mimesis
mih-MEE-sis
/mɪˈmiːsɪs/
The imitation or representation of aspects of the real world in art and literature.
Refers to theoretical artistic reflection or re-presentation of nature, not simple mechanical copying.
The story behind the word. From Ancient Greek 'mimeisthai' (to imitate), rooted in 'mimos' (actor or mime). Plato distrusted mimesis because he felt art was merely an imperfect copy of physical objects, while Aristotle praised it as central to poetry.
Word relationships
- imitation: 'Imitation' can mean copying behavior, while 'mimesis' is a philosophical term for artistic world-building.
- representation: 'Representation' is broad, while 'mimesis' explicitly implies mimicking life or nature.
- abstraction: Art that deliberate refrains from representing recognizable external reality.
- diegesis: Narrative telling or reporting, as opposed to direct artistic showing/mimesis.
Commonly confused with
- mimicry: 'Mimicry' is superficial imitation for camouflage or comedy, whereas 'mimesis' is artistic representation.
Word family
- mimetic (adjective): Relating to or characterized by mimesis.
Collocations
- artistic mimesis
- literary mimesis
- mimesis and diegesis
- principle of mimesis
Example sentences
- "Aristotle argued that mimesis is an innate human drive through which we learn and process reality." Literary theory
- "Photorealism represented a dramatic return to traditional mimesis in twentieth-century painting." Visual art critique
Memory hook
MIME-sis: Just as a theatrical MIME imitates human actions silently, mimesis is art imitating real life. Art imitating existence
When not to use
Do not use to describe plagiarizing code or cheating on an exam.
Fun facts
- Erich Auerbach wrote his classic 1946 literary text 'Mimesis' in Istanbul during WWII from memory, without access to a full critical library.
Related words
Explore more words
mimicry, verisimilitude, homage, depict, bio-inspired, abstract
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