Plato Would Have Loved Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show!

"In that case, we would be entitled to describe as perfectly musical and harmonious the person who best combines physical with musical and poetic education, and who introduces them into his soul in the most balanced way. Far more musical and harmonious than the person who tunes the strings of an instrument." (416c-420c)

This quote reminds me of the Super Bowl halftime show because of how physical the performances were this year: Beyoncé had fierce dance routine, completed in heels with perfection; Coldplay leader singer, Chris Martin jumped around the ginormous stage (per usual), Bruno Mars incorporated a physical dance routine, and even the violinists were jumping around while strumming their instruments and singing along on key with Marin. This performance was not just about the music, which the crowd loved, but was also about the physical engagement of the performers and audience members! The above quote from Plato's Republic instantly reminded me of this show, and although it had many tunes, I think he would have enjoyed it.

Also:
" 'And people are most devoted to whatever it is they love.'
'bound to be.'
'And they love most what they believe to have the same interests themselves, the thing whose success or failure they think results in their own success or failure.'
'True,' he said.
'Then we must select from the guardians the kind of men who on examination strike us most strongly, their whole lives through, as being utterly determined to do what is in the city's interests, and as refusing to act in any way against its interests.' " (395d-405d)

Even though celebrities are not the exact equivalent of guardians, they do have a similar amount of influence and power as today's "guardians," and therefore have the ability to make political moves/statements/movements. This quote reminds me of the performers in the 50th Super Bowl halftime show because the performers all made social statements through their performances, and collectively, which they thought was in our country's best interest. These are the kinds of celebrities we want our country to be filled with, instead of "fake celebrity" like George Zimmerman (the man notorious for murdering Trayvon Martin). I Loved how this year's performance, even though it has received a lot of backlash, was a political statement about everyone coming together in love! The artists used their huge opportunity to perform on such a wide-scale platform, and deciding to take the time to send a message to the people showed honorable leadership.