Re: The Disguise -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 19:43:48 02/03/08 Sun
Author: JD
Subject: Re: The Disguise
In reply to: Caitlin 's message, "The Disguise" on 18:56:51 02/02/08 Sat

I think disguises and masks can serve various functions for humans. A quick remark from a psychological stand-point: there was an experiment where participants watched a woman do an interview and the participants were allowed to shock (they thought it was a real shock, but the woman just acted) the woman when they thought she did something wrong. Some participants were made to wear name-tags, some were actually given a cloak and mask. Although no one could see them, the participants who were disguised often shocked the woman more often and less discriminatively than those wearing name tags. In this sense, perhaps disguises can serve as a tool to overcome the prohibitions that have been set forth for us...in this way it creates an easier avenue for our desire but at the same time allows for violence and conflict. In terms of ritual this would be an obvious way to do that which is forbidden and be exempt from the normal consequences. But I do not think that the appropriative nature of disguises and masks can be overlooked. In this case I think that you are correct, for I believe it is a way to participate in imitative desire. Even without a physical mask I think it is a way that people can operate under imitative desire just using Dr. Jackson's example of acting like a good student. Very often the act of carrying out this proverbial mask or disguise we can consciously or even unconsciously appropriate aspects of that thing which we are imitating.

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