Mimesis and the Human Animal
On the Biogenetic Foundations of Literary Representation
Will be published approx. on 30. December 1996
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-0-8101-1458-6 (ISBN)
Description
In this study, the author argues that human culture derives from human biology and that literary representation therefore must have a biological basis. As he ponders the question ""What does it mean to say that art imitates life?"" he must consider both ""What is life?"" and ""What is art?"". Part 1 addresses issues of human biology, psyche and language; Part 2 applies the model sketched out in Part 1 to various narratives: tragedy, comedy and the novel.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Evanston
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
figures, notes
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
411 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8101-1458-6 (9780810114586)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
Part 1 The world: ""I am I because my little dog knows me"" - of apes and essences; ""Me against my brother, me and my brother against our cousins, me, my brother and our cousins..."" - the genetic construction of sociality; on discourse and the Darwin machine - the matter and the chatter of the mind. Part 2 The book: ""What is art for?"" - narrative and the Ludic reader; tragedy - the ape gets serious; comedy and the relaxed open-mouth display; gilding the mirror - mimesis and philosophy in ""A fairly honourable defeat"".