E-Books →Mimesis (The New Critical Idiom)

Matt Potolsky presents a clear introduction to this potentially daunting concept, examining:
- the foundations of mimetic theory in ancient philosophy, from Plato to Aristotle
- three key versions of mimesis: imitatio or rhetorical imitation, theatre and theatricality, and artistic realism
- the position of mimesis in modern theories of identity and culture, through theorists such as Freud, Lacan, Girard and Baudrillard
- the possible future of mimetic theory in the concept of 'memes', which connects evolutionary biology and theories of cultural reproduction.
A multidisciplinary study of a term rapidly returning to the forefront of contemporary theory, Mimesis is a welcome guide for readers in such fields as literature, performance and cultural studies.