mimetics and memetics

From: Vincent Campbell (v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk)
Date: Tue Jan 30 2001 - 14:34:58 GMT

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    From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk>
    To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    Subject: mimetics and memetics
    Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 14:34:58 -0000
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    Hiya everyone,

    Just after some clarfication here.

    I've been asked by a colleague if I've spelt memetics properly, i.e. should
    there be an 'i' in it rather than an 'e' (good evidence that the questioner
    has never heard of memetics). Now, it's not that I don't know there's a
    difference, I just wanted to check that I'd got a simple answer to anyone
    who may ask "how's memetics different from mimetics?"

    Looking at dictionary definitions of mimetics, a lot use the idea of dance.
    So, would I be right in saying that a mimetic dance would be one where the
    dance involves imitating something (e.g. the funky chicken.. sorry best
    example I could think of!)?

    Am I right also in thinking that mimetics in nature is about things like
    markings on, or shapes of, organisms that look like other things (e.g.
    plants that have parts looking like insects, and vice versa)?

    I'm kind of assuming that this relationship has been discussed before on
    this list. I'd be surprised if it hasn't.

    Vincent

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