Perspectives on Pantomime

It is argued that gestural mimesis involves “as-if” actions that explain the transition from practical and literal actions with the hands to communicative actions of the hands. Concerning the term and the concept “pantomime,” it is suggested that it be primarily reserved for artistic practice and used for this type of communicative action only with great care. Given the fundamental role of mimesis to gestures (hand-gestures as well as full body gestures), it is proposed that gestures in general