How does Existenz, the film, fit into Plato’s hierarchical scheme of reality? How does the game, Trancendenz fit?

The hard to follow and mind warping film, Existenz, serves to fit as a sufficient example of both a critique and support of Plato’s hierarchal scheme of reality. Plato believes that the purpose of all art is to warp the true reality of one’s existence, and that we always must strive to reach the divine forms of things, and their true core, rather than give into the worldly pleasures that art offers us. We are distracted by our emotions and our physical needs, and unable to reach the level of sight that Plato believes is the ultimate goal. In the context of Existenz, it certainly goes against what Plato wanted for his ideal utopian society. Existenz, in its efforts to create a convoluted allegory for many aspects of society, fulfills Plato’s belief that art only causes us to stray further from reality as it is. Existenz has many fantastical scenarios that never are explained, up until the very end. This would serve as further insult to Plato, as this is no longer imitation, but active distortion, as the main characters seem to rail against at the end of the movie.

However, depending on the interpretation of the movie, there are some aspects that Plato may agree with. If he could look past the fact that the movie is a form of media and that it has many layers to send a message he may interpret the movie’s message as any form of media that warps our reality is inherently immoral. For example, the sensual imagery and sound around the pods and the insertion of the game, Transcendz, and the subsequent critique of the mind warping aspect of the game, could serve as something Plato may agree with, in that the sexual and physical aspects of each person only serves to warp our reality and prevent us from seeing truth. In addition, the spores of Christianity may also be something he would enjoy, but the fact that this is another art form and also relates to previous art forms of the birth of Jesus would not be something he would enjoy.

As far as the game itself, Plato would most certainly condemn such VR games as these. To my previous point, the warping of reality through media is exactly what VR does, and appeals to one’s senses rather than the true reality around them. This would certainly be an abhorrent offense to Plato’s idea of utopia, as this is one of the most extensive ways one can manipulate their reality. The creation of VR would certainly cause Plato to weep and grieve over the loss of forms if he were here today.

462 words