... copying, representation, reproduction or even expression3, depending on the era in which the term was used. Mimos and mimetes refer to the people who do the imitating and representing4. In connection with the arts mimesis is the representation or imitation of the natural forms which results in an arousal of feelings and emotions in every human being. So by imitating human speech or animal sounds or alternatively human emotions and feelings, the composer sets out to create a mimetic piece of music. Likewise, the artist creates a mimetic painting by imitating shapes around him, trees, animals, other humans, and so on. However, neither the composer nor the artist imitates these things just for the sake of it, they are all trying to achieve something by doing this, and it is surely fair to say that they all know perfectly well why they are creating their works the way they are: ...

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