_comiNg oUt cLeaN_

Today's generation, Generation Y, has been using things labeled as 'imitation'. Especially here in the Philippines, there is rampant selling and buying of popular stuffs known to teenagers and also adults. May it be part of their collection or commodity, these 'imitation' is an epidemic.

I am part of Generation Y. I am also an imitator. I buy things that are not 'original' and use things and believe in the role they are playing. These things are not that strong and do not possess all the qualities that the 'original' have. Even though they are close to what is real, they are still not the 'original', they are copied and quite different. I am a copier. A copier, I am.

As long as I would just like to talk about my generation and myself here, my subconscience reminds me to introduce and remember Plato. Yeah..A philosopher from a far away land who lived ages ago, written books praised by his believers and talked about imitation in his "The Republic". I am not familiar with his works and background. I may not be able to relate to him because of generation gap. He talked so philosophical, not so comprehensible for children of my age.

In his "The Republic", Book X, Socrates had a conversation with Glaucon. They talked about art and imitation. It was about poetry and its being unoriginal -- unreal. According to the discussion, there is reality where truth and knowledge are based. It is believed that the 'One' is the main source of this 'reality'. It is in this reality where things that are known to mankind are copied. The thing known to mankind now is called the first-order imitation. This first-order imitation may again be imitated and imitated and imitated.

To make Plato's ideas more clear, may we take a 'teacup' as our 'thing'. The original 'teacup' was made by 'the One'. This 'teacup' was introduced to mankind and was used by them in their morning routine as a container that holds their hot tea. This 'teacup' is then reproduced or copied in the form of an art such as painting or poem or can be used in a story and can be labeled as the second-order imitation. At this point, the 'teacup' is almost useless. It is far from the original brought about by the changes that it had undergone. Yet, the imitating process may continue. Imitations of imitations are formed.

Plato's arguments also include the issue on the artist who produced the 'teacup' as a deceiver. He misleads the audience away from the original purpose or meaning of the 'teacup'. Looking at the situation and taking into consideration the perspective of the artist, we may say that it is not his intention to deceive. Just like any artists, he produces artworks for the name of arts and his passion towards it. He works to entertain and satisfy his hunger for the arts. He is plainly expressive and not a murderer or a cheater or any sinner. He copies, because he believes in the beauty of the 'original'. And he wants to let others know that these 'original' exists through his artworks. He shares. He is clean.

I am an imitator. I am clean. I may be imitating something and it may be in its nth order, but I am not guilty of cheating.

Plato has his beliefs..And i have mine..You may choose to agree with him and think of me as a shallow person. It may be brought about by generation gap. Talk about your grandparents' and your ideals. They don't just meet.

Why imitate? It's something you can ponder on. Just open your eyes and see the real world. They are everywhere -- much appreciated and even loved. I am not conforming or anything, but I also see them as beautiful. I am not guilty of anything. I am clean.