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Wilde: “Let me tell you, old Philosopher, that
universal truths are unnecessary difficulties within
one’s life. You asked how it is | could find ‘value
in the picture of a picture?’ It is the very mediums
you cast aside that are necessary for truth to be
found. You fail to understand that poetry, writing,
and the lesser arts are not expressive, despite
your wishes.”

Plato: Then what is it that the medium is if not
expressive?

Wilde: Impressive. This conclusion can be reached
when analyzing the important role of the critic
above the creator and their creations.

Plato: Are you insane?

Wilde: | fear for the first time in a long time, | am
the sanest man in the room.

Plato: You honestly hold the critic, whom provides a
representation of a representation twice removed,
above the creator and their creation?

Wilde: | do hold the critic above the creation, and
certainly well above the creator. When a critic
studies a work, such as poetry or writing, they use
the impressive qualities of the medium to search
their own soul and report their findings through a
well-crafted internal analysis. This is where truth
is found. Since truth is found within, truth is not
universal. If poetry perverts the soul, as you so
often claim, the soul truly wanted to be perverted.
What is truer to an individual than that which their
soul finds to be true? Why search for universal
truth when we could be asking ourselves why our
search for universal truth is so important?

Plato: It is as if you have a hedonist and scholar
bickering inside you at all times. A representation
is incapable of producing truth under any
circumstance. It is as if you were not listening to a
word | have said. If | could, | would have all poets
and writers banished from decent societies.

: ee “Sar

Barthes: (Butting in after eavesdropping the two
men’s conversation) | think you are misrepresenting
the role of the creator, Plato.

Plato: How do you rationalize such nonsense,
Barthes?

Barthes: You place far too much responsibility upon
the creator of works. Your disdain for poets and
writers is notable, but what you fail to understand
is that the creator cannot convey any personal
message, truth, or perversion within their work.
Plato: Then where can truth be found?

Barthes: Truth is questionable, but truth will not
be found within the creator. Instead, truth, if it
exists, can only be found within the text of those
who wish to analyze a medium without influence
from the creator. To impose such importance upon
the creator is to limit the functionality of the work,
stunting the proficiency in which an analyzer can
reach a conclusion, such as the existence of truth.
Plato: Next you are going to imply a work is both
expressive and impressive?

Barthes: (In a serious tone) It is as if you can read
my mind. Shall | continue?

Plato: | think it is better that you do not. | assumed
this was purgatory, not hell. | fear our beliefs have
reached an impassible convergence. Perhaps
the only thing we can all agree on is that of the
disdain for the creators of works through didactic
reasoning.

Wilde: | suppose you are right for once. At least
through discourse, knowledge will never grow
stagnant and no concept untested.

Barthes: This is not true; we can also all agree that
if these tabs are not paid immediately, the death of
two authors will be imminent.
(THE END)

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