Frye’s Mimetic Modes
Using Frye’s theory of “mimetic modes,” describe the “reality contract” of a film or scripted TV series (not a “reality show” or news documentary) of your choice.
Just in case I or others might not be familiar with the film or television series, begin with a paragraph that gives your reader a rough overview–who, what, where, when–of the “scenario” in which the film or series takes place. Then briefly address the following. Use well-developed paragraphs that (a) show your understanding of Frye’s mimetic levels and (b) present specific details in support of your description of the “reality contract” of the film or television series.
How would one best describe the setting / “world” of the film or television series? Are there magical or supernatural elements? Are the laws of physics or other scientific understandings of the universe ignored or violated (Romantic)? Alternatively, is the setting a recognizable “real world,” but with an emphasis on the elite, exclusive, or even “royal” levels of the social world of the present or past (High Mimetic)? Or is the world of the series an “everyday world,”–middle-class, average in terms of social status or other kinds of “specialness” (Low Mimetic)? Or is the portrayed world more negative and restricted than average, one that is below what we might call “normal” society in some way–prison, post-apocalyptic waste, homelessness, cruel and unusual twists of fate, etc. (ironic)?
How would one best describe the characters that populate this universe? Do some of them have supernatural or magical powers? Are some able to defy the laws of physics (i. e., gravity, time-line, etc.) (Romantic)? Alternatively, is the setting a recognizable “real world,” do the characters have actual abilities or characteristics, but to an exceptional degree (talent, strength, charm, social status, power and privilege) (High Mimetic)? Or are they more within the “average’ range of human talent and social status (low mimetic)? Or, alternatively, are they so reduced in social status, in “normal” human attributes (appearance, talent, power, even decent “luck”) that their lives seem less than human or just barely human (ironic)?
