Posted by Aulia Fikriarini on October 15, 19100 at 10:52:46:
In Reply to: Re: plato, aristotle, mimesis, literature posted by Chad on June 01, 19100 at 17:29:05:
: : q: discuss plato and aristotle's understanding of the concept "mimesis" as ot applies to literature
: : was it aristotle who said "art imitates life"? do u think i should bring that inhere, bec mimesis does mean imitation...also p disapproves of mimesis and a says it has aesthetic value...am i on the right track here?
: Perrin:
: Both Plato and Aristotle would say that literature imitates life, and, yes, imitation is completely relevant to "mimesis." Now Plato also acknowledged the aesthetic value of literature. However, for Plato the very aesthetic value of literature is the sugar that obscures the poison. Literature's didactic value is inferior not just to philosophy but also to history. Literature also fosters and excites the very parts of the "soul" that philosophy does well to tame and restrain.
: For Aristotle literature is a more philosophical thing than history because art deals with the universal; whereas history deals with the particular. Furthermore, far from fostering undesirable emotions, forms of literature such as tragedy purge us of emotions such as pity and fear.
: These, I would say, are the essential points.
: Chad