Here it is, a piece I have wanted to write for years, and finally got around to it.
For Oscilloscope: Mirror, Mirror: When Movie Characters Look Back at Themselves
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Didn’t Hitler spend a lot of time in the mirror practicing gestures and facial expressions, having them photographed by his personal photographer Hoffman? He would study the photographs deeply, determining which poses and expressions would best move the audiences to follow his nightmare? The Peter Lorre image flashed me to Hitler. Mirror, mirror!
Gina – wow!! I had not heard this! (shivers)
If you ever feel the need to read more about Hitler, I recommend the Joachim Fest biography (one massive volume, not like the two of Kershaw). Fest grew up in Germany during the interwar years and has published his own memoir of the time, Not I. Amazing to read how Hitler worked on his performance/persona, taking acting lessons and elocution lessons, choosing clothing and cars specifically to suit the image, discarding poses and photos that could have diminished his image, made him look funny, human, approachable. He worked it. I dont know as much about Stalin, but I suspect that he may have worked on his image too. Monoliths of evil, both of them (imo).
I’ve read the Kershaw – not the Fest – thanks for the tip, it sounds fascinating. I have so many Hitler books my shelves look slightly insane, but it is such an interesting subject.
Stalin is more difficult since he so energetically erased traces of himself as he went – and he lived a long life, which gave him more time for all that erasure. Particularly of his childhood/seminary years. It’s still difficult to get a line on the guy – Robert Conquest wrote that the only way to see Stalin, or understand him, is to look at the results. The famine in the Ukraine, the displacement of millions, the gulag – that’s Stalin. But even there, you never see his “signature” on anything. He was very very cunning – whereas Hitler left behind tons of evidence of himself. Maybe more of an egomaniac – or more of an overt one – wanted to be “understood” – whereas Stalin couldn’t have cared less about that. Stalin’s such an enigma.
“Monoliths of evil” – I really like that phrase!
I huge difference between Hitler and Stalin, however, was that Stalin, particularly as a young man, was beautiful with a naturally commanding presence. Whereas Hitler’s mirror gazing was born of his insecurity I imagine that when Stalin sought out his own reflection it was more along the lines of Tony Manero boldly admiring what he sees as he prepares to go out and conquer his world…
Stalin was short though – he wore lifts in his shoes – and nobody was supposed to ever mention it or even acknowledge it. He also had a malformed hand, and a stiff arm from an old injury – he was very insecure about it. He did not “rule” from “charisma” – like Hitler did (even though looking at Hitler’s speeches now, it’s hard to see charisma at all) – he was a silent presence. His face was everywhere, but he – as a personality – was a blank, and this was by design (it’s probably why he died of old age, basically, as opposed to the usual fate of dictators). Lenin described him as a “grey blur” – which is chilling, but pretty much how he operated. By total stealth. Leaving almost no fingerprints behind on anything.
Hitler and Stalin aside, what a great piece. Now I understand “the project” referenced in your viewing diary. Not referenced here, but the implied study of Dean/Ackles mirror moments is a delicious story in itself!
I want to say that I love the way you give illustrations enough to what the appetite, but not so much as to over ‘splain. I find myself hunting down Fraggonard painting images, YouTube videos of Tony Manero, and Singer Sargent portraits (used on the cover of Dorian Grey). I ‘waste’ a great deal of time down some amazing rabbit holes…
*whet – Autocorrect, words have meaning!
would be interested to hear anyone else’s thoughts on Dean/Sam mirrors.
Seriously, I have been writing this piece in my head for 10 years – I should find the initial post. I think I included a “rough draft” of it in one of my SPN re-caps. Finally the editor at Oscilloscope was like “Hey wanna write something?” and I finally pitched it. The best thing is: after all these damn years, when I finally wrote the mirror piece? I got PAID for it. This is what 10 years can do.
Here’s the re-cap where I get into “man in the mirror”! http://www.sheilaomalley.com/?p=85922
//I got PAID for it.//
As well you should!
I have nothing else of value to really add here, except to reiterate how much I love reading your work.
Thank you so much Natalie!
Melanie –
Thanks for reading it!
// Not referenced here, but the implied study of Dean/Ackles mirror moments is a delicious story in itself! //
I know, right?? If I ever have a spare moment, I should break them all down. There are so many good ones!! Sam, not as much – and I have a whole theory about that too. When Sam has looked in the mirror – it’s usually because some evil entity is inside him – and this is how it’s communicating – I’m thinking of that great final scene in Bloody Mary – and then when Lucifer allowed “Sam” to come through in the mirror. There are maybe more – it’s definitely worth digging into it further. But with DEAN – it’s all about his fluidity of persona – that floating thing he has in his eyes – like he can’t find himself – or his SELF. Where is it?? The scene in “The End” and the other scene in “Dream a Little Dream” could also be considered mirror scenes.
Not surprising that there have been almost zero mirror scenes ever since Dabb took over. Dabb doesn’t go deep enough.
What about Regarding Dean? He is literally losing himself as he looks in the mirror. Other than that instance, I believe you are right. It’s a shame.
Yes, the one example just proves my point. The show isn’t interested in their interior worlds anymore. It’s such a terrible loss. I kind of can’t believe I’m still watching, considering.
// I find myself hunting down Fraggonard painting images, YouTube videos of Tony Manero, and Singer Sargent portraits //
Ha!! I love this! The best part about writing is research – and it’s really fun to share this stuff!
//The best thing is: after all these damn years, when I finally wrote the mirror piece? I got PAID for it.//
This is exactly a life lesson I have tried to share with my children. To live you need to get paid, but if you can eventually get paid to do something you love or are passionate about then all the struggles and “drudgery” become worth it!
Good advice. and you must KEEP GOING. you just can’t get discouraged. It’s good practice, too – it toughens you up, and that kind of toughness has served me well.