A Classical And Contemporary Approach To The Concept Of "Mimesis" And Representation
Submitted by freefortermpapers on 06/24/2008 03:00 PM
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A Classical And Contemporary Approach To The Concept Of "Mimesis" And Representation
A Classical and Contemporary Approach to the Concept of "Mimesis" and Representation
- Mimesis
Mimesis is a broad term with a wide range of possibilities for a how a self-sufficient world created by people can relate to any given real world, or even a postulated or imagined one. Each historical epoch tailors its own mimesis concept.
In the early use of mimesis, even before Plato, the representational features of it were emphasized. Herman Koller, Gerald F. Else, and Göran Sörbom points out that mimos which designates either a recitation composed of several parts and delivered by one person, or a dramatic performance by two or more persons is the root word. Mimeisthai and mimesis, mimema, mimetes and mimetikos all derive from this stem. Mimeisthai denotes imitation, representation and portrayal. Mimos and mimetes designate the persons who imitate or represent, whereby mimos also refers to the context of the dramatic action. Mimema is the result of mimetic behavior, mimesis the action itself. Mimetikos refers to something that can be imitated or subject to imitation. Mimesis is the process by which a poet, artist, or other imitator adapts selected features of an original to a product in such a way that the product has an effort through its maker's art that the original would have by its nature. A mimetic statue may have the look of a real nude, whereas mimetic poetry or drama may have some of the emotional impact of the action it represents. Even treatment in medicine is mimetic in the sense that it reproduces the healing of nature. Mimesis, though not naturally deceptive, may deceive if the product intentionally pretends to be in place of its original.
-Plato and mimesis
Plato can be regarded as both the founder of philosophical aesthetics and the fiercest critic of aesthetics' right to an autonomous existence. Mimesis has some different meanings in Plato's work, such as imitation, representation, expression and...
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