Re: Mimetic Desire in Film -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 13:44:18 01/31/08 Thu
Author: Janelle
Subject: Re: Mimetic Desire in Film
In reply to: Katelyn R. 's message, "Mimetic Desire in Film" on 11:08:01 01/25/08 Fri

This pattern of the tension between male and female best friends and whether or not the relationship evolves into anything deeper seems to be a common theme in a lot of romantic comedies (especially those 80s teen movies by John Hughes). So is the theme you mentioned of one of the character's imitating what the other believes to be the ideal qualities to have in a significant other. Another example that comes to mind is the classic movie "Some Like it Hot". Although Plato may have some issues with the premise of men imitating women and what the consequences of this may be (besides Jack Lemmon being proposed to by a man who, in the end doesn't care whether or not he's a woman-"nobody's perfect"), a main issue that arises is that of Tony Curtis's relationship to Marilyn Monroe. Although the two are close as "girl friends" Tony feels he has to assume a persona in order to impress her and make her fall for him. Marilyn says that she always falls for the same kind of man, a musician who always uses and then abandons her. Because Tony is a musician he feels he has to assume the identity of Marilyn's dream man, who is rich and sophisticated. His act works and Marilyn falls for him, but in such situations there is always the chance that the act won't be enough. The two end up together because what was essential for them to connect was always there, but if it had not been there, such mimesis or imitation would not have been enough to make Marilyn fall for Tony.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]