When I was still in a tenured position at Jissen Women's College, I would begin the academic year in some classes (e.g. Comparative Culture) with a 1 minute sketch of Plato's Allegory of the Cave on the white board (being careful not to give out who made it or when) have the students form groups, and d…
When I was still in a tenured position at Jissen Women's College, I would begin the academic year in some classes (e.g. Comparative Culture) with a 1 minute sketch of Plato's Allegory of the Cave on the white board (being careful not to give out who made it or when) have the students form groups, and discuss and present their judgement of whether it applies to contemporary Japan.
After their presentations, I give the big reveal of who, when, and why ... and most were generally shocked. For the last class of the academic year, I would draw the same sketch on the board, have them group up, and discuss its relevance today. But I ended the class with my message that allegory is a form of art. And 'good' art is a mirror.
I gave them a moment of silence to look in the mirror, and consider how much they had changed, if at all, by comparing a memory of their first contact with Plato's Myth of Cave, and what will probably be their final contact.
If nothing else, it helped complete a circle for me, as a reminder as to why I became an educator to begin.
Ooof. You hit me in my soft spot.
When I was still in a tenured position at Jissen Women's College, I would begin the academic year in some classes (e.g. Comparative Culture) with a 1 minute sketch of Plato's Allegory of the Cave on the white board (being careful not to give out who made it or when) have the students form groups, and discuss and present their judgement of whether it applies to contemporary Japan.
After their presentations, I give the big reveal of who, when, and why ... and most were generally shocked. For the last class of the academic year, I would draw the same sketch on the board, have them group up, and discuss its relevance today. But I ended the class with my message that allegory is a form of art. And 'good' art is a mirror.
I gave them a moment of silence to look in the mirror, and consider how much they had changed, if at all, by comparing a memory of their first contact with Plato's Myth of Cave, and what will probably be their final contact.
If nothing else, it helped complete a circle for me, as a reminder as to why I became an educator to begin.
Cheers Warren.
We are on the same wavelength.