Modern Mimicry and YouTube: How Technology Has Influenced Pedagogy and Performance of Poetry Interpretation Within Competitive Forensics

Abstract

Plato's mimetic theory proposes art is an imitative representation of nature. Mimesis and imitation have a long history of rhetorical significance. This article investigates the potential impact increased technology might have upon the mimetic nature of the interpretation of poetry within modern forensics performances. Technological advances have made millions of performances available immediately. This vast increase in performance accessibility has created serious implications for repetition and impersonation within the genre of interpretation. As YouTube has made poetry performances visibly and audibly accessible to the masses, literal mimetic performances are quickly taking shape. This article utilizes a classical rhetorical framework upon modern-day technological advancements in an attempt to articulate significant educational benefits and limitations technology has had on mimetic performances for students, coaches, and judges.

Keywords:

• Forensics
• Interpretation
• Mimetic Theory
• Pedagogy
• Plato
• Poetry
• Technology
• YouTube

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Allison R. Bonander

Allison R. Bonander is a PhD Candidate in the Communication Studies Department at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Mallory L. Marsh

Mallory L. Marsh is an Instructor of Communication Arts in the Communication Arts Department at Bethel College (KS).