A Mimetic Reading of "The Prestige" -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 13:57:51 03/13/08 Thu
Author: Shannon
Subject: A Mimetic Reading of "The Prestige"

Have any of you seen the recent movie "The Prestige"? Its plot perfectly lends itself to a a mimetic reading of interdividual conflict, rivlalry, and violence.

The story follows the lives and careers of two magicians, Borden and Angier. Their pursuit for the perfect magic trick barely disguises the the cycle of rivalry and revenge within which they are caught and perpetuate. As each attempts to out do the other on the stage (and Angier attempts to revenge what he beleives to be the murder of his wife by Borden) they become more and more like each other in everything, from the tricks they perform to the woman they both love. When Borden performs a seemingly impossible trick, Angier imitates his very steps in a journey across Europe in order to discover his secret. Their rivalry grows spreads violence to all those the come in contact with; Borden is maimed, his wife commits suicide, etc.

The movie is also full of doubles as well. The plot hangs on Borden having, unknown to the other characters, an identical twin. And Angier's final trick involves a machine which makes a double of him--doubles who he kills each night for the sake of "prestige".

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Replies:

Re: A Mimetic Reading of "The Prestige" -- Janelle, 06:22:52 03/16/08 Sun