Crystal Kan- Allegory of the Cave

Plato's “Allegory of the Cave” is about a hypothetical world of cave people living in the darkness their whole lives and what would happen if one of them were able to leave the darkness and see the light outside the cave. He then relates it to the life of a scholar and how their enlightenment of knowledge is similar to the person who has seen the light.

On a more simple level, I take this as a lesson in how to learn from others. For example, if I am in the process of making a work of art, I tend to ask my friends and other people around me what they think. I understand that my own perspective is skewed and that I may not be able to see what they see in my work. If I do not ask for other people's opinions, I would be left in the “darkness” too. I need the opinions of not only my fellow art colleagues, but also those outside the art field so that all can understand the ideas I try to convey.