Critical Study Of The Theory Of Imitation

The theory of imitation normally has been considered as one of the most ancient art theories. It also has been regarded as the beginning of western art theories, and the first theory try to discuss the origin and the nature of arts. However, once the theory of imitation was one of the most convincing theories, and the core standard for literature creations and criterions until 19th century. As for today, this theory still has impact on our understanding for arts. Since the theory goes through the whole procedure of arts recognition, why should we criticize it?This essay is trying to prove that the theory of imitation recognized the nature of arts in a wrong way. The theory can only be a phenomenal description for the one of artistic image. Nevertheless, it has been regarded as a common philosophy of arts by itself. In this essay, we are going to explain that art is not a kind of imitation, but a creativity imagination of human beings. At the same time, we expose how the theory misunderstands the nature of that kind of art image.In the first chapter, we state that the theory of imitation started with Plato and Aristotle of ancient Greece. Because of reputation of these two ancient philosophers who can be compared with Confucius and Mencius in China, western philosophers and ideologists of later ages always quoted their philosophical theories. Just like the Chinese literary men always mention that’once Confucius said that’. Hence, theory of imitation seems to be normal. Although, not all the image of artist works are similar with reality, the theory has been keeping appearing in a modern image, instead of fading through history. For a long time, people believe in this theory, and they think that reality imitation is used universally. So, how real an imitation can be becomes a standard for criterion for arts. While we are learning the theory of imitation, its fault also enlightens us. Because artists have already realized that arts are not the entities of objects, but the superficial images. The unreal image is the so called art image. The viewpoint of Plato matches ours.In the second chapter we discussed in the context of art imitation is, in fact, the creation of an object on it. We analyze the artistic image, is the nature of art existing in the form of image in the end. Art imitation is not a copy, but to create similar to the real object image; Even photographic realism art image, still is independent of the object’s creation, is the result of the painter freedom of choice, rather than the object is the result of the decision. Since the nature of art image, we put forward the methods of art classification in this paper, explaining the meaning and the art should be divided into institutional system in the sense of two kinds of classification methods.In the end of the article, based on Italian philosopher Vico’s descriptions of the three stages of the development process of human language, we proposed three types of art corresponding to the three stages:non-conceptional image, conceptional image, and irony image, proving that the difference between traditional "imitation" (or "reproduction") and "performance" is just on the phenomenon, rather than in the essence of the difference, because the realism painting image and "abstract" music melody, in essence are image, the difference only lies in whether we can use concepts to describe or to call them.