say hi to Christy for me, you both rock!
Thanks so much dear Marje. 💗 also on Christy’s behalf… I am sure you will enjoy BM. Hace a great week 🎀
Intending to watch it with my daughters perhaps after Christmas when I might have a few days off work. Have a great week too. . 🙂
Excellent!… Wishing you a great weekend, dear Marje 😊🌞
Merci Amalia. Bon dimanche. Bisous.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxtKeYBQdr0
Merci beaucoup Louis. Bonne semaine… Bisous 😘
Happy Sunday ❤
Thanks so much dear Simona 💗 Wishing you the best… Happy week 💞
An amazing collaboration between Christy and you. Loved the post…. ❤
Congratulations to both of you for delivering it wonderfully… 🙂
Thanks so much dear Mani 🌞 we are so glad that you enjoyed this collaboration… Wishing you the best 😘
You two just make me want to give Black Mirror a try! 🍸
Scary idea—yet rings true, indeed (You want the ads go? Pay for it, yo!). People are ‘blowing their merits’ to buy more control—while in fact by doing so they’re just getting deeper into ‘the screen’ (that is, the make-believe image).
That said, I do enjoy the [somehow] bilateral consistency here—Socrates/Glaucon, Bing/Abi and umm.. you bet, Christy/Aqui. 🙂 Cheers!
Thanks so much 💙❤️ We are so glad to know that you liked our post. We appreciate the support.
And, true: there are many ironic twists in this Black Mirror, not to mention the intertwined layers and theories it could be liked to. I recommend you the series… I am quite sure you’ ll like it…. Wishing you the best 🍒
Einen schönen Sonntag wünsche ich dir und ein guten Start in die neue Woche Klaus in Freundschaft
Hello there, dear Klaus. Thanks so much for dropping by and for your comment… I hope you are having a beautiful autumn… Wishing you the best. Aquileana ✨💛
Powerful post! Amazing collaboration!
Thanks so much dear Dave… Wishing you the best 🌞✌️
hello aquileana its dennis the vizsla dog hay my dada has seen ads for this seereez on the netflx but has not watchd it yet!!! i think he is mor likely to watch it now baysd on this riteup maybe it wil be a way for him to yooze his otherwise yooseless degree in filosofee!!! ha ha ok bye
Haha… Thanks so much dear Dennis… 💌 Loved your comment. I hope he (The Philosopher) might eventually enjoy “Black Mirror” 😀 best to you two.
Such a fantastic article by two of my most favorite bloggers and writers! Hi Christy! I am not at all familiar with this series though I am so very familiar and intrigued by the Allegory of Caves, (re the series, I am out of the loop so thank you for letting me in). This is beautifully done and I hung to each word although as you know I have the focus of a gnat. Congratulations you too, it’s most wonderful to read your collaboration.
Hi dear Holly… Thanks so much from Christy and me… We are very appreciative to read your comment, my friend… And: I agree with you: Plato’s allegory of the cave is fascinating… And it could be related to many things too!… Sending love and Wishing you a beautiful week. 💟💙
You are both so welcome, it is always my pleasure to read your lovely blog.<3
Thanks so much dear Holly 💛 have a great weekend xo
Dear Aquileana, your posts haven’t been showing in the WordPress reader, I wondered where you had got to! I’ve been so very busy the last few months I didn’t even think to look you up until yesterday when I suddenly thought of you (I was reading something about The Minotaur) and promised myself I would find you today. I have and it was all worth it – fantastic post! I hope you’re well 🙂 xo
I am glad that the minotaur brought you back 💟 Thank you very much for dropping by and for such nice words. Best to you. Aquileana 💕
🙂
💞🎀
Bravo, j’adore ! Merci pour cet article collaboratif. Faire le lien entre les mythes et les histoires d’aujourd’hui, montrer à quel point ils sont intemporels… J’ai encore beaucoup appris en vous lisant, merci 🙂
Merci beaucoup, chère Elisa… 💛 Je suis heureuse de savoir que ce billet t’a plu… Je t’embrasse. Bisous. ❤️
🙂
I have not watched the shows you guys mentioned but i kept reading he post till he end and i am so ammazed at how much insigts you’ve put in it that you made me wanna see the show. However to my dismay our local channel provider here doesn’t syindicate that show i have to figure out my way to find and wath it.
I love Plato as well but you made me love him more…this is such an insightful post. I am glad i found it ..as it never appeared in my reader..i just happen to see Christy’s like and i navigated through..
Thanks so much… We are so glad to know that you enjoyed this post… There is a link included here to this episode, which is available on YouTube (and also on DailyMotion) … Just in case, you want to give it a try ✌️😊 your comment means a lot… Wishing you the best 🌞✨
Ohhh thanks for the link
great collab……….also of plato and black mirror…………both are brilliant works…….i love to analyze films…….and this was amazing…….i loved it!!!! 🙂 🙂
A problem we already face is expanding population and diminishing need for workers. Technology can now do most of the work, leaving the vast majority of those who would once have followed the plough with idle hands. I saw much in this episode to emulate the standard treatments of desensitization already the province of ‘1984’ and ‘Brave New World’, adding the extra twist of ‘X-Factor into the mix. My issue with this, as with those classics, concerns the utter lack of dimension in the characters. A two-dimensional reality simply does not work. I fear it is a fault of those who would seek to control the rest of us in the idleness of the next generation that they cannot see past that second dimension. It is a mistake repeated frequently through the history of our kind, invariably with the same result. Public dissent or revolution always short-circuits the process. Thus, for me, the piece repeated the same moral lesson, with the same measure of improbability.
Hello there dear Frederick 🌟 you are quite right as to diminishing need for workers… That is one of the main topics in this episode… And interestingly enough, the fact that workers are both providers and consumers… I understand what you say as to the lack of dimension in the characters, and the ending “moral or lesson”. And yet, I think it is well presented and quite original in that sense… Thanks so much for such a well put comment ✨ your feedback is appreciated and adds new layers to the analysis here… Cheers from Christy and I… ✨ happy Weekend
Nuevamente nos ofreces un post sensacional, a la altura de este blog mítico (en todos los sentidos). Esta vez formando tándem con Christy, fantástico trabajo de las dos. Es un gusto para alguien como yo relacionado con la filosofía leer tu bella y precisa glosa del mito de la Caverna, el sugerente comentario de Christy sobre el episodio de Black mirror, y la confluencia entre ambas cosas. Es una satisfacción observar que la filosofía está viva y se aplican sus prismas y tópicos para entender o reinterpretar lo que nos rodea.
No conocía la serie Black mirror, la verdad es que no estoy muy pendiente de las series ni de la televisión en general, y parece interesante.
Gracias por vuestro trabajo y un abrazo.
Hola amigo, mil gracias por tu comentario… En nombre mío y de Christy… Qué bueno que te haya gustado el post. Estoy de acuerdo con vos en que el show tiene muchos matices, prismas de análisis e interpretación en lo que se refiere a las dimensiones sociólogicas y tecnológicas… Si tenés la oportunidad de verlo, te lo recomiendo… Un abrazo y buen fin de semana. 😃🌞
I’ve loved Plato’s cave allegory ever since I first I heard about it. One of the most profound philosophical concepts in existence. Also, would love to see Black Mirror. Anyone know where this American can catch it? (Netflix doesn’t have it.)
Hello there dear Mitch, Thanks so much for your words. I agree with you as to Plato’s allegory of the cave… As to BM, I found it on Netflix, so really can not see why you did not. I just checked it out a while ago, and it is streaming at the moment. Sending best wishes. Happy weekend 🌞😉
What an amazing post. Although I’ve never watched any episodes of Black Mirror, I found this joint analysis of many concepts related to Fifteen Million Merits absorbing and extremely thorough. Well done to both of you! I was particularly interested in the discussion of celebrity culture in relation to the pressures placed upon Abi in her desperate search for approval. And as for modern technology, wonderful as so many aspects of it is, it certainly has a very dark side, too, as highlighted in your discussion of the TV episode.
Your final explanation of the the interrelationships between Fifteen Million Merits and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave was also really interesting.
A great collaboration, Aquileana and Christy, which has resulted in this wonderful post. “
Hello there dear Millie… So glad to read your comment… We are most grateful for your feedback and support. I agree with you as to the points you have highlighted, concerning Abi’s search for approval and the effects of technology in society… What Christy and I liked the most about this episode was the fact that there were so many topics to consider 😉 great to know that you enjoyed it ✨ love and best wishes
I must watch it too. What a wonderful post and collaboration. I just love the concept of reality!
Thank You very much dear Cybele…. So pleased to know that you enjoyed this collaboration 😄❤️ We appreciate the support, Christy and I …. Sending love and best wishes.
you are most welcome! 🙂
😘🌹
I’ve never even heard of this show! I can see I’m missing out on something great. (Thanks for providing links.)
Also, your explanation of Plato’s Cave is the best I’ve ever read, meaning you’ve put it in memorable terms. I “get it” now! Thanks. 🙂
Thanks so much… I am pleased to know that you enjoyed this collaboration with Christy. The series is worth watching….I hope you can give it a try 😄💛
Fascinating post, as much as I like technology, I can also envision a disaster if not used used in a healthy manner.
Quite right, dear Maria… And so many SciFi books and movies point out in that direction, as you have well highlighted. Thanks so much for dropping by. Sending best wishes. 🌞💛
Bonjour BELLE JEUNE FILLE AQUILEANA
Nous voici bientôt au mois de décembre et à l’approche de Noël
Mois d’amour et de gaité
Entre nous , soyons dans la paix et l’amitié
Ce mois de décembre doit-être plus beau que celui de 2015
Pour moi
Mes amies amis vous êtes des anges
Des anges de l’amitié
Un peu pardon et de partage afin tout le monde soit heureux
Mes amies amis au cours de cette année qui vas s’écouler
Vous m’avez donné du temps en venant faire un passage sur mon blog par vos écris
Merci à tous bon Week-End
Bisous, BERNARD
Salut cher Bernard…. Je te remercie de coeur mon ami ainsi que je te souhaite une superbe fin de semaine… Bisous 🍒❤️
[…] on https://aquileana.wordpress.com/2016/11/14/%e2%96%baphilosophy-platos-cave-and-fifteen-million-merit… for an excellent comparison of Plato’s ideas with ‘Fifteen Million Merits (Black […]
Excellent post, Dave. 🌟🌞
Ciao Aquileana,
What a terrifying future use of technology, which I can see happening now.
As to the allegory of Plato’s cave, it was taught to a group of students at the school I teach.
A wonderful, well written post in spite of the terrible future look a technology.
Arrivederci,
Luciana
Buona notte cara Luciana, Thanks so much for your accurate and well put comment. It is a pleasure to know that You enjoyed the post and your feedback is much appreciated… Wishing you an excellent week ahead. Best to you, 😊💛
First I want to congratulate both of you for the collaboration of this post I have to admit never to have heard of this series..
But then that is perhaps not surprising, as I often live in my own little land of ‘Dreams’ 🙂
I found it fascinating reading even though I will be honest I didn’t entirely understand the plot. But found the comparisons so very interesting how you had put their paths together..
Sending you loads of Love Aquileana… The detail in which you pay attention to your posts is always mind blowing to me.. Thank you my friend.. Wishing you well and I hope you have a wonderful new week..
Hugs Sue ❤ xxx
Thanks so much dear Sue. I understand What you say about living in your on little Land of Drseams as it also happens to me 😙 The plot might sound confusing. But it is not so when you watching the series, mind you… It is Great to read your comment and Christy and I both appreciate your feedback very much. Wishing your an excellent week ahead. Love & hugs. 💕
Thank you dear Aquileana… I am not an avid TV watcher.. Though I do love going to the cinema now and again to watch a good film. So I thank you for understanding .. I may always arrive here late.. But when I arrive I am always enthralled by what you write .. And you and Christy have collaborated before I know within her poetry.. You work well together both of you 🙂 xxx ,3
I totally get you… I barely watched Tv… Until I got Netflix. It is so much better to Have good options to choose from 😄😉 Thanks so much for your words, from Christy and me. We both appreciate You so much!. Wishing You a beautiful day. Aquileana 💛
Likewise dear Aquileana… Sending LOVE and mega HUGS xxx
When I read this ecceptional post, dear Acquileana, I had to think of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” where feelings are not allowed! I have reread it again and I understand that our getting more and more away from the FORM or our genuity and towards production and consumerism we are empoverishing very much!! It’s the first time that I heard of “Black Mirror” and thank you both your very much for this presentation, which gives me goose pimples.:) I wish you much energy for the next week. Un abbraccio Martina
Hi there dear Martina 💕 Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts here. I am with you: We love in a consumist society so most times we tend to forget the value of the importante things. Also, certain values might seem tossed aside on behalf of What one “has”. Remaining fatithful to oneself is a good was to fight these trends, I believe. Wishing your a beautiful week ahead. Sending love, 💗
We have to try and retry this every single day! Sending love:)
So true 😏😉 sending love, dear Martina. 💛
Excellent collaborative post. What you have very effectively demonstrated in the process of your analysis and comparison are some basic Mass Media Principles, that people either are unaware of or ignore.
The most important ones in relation to this analysis are:
4. All mass media construct reality.
5. All mass media contain values, beliefs, and ideologies.
6. All mass media convey messages. Some of these messages are explicit, while others are implicit. Unintended messages are very often part of the messages’ structure.
Full list are available on my Media Literacy blog. 🙂
https://darkpinesmedia.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/mass-media-principles/
I couldn’t Have said it in a better way. Thanks so much for adding those principles. I will check out your blog in a moment… Wishing You the best! 💛🌟
I don’t have a TV where I live, but love the collaboration, and the writing! It’s not something you see every day in blogs. Now, maybe I’ll go see if I can buy the CD’s somewhere? thanks again for the cool post!
Thanks so much for your comment and for taking time here, dear Badfish. If You are interested, You can check out the links attached above (by the end If the post and also at the Very beginning). They link back to this episode, available both on YouTube and Daily Motion.
Sending love and best wishes 💛🌞
A…thank you! and all good cheer!
First off, this was an excellent insight into the episode! I only found your page because I recognized the influence of Plato’s allegory in this episode (and this only happened when they showed the wooden penguin) and I immediately googled to see if anyone else had already noticed this. Needless to say, I was quite relieved and excited that my suspicions were right after reading your post.
However, I have to disagree with some elements in your interpretation. There is more to the symbol of the penguin than you give credit for. It’s appearance in a wooden form at the end of the episode is not heart-breaking but rather a glimmer of hope. In the same way that Plato’s allegory had different levels of reality for objects, the penguin in this episode comes in different levels of reality. In the allegory, the lowest level of reality was the shadows on the wall, then there were people and objects that cast those shadows, and finally the real-est objects in the world outside the cave. In the episode, the lowest form of the penguin was the digital penguin, above that is the paper penguin, above that is the wooden penguin, which of course is an imitation of a real penguin. The appearance of the wooden penguin is a sign of progress for Bing.
When Bing looks at the penguin at the end, I agree that he must feel heartbroken at how things ended up for Abi, but I think he also feels hopeful and ambitious to continue on his quest. Bing is the one character who is supposed to make it out of the cave to the real world, and he is supposed to go back to the cave to try and rescue his friends. That includes Abi, and the other girl who has shown interest in him. I think his speech on the show was a foreshadowing of what will happen after he returns to the cave from the real world. Notice that the nameless girl is the only person who did not buy that he sold out to entertainment. She listened to his speech and her eyes were opened and they stayed open unlike everyone else who were momentarily stunned by the strangeness of his speech but quickly went back to believing that its just a new form of mindless entertainment. This was a foreshadowing that she will be one of the first people to follow Bing out to the real world.
Bing will make it out to the outside world because he is not a *true* slave of the system anymore. And this brings up another disagreement I have with your interpretation. You mentioned that Bing is the “released prisoner” but you also conclude that he stays in the system. I think you come to this conclusion because you misinterpreted the significance of the drug of “cuppliance” I do not think that Cuppliance is meant to make you accept the judges offer, the contestants are already trapped into accepting it because the thought of going back perpetually riding bikes is unacceptable, no matter how degrading the judges offer is. Bing accepted the judges offer, but he did not drink of cuppliance. He was only able to make it on to the stage by deceiving the staff into thinking that he had drank the cuppliance (He carried in an old packet to show them). Rather, I am very convinced that cuppliance is meant to enslave the entertainers, to keep them from progressing further in to the higher forms of reality. And even though Bing puts on the act of being another entertainer, he is not really compliant. He will eventually find a way out.
On a side note, I suspect that this nameless woman and Bing are supposed to be a couple in the end, otherwise the storyline of their romance would be incomplete. What storyline? glad you asked. The nameless woman shows an interest in Bing, but he does not return the sentiment. It is not the right time yet. Then comes a long Abi whose true purpose is to set Bing on his journey to the outside world. She sadly goes back into the system, but still serves as a sort of ‘carrot dangling in front of a donkey’ to Bing who is motivated by the memory of her (through the penguin) to find the true reality. When He returns to her, it is unlikely that she will believe him, because she is compliant to the system. She drank of cuppliance. But one of the people likely to believe him is the nameless woman who did not buy into his selling out to the entertainment industry.
Abi’s becoming an entertainer should not be the factor to define this episode as a tragedy. That was her purpose, she had no real chance of being a singer. In fact every character’s story in this episode is somehow tragic and so Abi is just like everyone else in the end. Though her story is sad, she is just part of the system. There are only two characters who have a real shot at happiness, Bing and the nameless woman.
This episode is not a tragedy.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts concerning this episode.
I see what You say as to Cuppliance, but I am not so sure it has to be With Bing’s behaviour. The beverage probably would Have changed Bing’s outfit. But that would be because he would Have never been able to perform the way he did… I doubt he would have given such a speech under the influence of Cuppliance.
I don’t see why You say that the wooden penguin is above the paper and digital penguin, though. Plato wouldn’t Have made that difference, as they are depictions of things… Anyway, following your ideas, I would say that the paper penguin (in its multiple forms) seem to be more important, as it is something that Abi and Bing share
As to the nameless woman, You are right as to the fact that see seems to be different, somehow and probably similar to Bing in that sense. I just can’t tell what couldn’t of could Have happened between them, as It seems to be an unrequited love. Bing doesn’t seem to be interested in her.
As to the released prisoner point… Bing is a released prisoner, but is caught again by the system, somehow. If You think of Plato’s allegory, the same thing happens to his prisoner as he returns to the cave and everyone(the system?) makes fun of him. I guess he’d probably would Have accepted his former life inside the cave, just as Bing did…
Cheers ✨🌟
Ciao carissima Aquileana ♡
Ciao cara amica. Buona notte. Abbraccio ✨🌟
Bonsoir ou bonjour GENTILLE JEUNE FILLE
http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/761548s3Jw8W44tV951Z10HEJlfCE9uNlqj9cmQRdWUdYrm8YimkazuUEAkQ.gif. Depuis que l on se connaît
Notre Amitié est devenu un gros Cadeau
Comme pour Noël
L’amitié des jours est un quotidien
Une pluie de gouttelettes scintillantes
Un immense et magnifique jardin
Une envie de tout entreprendre
L’amitié est là pour résumer, la base de la vie
Une toute petite corde qui nous lie qui peut-être incassable
Passe une douce journée avec ce petit porte bonheur à l’approche des Fêtes
Bisous , Bernard
Merci pour ces belles Mots, cher Bernard. Je m’excuse pour mon retard: j’ ai pris des vacances au Brésil. Je reviens en Argentine demain… Je te souhaite un joli dimanche. Bisous 💟
every time I drop by, I am MMMM prest w/your scholarship yet immanently readable exposition of the subject, nay — intertwined subjects. “fun stuff — thanx !”
Thanks so much for such great words…. It means so much to me to know that you enjoyed the reading and found this post interesting… Wishing you an Excellent sunday ☀️
Serdecznie pozdrawiam i życzę miłego tygodnia.
Thank you kindly for the visit and comment, dear Marko. Wishing you a great week 💛🌟
Thank you for introducing me to Fifteen Million Merits and Black Mirror. It’s a series that I have not picked up, but will look into. Your writing about it is excellent and makes me curious and of course relating it to Plato’s Cave makes it even more interesting.
Hi dear Otto, thanks so much for such positive feedback and nice words … So glad to know that you enjoyed the post and might even watch the episode…. Wishing you an excellent day! ⭐
Your Blog Is Amazing 🙂
loved it!
Thanks so much!… It means a lot… have a great day! ⭐
😻 Welcome
Excellent collaboration and post, Aquileana ❤
Thanks so much dear Leyla… ❤ Wishing you a beautiful day! 😉
Great post indeed. When I started reading I didn’t remember it, but I had watched that episode too (I haven’t been able to follow many series due to my travels, recently, but that one I had watched a while back) and thanks so much for bringing it to my mind again. I must try and catch up with the rest of the series.
Hi Olga… thanks so much for taking time here and for your kind words… As to Black Mirror, I hope that you get the cahnce to catch up with Season 3 as it is mind-blowing. You will not regret it 🙂 Sending love & best wishes 😀
very interesting post! keep up the great work! 🙂
Thanks a lot for your words… Wishing you the best ⭐
Just watched and felt so sad afterward, some disturbingly realistic elements that tie in with what I believe to be the desensitization of society. Love you two ladies and everything you do, you are each unique thinkers and together, dynamite. The curious thing is I find myself wanting to watch the next episode. Great work, you two. Really made me stop and think. Thank you both. ❤️❤️❤️
Hi there dear Janni… thanks so much from Christy and I… we are delighted to know that you enjoyed our collaboration. And wholheartedly appreciate such nice words.
As to Black Mirror, I know what you mean when you say that you felt sad aferward as it is a common denominator when you watch other episodes of the series as well.
The end tends to be both aporetic and paradoxical… I was thinking of that yesterday after reading your comment…
I hope that you get the chance to watch Season 3 (now streaming on Netflix) of the series as it is simply mind-blowing…
Much love and virtual hugs!!!!! ❤
I will watch more for sure. It is, despite the sadness I felt on watching my very first episode ever, lol, a very intriguing show.
Ha 😉 … I hope that you `enjoy´ the Series, then, dear Janni… wishing you a beautiful weekend. 💞
wow what a beautiful write up and now I have to watch myself… Thank you both for this wonderful collaboration Aquileana and Christy xxx Barbara xxx
Thank you very much dear Barbara, from Christy and I … we are glad to know that you enjoyed the reading and hope that you give this episode a shot, if you have time…
Sending love and best wishes for your weekend💫
A great collaboration. Both episodes feel almost too close for comfort as we move into an era where Government by Twitter is apparently the norm.
Very well stated ✨ thanks so much for taking time here and for sharing your thougts, dear Gallivanta… Sending love and best wishes ⭐️💛
Hello dear Aquileana,
I’ve never heard of Fifteen Million Merits and Black Mirror, but then, I don’t have Netflix. Fascinating post, loaded with issues that occur in our digital reality, the future looks quite frightening really. Congratulations to you and Christy on this great work. Cheers 🙂 Irina
Thanks so much dear Irina. We are pleased to know that you enjoyed the reading. The future can be frightening indeed… So bright that it could blind us 😔 sending much love across the miles.
My pleasure, dear Aquileana. 🙂 ❤
Sempre originalissimi, e di grande interesse, i tuoi speciali articoli
Buona domenica e un caro saluto Aquileana,silvia
Tante grazie cara amica… Ti auguro una buena domenica…. Abbraccio anche a te, Silvia. ❤️💛
Bonjour AQUILEANA en ce dimanche 11 décembre
La froide saison
c’est la douce chaleur du foyer,
c’est la famille retrouvée
et la bonne humeur.
Puisse ce Noël à venir se prolonger
durant toute l’année
Belle nouvelle et heureuse année 2017
Quelle te soit de santé et de bonheur
Gros bisous et encore joyeux Noël et meilleur http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/232994noel.jpg .
On se réchauffe en toute amitié http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/311585joyeuxnoeletbonneannee2017.jpg . http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/182713twCRlJefhEcYwRzN3DsKJKGaBmvryrECeboVxh5YszPqynA5k4XQ.gif .
A bientôt
Merci beaucoup cher Bernard…. Je t’embrasse te je te souhaite une superbe semaine. Bonnes fêtes pour toi et les tiens… 🎄💚 Aquileana
Please check out my latest post!
Great blog👍, do visit my blog and if you like it then press the follow button.
Thank you😊
I am so glad I found your blog. Marvelous just marvelous
Thanks so much… So glad to read your comment!!! All the best to you ⭐
Don’t mention it, it is such a delight and delicacy to read your blog.
Thanks so much for writing this. As I now live in my own woodland and have come out of the media cave I used to inhabit and teach about! It’s good to see that there are some fascinating pieces being made on our technological world. Even here I could stay locked inside my virtual world all day. Thankfully we don’t!
You are so right…. I think balance is the key.. Also social media and Internet could increase our knowledge and lead us to many personal achievements. But it all depends on how we use these tools 💻💡sending best wishes~
Great post, really good read. I will look forward to reading more when I have time. 15,000,000 was my favourite Black Mirror episode and left a lasting impression on me.
Be well.
Thanks so much for dropping by and for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate your words… I am with you: 15,000,000 merits is a great episode, with many meanings and open to different interpretations!. 😀
[…] story, one could conclude that the copies might “improve” the respective originals. Disorted Copies and Mirrors are elements that relate one to each other. The mirror in Borges appears as a sort of unifying […]
Chills as to the connections to current events & state.
I couldn´t agree more. Thank you so much for dropping by!. Have a great week ahead! ❤ 😉
You too.
Search cave in time
https://rishidiwan.com/2017/03/06/what-is-time/
Thank you so much for sharing this great post about Time… Loved it… Sending best wishes! 😀
[…] Plato was a keen defender of Oral tradition, against writing. This is evident particularly in his dialogue “Phaedrus”, in which Socrates (by retelling an Egyptian myth), states that Writing will produce forgetfulness in the minds of those who learn to use it, because they will not practice their memory. […]
[…] Analogia entre o episódio de Black Mirror (“50 Million Merits”) e a Alegoria da Caver… […]
Thanks for stopping by to check out my cover. By the way, I watched Black Mirror, and it was so disturbing, now I’m scarred for life lol. It was good, though. It reminded me of some hardcore Ray Bradbury stories.
Thank you so much dear Carolee…. Your new cover is awesome By the way!….
I am glad that you enjoyed this post… Yes, It could be scaring. Even more considering that the Dystopia showed in Black Mirror might not be such thing!…
I appreciate the visit and comment… Sending love & best wishes 😉
Hello
I wish you a beautiful Sunday and a nice new week.
Thank you, Marko… have a great week ahead! 😀
https://meshivangi.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/one-lovely-blog-award/?preview=true
Thanks so much for the nomination! 😀 I´ll post it by the end of the year, alongside other awards I´ve received…. Too kind of you ❤ Sending love!
Thank you 🤗
Damn. That was an impressive breakdown of that episode! I started watching that episode but switched to another (it was too depressing as a lot of those Black Mirror shows can be) or maybe it was just too real?
Glad you broke down the rest of the episode the way you did; it was more entertaining than what I saw of the actual Black Mirror episode.
When it comes to Black Mirror, I feel that some episodes are underrated… Such is one of those cases.,
I felt the last season was a bit of a bummer. I totally disliked there out of six episodes. Too dark and twisted.
And not too symbolic, from a critical point of view, either. Who knows what will come next!?.
Thanks so much for dropping in and for sharing your thoughts. All the best to you! 😀
Yeah, they can definitely be a tad too dark! They stick with you. The “White Bear” one was the first one I watched, and that was so good, (unexpected end).
Thanks, you too!
That one is a good episode for sure… Makes us wonder… what if we were subjects of an evil social experiment! … Too much to ponder. Thank you. Sending love 🙂
Reblogged this on Stephen Page.
Thanks so much for sharing, dear Stephen. I really appreciate it. Wishing you the best ☀️💛☀️