Mimesis in Theory, Embodied Practice, and Literary Arts

Theoretical exploration of mimesis from Plato and Aristotle to Tarde, Lacan, Girard, Rancière, Lacoue-Labarthe, Butler, Malabou, Cassin, and Latoo. Additional emphasis on mimesis in human and animal development and social/behavioral practice, with interdisciplinary intertexts from fields ranging from neuroscience to genomics. Frequent departures from paradigmatic and empirical evidence to revel in the sensory and intuitive renewal of literary/artistic mimetic agency and apperception. Course taught in French, with occasional sources in English. Flexible language of assignments and English discussion section for graduate students outside of the French field.