Mimetic Theory-From Ancient Times To Post-Modernism

Mimetic Theory, the earliest literature and art theory, which has played an important role in the long history of western literature theory, can be traced back to the ancient Greece. The purpose of this paper is to study the value of Mimetic Theory in the time of its peripherization. The origin and inheritance of mimetic theory will be listed systematically, including the evolution of mimetic theory before 20th century and its attackers'thought since the 20th century, to achieve the study.In this thesis, a standpoint will be shown that the meaning of mimetic theory once changed. According to the theories such as mimetic theory in the ancient Greece, theory of mirror and representationism, the imitator(art) and the model(life) are related in a direct way, so that art and life refer to each other as a reference. However, since Saussure's Linguistics came in vogue in the 20th century, language, once was regarded as the semeiotic medium, has been an active participant in artistic creation and been highly valued in literature research. The two chapters in this thesis is divided according to the above viewpoint and will be studied respectively. Important figures and their thoughts in the vicissitude of mimetic theory will be highlighted so as to study the long history of the theory.The first chapter of this thesis is The Beginning and Evolution of Mimetic Theory. In this part, theories concerning mimesis will be listed and expounded. The idea of mimesis was expressed by Xenophanes and Heraclitus in the earliest time. Fraiser and Quiral reinterpreted the effective process of mimesis from visual angles of cultural anthropology and sociology in modern times. Plato and Aristotle introduced the idea of mimesis to region of art and they turned mimetic theory into the most significant idea in the history of western literature and art theory afterwards. Though there appeared some differences on the idea of mimetic theory between the two philosophers, mimesis as an artistic normal formulas was confirmed by them jointly. This artistic normal formula indicates the following points:Firstly, an imitator is defective compared with its model. Secondly, mimetic theory doesn't mean exclusion of imaginary creations. Thirdly, those who derived from mimetic theory, such as theory of mirror, representationism and realism, follow as well as reinterpret initial mimetic theory. Moreover, the idea that Life imitates Art raised by Oscar Wilde seems like a revolt to mimetic theory, essentially inherited the logic of initial mimesis, which means the depreciation of imitator. Therefore, Life imitates Art can be regarded as one of the derivatives of mimetic theory.The second chapter is The Deconstruction of Mimetic Theory. This part will begin with Foucault's demonstration on La Meninas(Velazquez,1656). Foucault considered that there was no longer truth or representation, while presentment and noumenon were separated. Thus mimesis and mirror were of no effect. All the above changes were caused by semeiology revolution referred to Saussure's Linguistics. On one hand, language was regarded as intrinsic quality of text and the conservation of content instead of an artistic carrier. On the other hand, Foucault believed that symbols were self-referential, while Derrida thought symbols were chains of signans without any destined designatum. Both of them regarded intertexuality as the intrinsic quality of texts and the outdated mimesis was already deconstructed. Baudrillard, a so-called Post Marxist, did his theoretical work on the basis of Depauw, who studied image in Spectacle Society. Baudrillard said that the society is emulational. There was no longer any truth in the world, so symbols had to refer to themselves. Life didn't go as it used to, so the discussion on the topic Art imitate Life was made vain. Linda Hutcheon opposed to Baudrillard's exaggeration on the scale simulation effected in the society. Her vision of postmodernism regarded representation as an inevitable rationale.In conclusion, Ontology and ancient epistemology brought about such a big number of mimetic theory's followers in the long history. During the time modernism and postmodernism extends, ancient thoughts tend to be more limitative than any other times before. In the process of deconstruction, the aim of anti-centralization and anti-authority seems hard to achieve thoroughly. Mimesis will not be deconstructed authentically while some postmodernists resist the temptation to overcorrect it. Actually, only if we don't seek meaning from arts, mimesis and representation will fade away.