WordGarden.iomimesis
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Meanings
Noun
representation or imitation of reality in art and literature
protective resemblance or mimicry in an organism
Beyond the definition
This is not just about doing impressions. It is the act of showing or copying reality, whether in art, literature, or even in the way people learn and understand the world. Think of a painter trying to capture a landscape, or a child learning by copying a parent. That is this idea at work.
The ancient Greeks were very interested in it because they believed it was central to how humans make sense of things. Aristotle thought tragedy, for example, could show general truths by copying human action. You might say a realistic novel has a strong sense of it because it feels close to real life.
Mimesis comes from a Greek word meaning "imitation." It is a broad idea from ancient philosophy and art theory. At its core, it means the representation of reality: the way images, stories, performances, or actions reflect the world around us. It is not always simple copying. Often, it means shaping something from real life into a new form with an artistic or interpretive angle.
Plato viewed mimesis somewhat negatively. He saw it as a copy of a copy, something even further removed from truth and therefore able to mislead people. Aristotle, however, treated it more positively. He saw it as a natural human habit and an important part of learning and understanding. In his view, by watching and repeating actions, we learn about character, emotion, and the world itself.
Today, the word is used in several fields. In literary theory, it refers to the way a text presents reality, whether that reality seems close to everyday life or more imagined. In art history, it can describe how closely a work resembles its subject. In psychology and sociology, it can describe learning through observation and imitation, such as children copying the behavior of adults around them.
Even advertising can rely on mimesis by showing idealized versions of life that persuade people to buy products. So whether it is a painting aiming to look lifelike, a novel reflecting social issues, or a person learning by watching others, mimesis is the act of representing and understanding the world through imitation and re-creation.
Examples
- 1
Greek drama
In the lecture, we studied how Greek drama uses mimesis to represent human action.
- 2
Literary criticism
The critic argued that the novel goes beyond simple mimesis and turns ordinary life into myth.
- Phrasego beyond simple mimesis
do more than just copy reality
- 3
Social behavior
Some researchers use mimesis more broadly to describe how people copy the behavior of a group.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- diegesis
- abstraction
Used with (collocations)
- artistic mimesis
- literary mimesis
- mimesis and diegesis
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- mimesisnoun