Monday 7 December 2009

Mirrors

So, after the in depth research about death and the uncanny, i remembered Phil in the last lecture saying about the breaking of a mirror and people's beliefs in this linking with the dead. Mirrors and shadows are uncanny objects- the reflections you see are familiar they're you- what could be more familiar? But there's always that doubt of whether it's the real you and whether if you look in one in the dark or glance away for a second, will the reflection change?



(sorry the image isnt great :S)

popular beliefs- mirrors


  • The breaking of a mirror is said to mean 7 years bad luck and some people associate it also with the death in the family within the following year. The Ancient Romans believed that life renewed itself every 7 years; If the person looking in the mirror was ill of health, their image would break the mirror and the run of bad luck would continue for 7 years, at the end of which, their life owuld be renewed, ending the curse.

  • poeple also believed that the reflection of themselves in the mirror was their soul or spirit. In Ancient times, it was said that mirrors had magical powers, including the power to fortell the future and were considered to be the devices of the gods. Therefore, the breaking of a mirror would end its powers and result in untold miseries and misfortunes upon the one whose reflectio it last held. Though there were plenty of totally crazy 'remedies' that were thought to break the curse.

Some other mirror superstitions are:


-Never see your face in a mirror by candlelight, it is unlucky to do so.
- If you stare into a mirror by candlelight you might see the spirit of a loved one who has passed away.
- Always cover a mirror during a thunderstorm as it is unlucky to see reflected lightning.
- It is considered a bad omen to receive a mirror as a present.
- If a mirror in the house falls and breaks on its own, someone in the house will die soon.
- Many families cover a mirror if someone dies, as they believe that the mirror will capture the dead person’s soul, thus preventing its entry into heaven. It is believed that the Devil invented mirrors for this purpose.
- And if someone sees their reflection in a room where someone has recently died, they will die soon too.
- It is said that if your soul wanders during the night, a mirror can capture it. Thus some people avoid having mirrors in the bedroom or cover them before sleeping.
- A bride should never see herself in a mirror while fully dressed just before the wedding.
- Also, as seen in movies, vampires have no reflection. This is because it is said that when you see your image, you are in fact seeing your soul and vampires don’t have one.


These factors are ones that I will think about when creating my ideas for the tableaux vivants as they give atmospheric images in your mind, the candlelight one in particular would create an uncanny envrionment. Ive thought about trying out with scenes as if I'm the spirit/soul behind the broken mirror, distorting the room, though i will create some thumbnails to see if this will work.

5 comments:

  1. Evening Jade,

    Check out the trailer below for more creepy mirror action - it's a GREAT film too!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lFxWo_C2

    also - from Dead of Night...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5nRMzuz79U&feature=related

    ReplyDelete
  2. i will do G, no worries, blogger's just a pain at times so have to do picc separately :) and thanks :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. pictures are good - but I like reading! So - how's things coming along, Jade - reassure me that you're 'on it' and everything is coming along nicely...

    ReplyDelete
  4. You do realise you can upload more than one image at a time don't you Jade? Where it says brouse look above slightly and it says 'add another inmage' you can add about five at once. BTW love the image of the woman in the mirror and the superstitions that surround refelections excellent.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cool. Mirrors are creepy things. We have too many in our house in my oppinion, but why should a bride not see herself in the mirror before her wedding?

    ReplyDelete