Re: Mr. Monk and the Mimetic Actor -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 22:01:11 03/02/08 Sun
Author: Katelyn R.
Subject: Re: Mr. Monk and the Mimetic Actor
In reply to: Janelle 's message, "Mr. Monk and the Mimetic Actor" on 10:17:36 03/02/08 Sun

I saw this episode when it first aired and had no idea about mimetic desire at the time but it clearly is a great example. Good catch. It's fascinating to watch the actor become Monk and watch him obviously go too far. It reminds me of a presentation for my Performing Voice class last semester. I had to interview an adult on campus and take part of the interview and mimic them as closely as I possibly could. I did my dorm mom, and it was really hard. Obviously I didn't go as far as the actor on the TV show did because I never had the same desires/hopes as my "model" did. On Monk he clearly looks into Monk's desires/hopes/etc. which as an actor is what I would do, too (I hope not that deeply though). Reflecting on the episode (and it's been awhile since I've seen it) it was interesting that this was at first used as a comedic element but it really turned out to be quite tragic. The actor (played by Stanley Tucci if I remember correctly) loses himself in the role. Again, really nice catch on your part, the fact that once he has pretty much become Monk more difficulties/serious issues happen more. It seems as if Monk becomes more afraid of/frustrated with him, too. There is also the contest he has with the other patient to be the favorite patient of his psychiatrist. Monk and the other guy think they are nothing alike but they are so similar that they become highly competitive with each other (each have same desire).

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