Plato's Cave

For Homework read Chapter 1.

Also write a reflection comparing the film the Matrix to what you learned in the lecture about Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

Below is a link to the Allegory of the Cave from Plato's book THE REPUBLIC:
http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/allegory.html

Be sure to include examples of some things you found in common. In the film the Matrix.. what realm do you think is most like the cave, most like being in the sun.. What are the shadows? Think about some of the terms discussed in the lecture.

We will discuss at the beginning of class next week.

Belle de Jour

Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour [1967])










Belle de jour is a 1967 French film starring Catherine Deneuve as a woman who decides to spend her days as a prostitute while her husband is at work. The title is the French name of the daylily (literally: "beauty of the day"), a flower that blooms only during the day, although the name almost certainly is also an ironic reference to "belle-de-nuit" (literally, beauty of the night, lady of the night), a French term for prostitute. The film was directed by the Spanish director Luis Buñuel, based on the 1928 novel of the same name by Joseph Kessel. Buñuel is known as a surrealist. All of his films deal with dream and fantasy in some way. In Belle de Jour the two most crucial themes are morality and sexuality.

Discuss how the lead character's inner demons poke up through every-day malaise.
What are some ways that the lead character escapes into fantasies? Describe at least one scene from the film.
Do you think this film has a moral?
Do you find yourself identifying with Severine for betraying her husband and the social norm.
Give your opinion.