[Sample Essay for Testing] Mimetic Desire
What aspects of media, popular culture, politics, society, entertainment, etc., exhibit the elements of the Mimetic Theory? Discuss a specific area.
Dr. Chappell
AP Lang Period 8
11/9/25
Mimetic Theory Reflection
A clear example of mimetic theory in modern culture can be seen in social media, especially on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Mimetic Theory suggests that people learn what to desire by imitating the desires of others, and this kind of desire becomes contagious, leading to a perception of scarcity.
On social media, it is flooded with influencers who display all kinds of things, such as idealized lifestyles, certain fashion trends, or possessions, which creates a cycle of imitation and competition. For example, trends such as clothing brands, body images, or travel destinations spread rapidly because people imitate what others appear to value. This can lead to feelings of envy, rivalry, and even social conflict, as everyone strives to outdo the other people around them that they see online. In this re way, social media perfectly demonstrates Girard’s idea that human desire is not purely individual but mimetic, meaning that it is shaped by others.
I think that the most significant example of social media that demonstrates mimetic desire is seen in steps 8-10, which talk about how our similar desires lead to rivalries, becoming so intense that we forget what the rivalry is even about. An example of this can be seen in the late 2010s, and on the surface sounds like a joke and very silly, but it is a great example of this way of thinking. Around 2017, YouTubers like Jake Paul and Ricegum had a big rivalry because they both made the same types of videos, and liked to show off their cars and money. Eventually, they started making songs directed at each other, known as diss tracks, which only intensified the rivalry, and in some of these cases, it led to lawsuits and worse, which shows that these rivalries are often over a who, not a what.
on the uploaded document.
0 General Document comments
0 Sentence and Paragraph comments
0 Image and Video comments
General Document Comments 0
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Rubric Lens: AP Lang Argument Essay (Thesis/Evidence/Commentary/Sophistication)
Score: 4/6 (Thesis: 1 | Evidence & Commentary: 2 | Sophistication: 1)
Thesis & Central Claim
- Your thesis responds directly, identifying social media as an arena for mimetic theory.
- Strength: Makes a clear, defensible claim.
- Growth Target: Refine your central sentence to frame how mimetic desire uniquely shapes behavior, not just that it exists.
Evidence & Commentary
- You include specific, recognizable examples (Instagram, TikTok, influencers, Jake Paul vs. Ricegum).
- Strength: Relevant real-world references explain your claim.
- Growth Target: Commentary often summarizes rather than analyzes. Probe how rivalry escalates and why desire gets distorted.
Sophistication
- You attempt some complexity by discussing social consequences and rivalries.
- Strength: Peer rivalry example avoids oversimplification.
- Growth Target: Take one step farther—How might this escalate at a larger cultural level? Are there positive or resistive responses to mimetic influence?
Revision Invitations
1. Clarify Line of Reasoning: Map out how mimetic desire—> imitation—> rivalry—> escalation—> consequences, with transitions that push analysis.
2. Strengthen Analytical Moves: After each example, ask, “So what?” or “Why does this matter?” to move beyond surface explanation.
3. Push for Nuance: Where do exceptions or resistances to mimetic desire arise in your example? Add a sentence exploring this complexity.
Let me know how you might revise, or if there’s a specific section you want to dig in on next!
New Conversation
Hide Full Comment Hide Thread Detail
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Restatement of Feedback Lens:
Focusing on Evidence & Commentary (as outlined in the AP rubric), this feedback zeroes in on the effectiveness of your support and analysis for your central claim about mimetic theory and social media.
1. Evidence Selection
- You use specific, concrete examples (influencers, fashion trends, diss track rivalries).
- Strength: Gives your argument a grounded, real-world connection.
- Growth: Push beyond description. Choose evidence that demonstrates progression (e.g., how a trend’s popularity triggers rivalry, not just imitation).
2. Commentary Depth
- Your explanation often summarizes what happens (people imitate, rivalries escalate).
- Strength: Makes logical connections between theory and example.
- Growth: Push analysis by asking “why?” after each claim. For instance, “Why does public rivalry intensify on social media? How do platform algorithms encourage escalation?”
3. Integration of Analysis & Evidence
- Commentary sometimes sits beside evidence rather than unpacking its full significance.
- Strength: Example of YouTubers concrete and accessible.
- Growth: After each example, add a sentence showing how it specifically reveals how mimetic desire leads not just to conflict, but to identity-shaping, group dynamics, or commercial consequences.
Invitation for Next Steps
- Pinpoint a single trend or rivalry. After stating what happened, add a line beginning “This reveals that…” or “The consequence is…” Analyze motivational roots or social outcomes, not just the actions.
- Try mapping: Desire → Imitation → Rivalry → Escalation → Consequence, filling in an example at each stage.
- Consider: Does anyone resist the cycle? How might this spiral be interrupted?
Ready to add or revise a section? Or want a model of how to deepen commentary?
New Conversation
Hide Full Comment Hide Thread Detail
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Restatement of Lens:
This response zeroes in on your use of evidence and depth of commentary from the AP rubric. The goal: turn your summary into stronger analysis that reveals the mechanics of mimetic desire.
1. Evidence Selection
- You offer timely, relevant cases (influencer culture, YouTuber diss tracks).
- Growth target: Make evidence dynamic—pick a trend that shows transformation from harmless imitation to conflict.
2. Depth of Commentary
- You explain what happens but often stop at the surface.
- Try: For each example, ask, “Why does mimetic desire escalate? What about the platform’s design or audience makes rivalry grow?”
3. Analysis Integration
- Commentary sometimes floats above your evidence.
- Add moves like: “This matters because it shifts personal identity from authentic to performative, or because it turns private envy into public spectacle.”
Invitation for Revision
- Pick one rivalry. Track the sequence: Desire → Imitation → Rivalry → Escalation → Consequence.
- After each descriptive claim, add: “This reveals that…,” pushing to why or what changes as a result.
- Consider: Are there counterexamples—instances where people reject the cycle?
Let me know if you want to workshop a specific paragraph or sentence, or brainstorm evidence and analysis together!
New Conversation
Hide Full Comment
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
New Conversation
Hide Thread Detail
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Rubric Lens: Evidence & Commentary (Argument Essay)
Score for Section: 2/4
Section Analysis
- Strength: Example of influencers and mimetic trends is relevant and specific.
- Growth Target: Commentary mainly describes patterns. Push to analyze why imitation leads to rivalry, and how specific evidence illustrates mimetic escalation—not just that it happens.
Scaffolded Revision Moves
1. Zoom In on Evidence: Which influencer trends (fashion? viral challenges?) best show how imitation sparks rivalry or envy? Cite 1-2 clear, concrete examples.
2. Link Back to Theory: How does mimetic theory explain this behavior? Does desire come from the thing, or from wanting what others want? Explain mechanism, not just outcome.
3. Upgrade Commentary: After evidence, reflect: “Why does this matter? How does this cycle affect users’ identity or relationships?” Use So what/Why is this significant?
Revision Prompts
- What’s a memorable example of imitation turning into rivalry on social media?
- How does this example show that desire is mimetic, not just individual?
- What’s one deeper consequence for users or culture?
Give your revision a try for this paragraph (keep it in your own words)! Let me know if you want more scaffolding or want to draft a new evidence passage together.
New Conversation
Hide Full Comment Hide Thread Detail
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Rubric Lens: Evidence & Commentary—Deepening Analysis in the Social Media Paragraph
Score for Section (Current Draft): 2/4
Section-by-Section Support
1. Evidence Choice
– You reference “influencers, idealized lifestyles, and trends”—these are relevant, but a concrete, named example (a viral challenge, rivalry between specific creators, etc.) would be stronger.
2. Commentary Move
– Commentary currently explains what happens (imitation, envy, competition), but not why this is mimetic or how it shapes users’ perspectives. Explain how desire shifts from things themselves to wanting what others have.
3. Analytical Push
– Add a line that asks, “So what?” For example: What bigger impact does this cycle have—on self-esteem, on culture, on the way people relate to each other online? Use a “This reflects…” or “This matters because…” sentence frame.
Revision Steps for You
- Pick a specific, recent social media trend or rivalry (e.g., a viral challenge, a designer brand, or a conflict between two influencers).
- Show how users copy each other not just for the activity, but for the social validation or status it represents.
- End the paragraph by explaining the broader significance: How might this constant mimetic cycle shape how teens or broader society defines “success” or self-worth?
Want to share a draft of your revision for this paragraph? If you need more scaffolding, I can model some commentary moves for you to adapt in your own words.
New Conversation
Hide Full Comment Hide Thread Detail
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Rubric Lens: Evidence & Commentary—Modeling Analysis Moves
Score for Section (Current Draft): 2/4
Section 1: Concrete Evidence
- Instead of broad references, select a vivid, current social media moment (e.g., the “Stanley Cup” craze or the “Bama Rush” TikTok trend).
- Be precise: Who participated? What did they do or buy? How did it spread?
Section 2: Analytical Mechanism
- Explain: Are users copying the object (the cup, fashion, etc.), or the desire itself?
- Connect directly to mimetic theory: “People want [x] because they see others wanting it, not because of its features.”
Section 3: Significance/So What
- Push beyond explanation: What shifts in values or culture result?
- Use commentary frames like: “This reflects how…” or “This cycle matters because…”
Next Steps:
Draft your revision of the paragraph using these moves. If you’d like, post your new draft and I’ll offer feedback on how well your commentary deepens analysis!
Want more prompts or a scaffold for your revision?
New Conversation
Hide Full Comment
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Lens Applied: Evidence & Commentary – AP Lang Argument Essay Rubric
1. Restate the Feedback Lens
Evidence & commentary should use specific details to support claims and explain how and why the evidence proves your point, rather than just what happened.
2. Evidence Breakdown
- Your examples (influencers, trends, Jake Paul/Ricegum) are relevant and recognizable.
- To move up the rubric, evidence should be more precise and commentary should always analyze the significance—how does “imitation” create real conflict? What makes this more than just copying?
3. Commentary Breakdown
- Much of your commentary summarizes.
- Strong commentary connects each example back to mimetic desire:
• Why do rivalries intensify just because of similar desires?
• How does social media amplify the “contagiousness” of those desires?
• What’s the effect on individuals or the larger social ecosystem?
4. Next Steps
Revise the paragraph focusing on these moves:
- After an example, add: “This matters because…” or “This escalates rivalry because…”
- Link your specific example (like the YouTube diss tracks) back to the general idea of mimetic escalation.
- Ask: What larger patterns or consequences emerge from this cycle?
5. Reflection/Invitation
Would you like to practice adding a “So what?” statement after your evidence? Or brainstorm ways to show how individual online behaviors can impact broader social trends? Let’s anchor your voices in analysis, not just summary.
New Conversation
Hide Full Comment Hide Thread Detail
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Paul Allison is a nationally-known educator and EdTech expert… (more)
Rubric Lens: Evidence & Commentary – AP Lang Argument Essay
1. Restate the Feedback Lens
Strong evidence uses not just examples, but analysis that sets up a clear line of reasoning—connecting specific details to the central concept of mimetic desire and its effects.
2. Evidence Breakdown
You effectively reference influencers, trends, and rival YouTubers. To push this, pinpoint an exact moment or action from one example (e.g., a particular viral post or diss track) and then dissect why that moment multiplies desire or rivalry in the audience.
3. Analysis/Commentary Breakdown
Currently, your commentary often describes the chain of imitation and rivalry, but doesn’t always tell why it unfolds this way or what’s at stake. Sharpen by asking:
- How does mimetic rivalry manipulate self-worth or group belonging online?
- How do platforms encourage this cycle for profit or attention?
4. Next Steps
• Try annotating your example sentence-by-sentence, pausing after each to ask, “What does this reveal about mimetic desire?”
• Add at least one sentence tying a personal example to a bigger cultural impact (e.g., “As countless fans picked sides in the Jake Paul-Ricegum feud, it illustrated how quickly individual desires become social fault lines.”).
5. Reflection/Invitation
Are you ready to recast a piece of commentary to deepen the “why” behind mimetic rivalry online? Or, want help mapping the causal chain from imitation to social conflict? Let’s experiment with one spot you want to revise. Where do you feel your analysis is thinnest?
New Conversation
Hide Full Comment