Mimeses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The imitation of the real world in art and literature, particularly in drama and poetry
2. A process of mimicking or replicating external realities through various creative expressions
3. A method of representation where one thing is made to resemble another in an artistic or conceptual framework

Etymology: "Mimeses" is simply the plural of "mimesis," so it refers to more than one instance of the concept. The singular comes from Ancient Greek "mīmēsis," built on the verb "mimeisthai," meaning "to imitate," which itself grows from "mīmos," the word for a mime or a performer who acted out scenes through gesture and mimicry. The noun therefore carries the core idea of imitation at its center: an artwork, text, or concept that represents something by copying or echoing its appearance, behaviour, or form. The Greek word was loaded with artistic meaning long before English adopted it, which is why philosophers and critics kept returning to it when they discussed how art relates to the world.

Synonyms: imitations, copies, replications, simulations, reproductions

Antonyms: originals, innovations, creations