The Symbiotic Dance: The Interplay of Imitation and Innovation

David Perill argues that imitation and innovation are not opposed, but rather work in tandem. By imitating the work of others, we can discover our own style and ultimately innovate.

Let's explore “Imitate, then Innovate”, in a different way.

Thesis: The Role of Imitation in Learning

From infancy, children learn primarily through imitation. They observe their parents walk, leading to mimicking them and taking their first steps. Hearing the sounds and words in their environment, kids master complex communication without formal instruction.

Albert Bandura describes mimetic learning as a type of social learning that encourages humans to learn by observing the actions of others and then develop similar behavior. 

The neoclassical art movement emerged with the desire to return to an aesthetic attitude based on the art of Greece and Rome. Depicting scenes from history, mythology and literature. Jacques-Louis David believed in the idealization of classical art and imitated Greek and Roman styles in his work as timeless truth and beauty. His philosophy emphasizes the role of imitation in honing a craft. 

Throughout our lives, we continue to emulate role models. These influences shape our behavior, values, and ideologies. This foundational role of imitation in our development can be considered our thesis.

Antithesis: The Pursuit of Originality and Innovation

As we mature, we desire to be authentic, to stand out and be recognized for our unique contributions. Originality becomes a significant role, often linked to professional success and societal recognition. Through originality, we try to seek creativity and individuality.

Gilles Deleuze emphasized that there is no absolute, and things evolve alternatively, creating new concepts and redefining our understanding of society. Modernism challenged traditional forms and conventions, embracing new techniques, materials and perspectives. It encompassed various sub-movements like Futurism, Dadaism, and Cubism. Challenging established norms in art, literature, architecture, and culture.

Marcel Duchamp adopted Dadaism, an anti-art stance. Picasso and Braque brought Cubism, deconstructing objects into geometric shapes and multiple perspectives. 

However, pursuing innovation without any solid foundation can be challenging and risky. This desire for originality, juxtaposed against the process of imitation, forms our antithesis.

Synthesis: The Interdependence of Imitation and Innovation

In pursuit of originality, we forget that our life journey is an evolution of various influences. Our values, thoughts and behaviors are often an amalgamation. There is no originality within us as we all take it from the cosmos. What makes us unique is what we imbibe from the Universe and how we disperse it back.

Henri's work, Creative Evolution, argues that life evolves through a vital force that drives both the repetition of patterns and the emergence of new, innovative forms.

Postmodernism challenged modernist notions of originality and authenticity, embracing new media and technology and questioning the very nature of art itself. Andy Warhol appropriated images from mass media and popular culture, blurring distinctions between high and low art.

Thus, we realize that by imitating others, we lay the groundwork for our creative expressions. This results in our synthesis that imitation and innovation are two wheels of the bicycle.