The metaphor of the cave created by Plato is that we are chained up deep in a cave with only a lit fire. The lit fire creates shadows on the wall and those shadows we view as reality, since that it all was can see. We are unknowing of the bigger, broader world outside of the cave. It is possible that the physical world isn’t reality. Plato believes that the way out of this “cave” is through the mind.
The prisoners in Plato’s cave are like the people in a cinema because their heads are fixed towards a wall on the cave with shapes moving as shadows, while in a cinema, peoples heads are fixed towards the screen with objects moving like the shadows. This comparison is just a surface example. People in a cinema are like the people in a cave because people go to the movies to watch a false reality played out for them on a screen, and during that time we as humans allow ourselves believe the false reality. We watch horror films and allow ourselves to be scared over something fake, and just like the prisoners in plato’s cave, we can have real genuine emotions based off of a false reality. The people in the cave are like the people in a cinema because they believe what they are seeing before them even if it’s only for a short period of time. When the movie is over, we may snap back to reality, but during that time we escaped to a place similar to Plato’s cave. We have a limited perception of many things, like what death is really like. This limit of perception could be our fixed heads, just like the prisoners in Plato’s cave. I believe that what we see is reality, but a very limited amount of true reality. Humans cannot perceive the entirety of reality. Our heads are fixed forward until we reach a higher sense of enlightenment, whether you believe that comes with your religion or if you have no religion at all.
I think the film Existenz really proves how easily we can be tricked into believing what is reality versus what is false. The beginning of the movie starts out, and we believe we are watching the real world, but by the end of the movie, we realize the start was not real at all, the start was just the start of the game. The idea behind this movie is really confusing and mind boggling. “Reality” in the beginning of the movie, looked very real, but it was not actually reality. In fact, for me personally and I think for others, I really lost track on what was real and what was not by the end; I had no clue. This is because our brains are easily tricked by what our eyes are seeing.
Published by ginam0
My name is Gina, I am 18 years old and this is my second semester of college. I was born in Sacramento and have lived out my life in my tiny two bed/ two bath east sac home with my two sisters and parents. In most ways, I grew up very fortunate. My mom dedicated herself to her work with the Los Rios District so that she could provide a comfortable life for her children, something she lacked as a child. I was lucky enough to attend private elementary and high school; I went to Christian Brothers. I don't like to view myself as a victim in any way because I truly was given so many opportunities that many people do not receive growing up. However, one of the biggest obstacles that I had to overcome came after my transition from middle school to high school. I faced a lot of bullying my freshman year. I had always been a little bit sheltered due to my private elementary background, I had only ever gone to school with about 35 other kids from kindergarten-8th grade. A certain freshman boy showed interest in me, and did not take it well when I rejected him in a decent manner. Before the school year had even started, he spread a rumor about me preforming sexual acts with him. At the time of the incident, this really broke me down. Other guys would meet me for the first time, and while still being 'friendly' towards me, would bring up the rumor or joke about it to get a reaction from me. Some girls looked at me differently, and this rumor felt like I carried a sign above me everywhere I went or that I was under a microscope. I had never even remotely come close to being with another person before this incident. I cared a lot about what people thought of me, and this created a negative self-image. I was also very small at the time (both my parents are small, my mom was small when she was young, and my sisters and I all were very small as kids), and multiple other boys made jokes about my body in front of me, and one (another reject) even posted a comment about me being "flat" on his snap chat story. The hardest part for me throughout all of this was not having an adult or anyone wiser than I to talk to. Both of my parents are loving, but out of touch. I never have had a strong enough relationship with either of them to bring up this embarrassing situation I had gotten into, and for the first few months I believed I brought it upon myself by even being friends with the guy who started it all. Especially when I kind of knew he had different intentions than I did. I think overcoming this obstacle really helped me grow into a smarter, happier person. I stopped desiring to erase the rumor or revise my reputation, I just learned to accept myself for who I knew I was, and be happy with the people around me who loved me. I felt free from judgement because I simply learned to not care anymore about what people thought of me. Eventually by doing this, the bullies caught the hint too. I think this is one of my biggest triumphs because learning to accept yourself is a huge part of becoming an adult and accomplishing your dreams. I also am proud that I survived the bad high school experience on my own and by the end of it, turned it into a good one. I learned to trust myself, be more independent, and confident. My biggest passion in life right now is to complete my degree and live out a loving life. I want to be happy and surround myself with the right people. Creating a family and surrounding my kids with love is my biggest passion in life.
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Gina's Blog 
great blog, loved the example of how we allow ourselves to be scared about something fake with in the movies watching a horror movie.
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