Comments on: the curse of mirrors and photographs… http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/2009/10/13/the-curse-of-mirrors-and-photographs/ the blog of author Ricardo Pinto Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:32:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ricardo http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/2009/10/13/the-curse-of-mirrors-and-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-554 ricardo Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:52:21 +0000 http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/?p=687#comment-554 People managed (and, manage) perfectly well to express their identity through what they wore without having access to a mirror. My point is that a mirror profoundly changes your relationship with yourself... and that not necessarily in a good way... As for your comments on photographs - I wasn't questioning the use of photographs in all the roles you describe, but only the effect they have on the individual... I'm not so sure that objectifying the self is as valuable as you suggest... It seems to me that my unease arises from this very 'analysis' of your own image. What does this consist of? Attempting to see yourself as others do? Surely, if that is what we're concerned with, wouldn't it be better to try and get this information from others...? Perhaps it is a delusion that your view of yourself (as it appears in a photograph or mirror) can ever bear any close relation to a view of yourself held by other people... People managed (and, manage) perfectly well to express their identity through what they wore without having access to a mirror. My point is that a mirror profoundly changes your relationship with yourself… and that not necessarily in a good way…

As for your comments on photographs – I wasn’t questioning the use of photographs in all the roles you describe, but only the effect they have on the individual… I’m not so sure that objectifying the self is as valuable as you suggest…

It seems to me that my unease arises from this very ‘analysis’ of your own image. What does this consist of? Attempting to see yourself as others do? Surely, if that is what we’re concerned with, wouldn’t it be better to try and get this information from others…? Perhaps it is a delusion that your view of yourself (as it appears in a photograph or mirror) can ever bear any close relation to a view of yourself held by other people…

]]> By: Athena http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/2009/10/13/the-curse-of-mirrors-and-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-551 Athena Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:15:02 +0000 http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/?p=687#comment-551 Mirrors can be done without sometimes. However, they are useful for gauging how the world sees you - superficially. Unless we are hermits, what we wear, how we look, is read as a communication of identity as well. The key might be to recognize that looking in the mirror is also looking at a performance of a certain role - a visual roles (i.e. if you are wanting to look professional, is what you're wearing conveying that). If looking at ourselves in the mirror undermines our centre, then our centre wasn't stable enough to begin with. In the end mirrors only reflect - it's up to us to analyze our own reflection. And photography I would argue from a totally different perspective from that of the periodized relic, although it does serve as that. It is at the end of the day, a means for various ends: artistic, political, visual, and documentary. Like the mirror, I dont' think a photo unto itself can undermine our sense of self if we were not already confident enough. Moreover, objectifying the self is also a good thing sometimes - it keeps us in perspective with our interactions in a complex network. Mirrors can be done without sometimes. However, they are useful for gauging how the world sees you – superficially. Unless we are hermits, what we wear, how we look, is read as a communication of identity as well. The key might be to recognize that looking in the mirror is also looking at a performance of a certain role – a visual roles (i.e. if you are wanting to look professional, is what you’re wearing conveying that). If looking at ourselves in the mirror undermines our centre, then our centre wasn’t stable enough to begin with. In the end mirrors only reflect – it’s up to us to analyze our own reflection.

And photography I would argue from a totally different perspective from that of the periodized relic, although it does serve as that. It is at the end of the day, a means for various ends: artistic, political, visual, and documentary. Like the mirror, I dont’ think a photo unto itself can undermine our sense of self if we were not already confident enough. Moreover, objectifying the self is also a good thing sometimes – it keeps us in perspective with our interactions in a complex network.

]]> By: Rem http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/2009/10/13/the-curse-of-mirrors-and-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-533 Rem Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:23:11 +0000 http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/?p=687#comment-533 That would be a nice epigraph for something... That would be a nice epigraph for something…

]]> By: ricardo http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/2009/10/13/the-curse-of-mirrors-and-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-532 ricardo Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:39:36 +0000 http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/?p=687#comment-532 I feel that the point I made earlier about animals recognizing themselves in mirrors is the critical one. What a mirror reflects (*grin*) is a certain level of 'intelligence' which in itself is power... and though this can be used for good, it can only do so through wisdom - I think that this is what is reflected in myths... So my point, recouched, might be: be wary of mirrors, because unless you are wise enough to control them, they will control you... I feel that the point I made earlier about animals recognizing themselves in mirrors is the critical one. What a mirror reflects (*grin*) is a certain level of ‘intelligence’ which in itself is power… and though this can be used for good, it can only do so through wisdom – I think that this is what is reflected in myths… So my point, recouched, might be: be wary of mirrors, because unless you are wise enough to control them, they will control you…

]]> By: Rem http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/2009/10/13/the-curse-of-mirrors-and-photographs/comment-page-1/#comment-531 Rem Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:21:42 +0000 http://www.ricardopinto.com/blog/?p=687#comment-531 I think it works both ways - in a way the mirror distorts, but can do so for good or for bad. Often, when someone feels bad about their looks, this is because of remarks made by others. The mirror -for me- was being confronted with it, but later it also served to get rid of that thought; a means to get familiar with myself, as 't were. Ultimately, you see in the mirror what you want to see, I think. In mythology mirrors are often used as a means to skewer one's viewpoint, to look at it from another angle. Much villains come to their end because of mirrors - it is their own evil being warped back on themselves (so, basically, evil will punish itself). Indeed, the power of mirrors and reflections is often not benign, but there are also examples where it symbolizes the truth, or knowledge (scrying glass, that Elf in LotR). Powerful, yes... But not necessarily evil. I think it works both ways – in a way the mirror distorts, but can do so for good or for bad. Often, when someone feels bad about their looks, this is because of remarks made by others. The mirror -for me- was being confronted with it, but later it also served to get rid of that thought; a means to get familiar with myself, as ‘t were.

Ultimately, you see in the mirror what you want to see, I think. In mythology mirrors are often used as a means to skewer one’s viewpoint, to look at it from another angle. Much villains come to their end because of mirrors – it is their own evil being warped back on themselves (so, basically, evil will punish itself).

Indeed, the power of mirrors and reflections is often not benign, but there are also examples where it symbolizes the truth, or knowledge (scrying glass, that Elf in LotR). Powerful, yes… But not necessarily evil.

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