The Difference about Representation

I started what about representation and presentation in 380 BCE by Plato. He stated in one of his works “Republic” that representation is made of the nature of God and heroes. He also added that God is always to be represented as he truly is, whatever be the sort of poetry, epic, lyric or tragic, in which the representation is given. Representation, Plato reasoned, are mere substitutes for the things themselves. (Mitchell, 14) I think the meaning of representation that Plato said is about someone represented for herself/himself/itself not another one or something else.

Aristotle says that representations differ from one another in three ways: in object, manner, and means. The "object" is that which is represented; the "manner" is the way in which it is represented; the "means" is the material that is used. (Mitchell, 13) in this matter, subject represented object. Example; in his real life Laurence Oliver become himself, but in the stage he was playing as hamlet. He represented Hamlet in the stage but he still existed as himself.

In modern times, it also become a crucial concept in political theory, many people wants to be governed by representative, every political group or cause wants representation, every government claims to represent. (Pitkin, 3) so that there is shift in the meaning of representation in which someone wants to be represented someone else. As Mitchell said, that representation is always of something or someone, by something or someone, to someone. For example; in some countries, including Indonesia used the “representative government”. What I knew if someone wants to be represented someone else/group is on conditions; he/she is native, from the same group (the labor represented some labors), she/he can convey their aspirations. The legitimate is the agreement from people about represented/representative, and it is written in the laws is not it?

In the fact, in Indonesia some people who represented other people not appropriate with their occupations, such as the economist represented the labor or the doctors. The question is “what represent what” in that situation?

References

Mitchell, W.J.T. 1995. Representation.

Pitkin, Hanna. 1967. The Concept of Representation.

Plato. Republic, Book 10.