The Concept of Mimêsis, Three Reflection Theories and Its Effect on Basic Art Movements

Abstract

In the ancient Greek world, mimêsis is a word meaning imitation. This word was used as an aesthetics term in Plato and an aesthetic and artistic term in Aristotle. Plato and Aristotle agreed on art as mimesis that is to say imitation. The two philosophers' understanding of imitation is different from each other. For Plato, mimesis means "the reflection of external reality". For Aristotle, mimesis means "reflection of the universal" and "reflection of the ideal". Three basic representation theories emerged from the ideas of Plato and Aristotle. Classicism, romance and realism, which are the main art movements, imitated nature. But each art movement interpreted imitation of nature in its own way. Art movements based its comments on different philosophers. Under the "1. In the "Concept of Mimêsis and Plato" section of the study, the concept of mimesis has been discussed in detail and the relationship of mimesis with other concepts has been tried to be elucidated. In addition, the appearances in the work of Politeía where mimesis is used as a concept was examined. In addition, Plato's mimesis understanding was discussed. Under the "2. Mimêsis Theories of Plato and Aristotle and Three Different Projection Theories" section, Plato and Aristotle's mimesis conceptions were examined in detail. Based on the works of the two philosophers such as Politeía and Poetics, their understanding of mimesis has been revealed in all aspects. Issues such as the attitude of the two philosophers towards the concept of mimesis, their ideas about the origin of the work of art, and the artist's thoughts on the style of production are the other topics discussed in this section. In the "3. Mimêsis or Imitation of Nature in Basic Art Movements" section, classicism, romance and realism's ways of reflecting the reality are discussed. All three art movements aim to reflect the truth. But the way these currents reflect reality is different from each other. In addition, the philosophers and ideas on which the three art movements base their understanding of art are also different from each other. In the "4. Result" section of the study, it was concluded.