Mimetic Desires
Hey friends,
Greetings from Ashoka University, India!
Recently, in an issue of Ali Abdaal’s newsletter - Sunday Snippets, I was introduced to a concept called “Mimetic Desire”. And I was hooked from the get-go.
Mimetic theory, as I understood it, is the idea that, as humans, we tend to perform certain activities because others are doing it.
Think about it. If everyone has a particular phone, you will start wanting that. If you see all your friends using a particular slang, it starts sounding more appealing.
Mimetic theory is one of the basic principles that undergird the fast fashion industry. It is what companies rely on to get people to buy their products.
Reading about Ali’s views on Mimetic Desire, I was struck by his solution of avoiding falling into it. Quoting him, “Thick desires are things you want on a deep level. Stuff that makes you feel happy or fulfilled once you have it or are doing it. Thin desires are usually mimetic - stuff you only think you want because you see that other people have it.”
Here are some of my “thick” desires at the moment:
Running: I just finished a half marathon and am now training for another one.
Writing both my newsletter and my personal work.
On a side note, I am working on a very big project which requires a lot of writing. I shall announce it soon. Stay tuned!
Photography: Those who know me will know how passionate I am about photography. I mean, I have an entire section of my weekly newsletter dedicated to the art (it's called “Postcard”, and its down below. Scroll down!)
Art: Apart from photography, I do love to sketch. I also love Origami.
So for this week, try listing down your thick desires. You’ll be surprised at the clarity writing it down gives.
This Week’s Links
Introduction to Mimetic Theory | René Girard's Mimetic Theory: This long lecture dives deep into Mimetic theory, and is the first in a lecture series about the same. If you want a deep dive into the topic, this is it.
The problem with wanting things: Here, Doctor-turned-Youtuber Ali Abdaal breaks down mimetic theory in simple terms. It was this issue of his newsletter that prompted me to write on the topic.
Postcard
This is of the Kumaoni range in the Himalayas, which is one of the most beautiful places in the world. If all goes well, I will be heading there soon!
I took this shot a couple years ago, before Covid rocked the world. The lovely pink pastels play wonderfully with the stark whites of the frigid snow. Oh, how I love the mountains!
Favourite Quote
“—the medium makes serious demands on the artist; it calls to his strength and offers little comfort to his weakness” - Henry Pitz
Have a creative, energetic and inspiring week!
If you’re new, welcome to The Owlet! My name is Ishan Shanavas, and I am an Artist, Photographer, Writer and Student of the Natural World.
Here I talk about my work, along with curating the most interesting ideas on the internet. I confine them to topics like Nature, Culture, Photography, and Art but often fall prey to other genres.
I would greatly appreciate it if you shared my newsletter and work with your friends. It really helps me out :)