Models of Desire: Rene Girard and the Psychology of Mimesis - Rilegato

Livingston, Paisley

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0801843855 ISBN 13: 9780801843853

Casa editrice: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr, 1992

Riassunto

To some, Rene Girard is best known for his views on sacred myth and ritual. To others, he is the eminent structuralist critic who offers challenging readings of major literary works. Still others know him for his analyses of the Bible. Central to all aspects of Girard's work is his theory of mimesis, a basic hypothesis about the structures of human motivation, Yet nowhere in his writings does Girard offer a systematic presentation of the mimetic theory. In fact, key terminology shifts from work to work, resulting in considerable ambiguity in both basic concepts and explanatory claims,
In Models of Desire Paisley Livingston provides the first rigorous critical reconstruction of Girard's theory of mimesis. Drawing a careful distinction between the theory itself and Girard's often ambitious claims about it, Livingston provides a systematic presentation of Girard's ideas about the role of imitation in human motivation. He surveys responses to Girard's work and compares his theory of mimetic desire with recent work in cognitive psychology and philosophy. The result is a salient theoretical alternative to the false choice--between psychoanalysis and anti-psychological doctrines--that currently dominates literary theory.

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Recensione:

"One of the signal achievements of Livingston's investigation is to highlight distinctions, qualifications, and nuances in Girard's own writings that to date have gone largely unnoticed and that ultimately further the scientific potential of his ideas by refining their focus." -- Andrew J. McKenna, Studies in Twentieth-Century Literature

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr
• Data di pubblicazione: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0801843855
• ISBN 13: 9780801843853
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 248