Imitation relates to externals; there must be something before one's eyes, which is copied. Imitation of sounds means no more than reproduction of the sounds which are heard; nothing is revealed about the inner state of the imitator. Monkeys and parrots imitate, but, as far as we know, they do not chance within themselves in the process. One might say that they do not know what it is they are imitating; they have never experienced it, from inside. The lack of persistence
Imitation, in a word, is nothing but a first step in the direction of transformation, a movement wich immediately stops short. Such movements can occur in rapid sequence and relate to the most incongruous succeession of objects. Monkeys provide a good example of this; the very ease with which they imitate something precludes a real grasp of it. Trasformation, on the other hand, is like a solid body set beside the two-dimensional structure of imitation.
Imitation relates to externals; there must be something before one's eyes, which is copied. Imitation of sounds means no more than reproduction of the sounds which are heard; nothing is revealed about the inner state of the imitator. Monkeys and parrots imitate, but, as far as we know, they do not chance within themselves in the process. One might say that they do not know what it is they are imitating; they have never experienced it, from inside. The lack of persistence
makes imitation easier.
Contextcatcher 11 months ago
Imitation, in a word, is nothing but a first step in the direction of transformation, a movement wich immediately stops short. Such movements can occur in rapid sequence and relate to the most incongruous succeession of objects. Monkeys provide a good example of this; the very ease with which they imitate something precludes a real grasp of it. Trasformation, on the other hand, is like a solid body set beside the two-dimensional structure of imitation.
"Crowds and Power" (1960) Elias Canetti.
Contextcatcher 11 months ago