'The Vicissitudes of Mimesis': lecture by Mark Cousins, 26th November, 1999

Extent: 1 audio cassette (90min), 4 digital files (639.7 MB )

Comprises audio recording of a lecture entitled 'The Vicissitudes of Mimesis', given by Mark Cousins on the 26th November, 1999. The recordings consist of a Maxwell 90 audio cassette tape, 2 digital preservation files (529.5 MB, .wav format) and 2 digital access files (110.2 MB, .mp3 format). Duration of access version: 50min 21sec

Copyright: Architectural Association

Creator: Mark Cousins

Admin History: The recording is of the 3rd lecture in the series entitled 'Imago', given by Mark Cousins as part of the AA General Studies programme, 1999-2000. In this lecture, Mark Cousins focuses upon the different attitudes of Aristotle and Plato towards mimesis. For Cousins, Aristotle's process of imitation responds to a fundamental human pleasure of recognition, and is also a primary form of education. In contrast, he describes how Plato takes an anti-mimetic stance in which, by putting things in other people's mouths, one is able to shatter the image with which others are required to identify or associate. Consequently, Cousins argues that all art must be a perversion of social regulation and must violate every idea of what is good. Taking a psychoanalytic angle, examines the idea that art is simply the form that 'the mimetic wish' takes.

Custodial History: Audio cassette recording was made by the AA Audio Visual Department and retained by the AA Photo Library until 2019, when it was transferred to the AA Archives.

Aquisition: Audio cassette was transferred from the AA Photo Library to the AA Archives in 2019. Digital preservation and access copies were created by the AA Archives in 2021.

Archive Note: Catalogue description by Ke Bo Tsai

Publication Note: AA Events List, Week 8, Autumn Term, 22nd - 26th November, 1999