Reflective Learning Journal Week 5

 Introduction to Week 5

There wasn't much new stuff that I learned from week 4 to week 5, It was more of a continuation week where I applied the stuff that I learned into a discussion post and a reflection assignment. The discussion post was really fun as I learned a lot more about art and its symbolism.

Discussion Post

This was the second discussion post that I was doing, so I had gotten more comfortable with the assignment and it was much easier for me to choose something and complete the assignment. For the discussion post I choose the "Dying Gaul", a marble sculpture from the Greek Hellenistic period (c. 230–220 B.C.E.), attributed to Epigonus, with Roman copies made in the 1st or 2nd century C.E. I find it interesting because it depicts a warrior in his last moments of life. It shows how he is slouched over and can't stand because of the wound he received. I like how descriptive the facial features and how delicately made everything is as it is made from marble. One of the things I find most intriguing about the piece is how it contrasts from most art made during this time depicting glorious heroes and warriors while this statue shows the harsh reality of some average person trying to become one. One of the things that was most interesting to me was how features of the sculpture come to life, as it depicts the agony and emotions of the dying soldier in his last moments that are filled with regret. 

Reflection Assignment

For this weeks reflection assignment I answered two different questions. One about ways we can protect ourselves from the shadows addressed in Plato's Allegory, and the other about who casts these shadows on your life and whether or not they are doing them on purpose. In my life, I have encountered many of these shadows in the form of societal expectations about success and happiness. For example, I was taught that achieving high grades and having a good sat score would get me into a good college and cause me to have a good life. This was the conception taught to me the American school system and by my parents. However, as I grew older, I started to read between the fine lines and understand my entire future was not dependent on some grade, there were multiple different ways to be successful. This realization helped me understand that you shouldn’t believe everything that is said to you, and that you should try it out for yourself and understand the nuances behind every single little thing. I learned that should start leaning and doing what I wanted to do rather than what other people wanted me to do. I also wrote my response about how these cultural "phantoms" have been cast by the media, social expectations, and educational systems that prioritize material success and external validation over internal growth and well-being. I don’t think these shadows are intentionally cast with malice, but they are part of a larger system that has evolved over time that gently erodes over every member of society.

Reflection

Although this week didn’t introduce much new material, I found it valuable to apply what I had learned about Greek art and philosophy into assignments, especially in exploring the symbolism behind the "Dying Gaul" sculpture. I connected Plato’s Allegory of the Cave to my personal experiences with societal expectations, realizing how these "shadows" influenced my perception of success and happiness. This reflection has helped me understand the importance of questioning external pressures and focusing on what truly aligns with my values and personal growth.