Re: Do-Be-Do-Be-DON'T -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 22:05:29 04/02/08 Wed
Author: Kiernan
Subject: Re: Do-Be-Do-Be-DON'T
In reply to: CS Holden 's message, "Do-Be-Do-Be-DON'T" on 18:58:39 03/31/08 Mon

I too was contemplating the mimetic nature of prohibitions today in class. Girard seems to use this term to refer to two separate phenomena. On the one hand, he refers to anti-mimetic prohibitions in cultures. These prohibitions intend to keep out violence. On the other hand, he discusses in Book 3, Chapter 1 of "Things Hidden" how, within the context of a double bind, the "Don't be like me" of the model is interpreted by the subject as a specific prohibition against only himself. This means, to the imitator, that this specific thing is off limits specifically to him.

It seems in the case of children we are discussing prohibitions in the latter sense. We want children to respect us, i.e., take us as their mediator. Yet, as their mediator, they will eventually desire some kind of rivalry with us. When we forbid them to do something, we are communicating "Do not be like me." But, of course, this only means that they will continue the rivalry - and do what we have told them not to do.

If however a child does not respect us, in an odd sense, he will be more likely to obey our commands. He could care less.

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Re: Do-Be-Do-Be-DON'T -- JD, 19:30:43 04/06/08 Sun