Jenny Lamphere, Gorgias flipbook

            To read any work written by Plato is to begin an excavation process of sorts. Each piece of dialogue, each singular phrase, functions dually in the context of the immediate discussion and as a contributing factor to the unearthing of an abstract, overarching theme buried beneath a layer of rhetorical discourse. Each new idea, example, or piece of information has an individual identity; that identity must first be understood in its own right before it can be effectively translated to the bigger picture. Another way to illustrate this idea would be with the example of an onion. It can be viewed as a whole object or in parts, peeled down layer by layer- either way you can’t have one without the other.

The subject of my composition is Plato’s Gorgias, and more specifically, the beliefs the author espouses regarding how to live a good life and the combination of traits necessary for admittance to some kind of afterlife. Since I view Plato’s ideas in terms of layers contributing to a whole, I wanted my project to be a literal representation of that vision. Each page of my piece has a different main subject- the pages are connected by the reoccurring motif of the human body outline. This design allows viewers to meditate on and explore multiple subjects covered in the Gorgias without losing sight of the central connecting thread. The flipbook style encourages viewers to play with the work by putting together different combinations of layers, thus enhancing the level of active engagement in the interaction between art and audience. Similarly when one is reading a work by Plato, one must also actively engage with the writing in order to keep up with the often convoluted trajectory of ideas. 

The twist of my piece lies in the images that make up the designated section of each page. I wanted to communicate a summary of how Plato thinks we ought to live but also to respond with an ironic rebuff to what I personally view as an overly idealistic philosophy. While some of the people and objects are accurate stereotypical examples of the trait they are intended to represent, others are intentionally the opposite in order to emphasize the fact that especially in today’s complex modern society one cannot break down a successful or good life into categories or some kind of formula. There are grey areas and exceptions to everything- it would be nearly impossible to fulfill Plato’s lofty standards without complication. The simplicity and clean lines of my project are also an irony in and of themselves in respect to the complexity of a Platonic dialogue.  

Conversely, I also feel that valuing and attempting to uphold characteristics such as justice, temperance, strength, and goodness are noble goals. The graphics are in color to highlight the ability of their accompanying trait to add dimension to a person’s life. The transparent sheets function to allow one to choose how much they see and to metaphorically represent the ultimate transparent nature of humans in relation to the greater forces of the universe. Thus my composition is a combination of irony and advocacy through contemporary cultural icons; half paradox, half acknowledgement. Plato’s ideals continue to be relevant in western civilization regardless of their relationship with reality.