The Repetitive & Repetitious

Film theorist Bruce Kawin distinguishes between “repetitious” and repetitive.” “Repetitious,” says Kawin, occurs “when a word, percept, or experience is repeated with less impact at each recurrence; repeated to no particular end, out of a lack of intention or sloppiness of thought.” On the other hand, “repetitive happens when a word, precept or experience is repeated with equal or greater force at each occurrence.”

The repetitive is characterized by intention, self-awareness. Repetition counts on the listener to recognize the repetitiveness and to rejoice in that recognition.…