Soldier of Industry or Economic Hit-man?

An individual stalks the floors of a major commerce-trading center. His outward appearance reflects industry standard attire, but his posture signals something that is far from the common corporate culture model. The backward leaning posture combined with a leisurely gait shows he is smooth criminal. He is an individual who calmly stalks his next prey and unleashes his ruthlessness at the right moment to capitalize on the element of surprise and attain the biggest return for his efforts. His early baldness signals his that his youth is leaving him but is not yet past his prime or lost his skill.



Part II: A semiotic lens

Looking at this picture with a semiotic lens over our eyes provides an opportunity for a different interpretation on the same image. Looking at the way the people are spread out in this image it seems that the storm of commotion has passed for today. The people clustered off in their respective groups and the laid-back posture of the man in the middle signal that the time to relax has come. The discarded papers all over the floor give a small insight to the hectic atmosphere that had filled the area before. The wide array of monitors located everywhere indicate that people are never far removed from the information that is needed to complete their work. Additionally, the attire that is being worn by the people here indicates that there is nothing but business within the walls of the NYSE, something that separates the people who work on Wall Street from the people who live on Main Street. The dichotomy that exists between the stock broker and Americans casts a feeling of distrust because of the stockbroker's seemingly endless greed, which is now even more evident considering the current economic disaster. The individual in the middle of the picture signals that it is every person for themselves in the world and one needs to do what it takes in order to get ahead (stepping on the backs of weak to climb the socio-economic ladder). His being by himself while other are huddled around talking to each other indicates his strength and superiority to others not only in his industry, but also his superiority to the common man who has not gained the status or wealth that this one stockbroker apparently has

The Poet and his lies

The creation of truth comes from knowledge and the creation of lies or non-truths comes from the lack of knowledge. In Plato’s eyes the biggest culprit of lies came from the artist, or more specifically the poet. The lack of familiarity or first-hand knowledge of the topics in their poems distanced the poet from the reality of what they write, and therefore give no benefit to society. Without poets being based in reality or exhibiting a sense of knowledge on the topic they write all truth and moral value disappear from anything created in such a manner. Plato establishes the notion that for any idea to hold value to society it must not be based upon the idea of appealing to emotion, but having a connection with knowledge to establish itself as a truth.

Foremost, the lies that are created from poetry are, “art of imitation… far removed from truth”(Plato 44), which implies that imitation is only regurgitation of what one sees from a distance or through a filter that prevents a clear understanding of what is before them. The rant of Montgomery Brogen (Edward Norton) is not one based in reality as we see that it takes place in the mirror’s reflection. This signals that his ideas are, “distant from the throne of truth”(Plato 43) because these ideas are an imitation of reality and not a truthful representation of the people and groups that he attacks.  Without any real knowledge of what he is talking about, Monty’s reflection is creating something “only in appearance, not… as they are in reality”(Plato 42). The ideas that his reflection has about all the individuals is one that is capturing only the outward physical appearance and nothing to show any concrete knowledge that gives him grounds to speak as an authority about them.  When looking back at Plato’s goal for establishing truth one can see that the words coming from the mirror are in fact not backed with knowledge but fueled by ones emotions.

            Conversely, at the end of the tirade put on display by Monty’s reflection the audience is placed in the viewpoint of the mirror looking in to the real world and the real Montgomery Brogen. It is at this point where truth takes hold. One can see that Monty in the real world has the ability to not let these lies take over his emotions and change his own opinions in to those of the reflected Monty. Plato states, “…that which urges him to resist is reason and custom, but that which pulls him towards his sorrows is the experience itself”(Plato 51), and this seems evident in the reaction of Monty in the real world as he rejects all that was said to him and realizes that he is the reason for his life being messed up and nobody else. The control over his emotions ensures that Monty is rejecting, “the very part which the poets satisfy and please”(Plato 53). By rejecting what the poets appeal to is to reject lies and seek out truth and knowledge, something that Monty has after realizing who is to blame for his own misfortunes.