Few concepts in the theory of art and literature have been as long-lived, as influential and yet as obscure as mimesis. In what sense does mimesis imply likeness, artifice, making or performance? To what degree is it a natural or human phenomenon? What, finally, is the role of the production and recognition of mimesis in understanding? We'll discuss some ancient, medieval, and modern approaches to these questions, studying works of literature, philosophy, anthropology, and psychoanalysis. The arts to be considered include poetry, painting, sculpture, music, and dance.