W.J.T. Mitchell examines literature and representation as a whole. We must examine the term homo symbolicum, which gave us (humans) the ability to stand apart from any other creature. “From childhood men have an instinct ability for representation, and in this respect, man differs from other animals that he is far more imitative and learns his first lesson by representing things” (11). Humans have created a system of reading, writing, expression of memories, thoughts, or ideas on paper, which also gave us the idea that without life there would be no literature. Indefinitely, many come to believe that literature is life. Representation falls into this area as well which creates two more sub-categories; semiotics, meaning a general theory of signs, and aesthetics, a general theory of arts. If you think about liturgical works and pieces, you can recognize that they consist of many forms of art, also consisting of signs and symbols, depending on the form of writing (i.e. poetry,......
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Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |