The window, the mirror, and the stone: A reassessment of the roles of mimesis and opsis in critical theory

This thesis develops three interpretive classifications based on mimetic and opsitic verbal structures. First, the classification of the "window" is described. Second, the aspects of the "mirror" are discussed and illustrated. Third, the features of the "stone" are analyzed and clarified; The theoretical description of mimetic discourse is based on M. H. Abrams' pivotal book on romantic literature, The Mirror and the Lamp. This thesis expands upon his critical classifications for mimetic literature and adds an additional classification to deal with opsitic verbal structures, namely the "stone."; The "window" is shown to include discourse that depicts the world or universe in an objective manner; Next the classification of the "mirror" is discussed, showing the function of this discourse is to achieve persuasion through the process of "identification."; The final classification of the "stone" is shown to be that discourse that defies traditional methods of interpretation due to its opaque qualities; Finally, the concept of historicity is discussed as an intersection between the classifications. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1991

Author dc:creator

• Hanson, Andrea J

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/207

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-1206