Mirror Mirror.

Lacan’s ideas on the mirror phase have begun to interest me. His two fold value of this phenomenon states its historical importance to body image as well as its importance to our psychoanalytical development.

I think Jacques has underestimated the importance of the mirror phase.

He places importance on the development of a relationship between the Ego and body. If one was to extrapolate the idea that we discover when we look at ourselves in the mirror: the conflict between the body we see and the body we have, and instead the effect we have, and the control over how we are perceived – it’s effect on our social interaction is unmeasurable.

A theorized second Mirror Phase, one that occurs later in life once intellect has reached a sufficient level is something I think is happening more and more often. Recently, a friend of mine was propelled through the vortex of her second Mirror Phase: ridiculous by deportment, intellectual with modesty, and a homosexual as a side note – imagine someone who is pretty lol.

She came to me upset, with the theory that her outward appearance didn’t match her pleasant demeanour and strong moral mentality. When asked what caused her mindbrouhaha, she spoke of comments alluding to her dress and manner, and how they implied her friends were lesbians also:  which caused her ‘friend’s’ discomfort.

“Kinda like when Frankenstein sees himself as a monster for the first time.”

With her second Mirror Phase thrust upon her: her situation offered me a perfect example of my theory. When faced with what others really think, and the consequential effects on those around you, our image can truly be judged.

As with my aforementioned example, my friend decided to maintain her level of ridiculousness. When asked as to why, she claimed the honesty in one ‘body’ offers identification of her ‘Ego,’ regardless of judgement by others, as long as she is being true to her own perception of herself, only then can she be truly objective in her judgement of her decisions.

So I suppose that one must decided whether to give into the farce of the Ego/body connection, and live within the constraints of our outward appearance – and it’s consequential effect, or realise the absurdity of image.

Personally, the latter is for me: because quite frankly cause and effect can get fucked.

x Victoria de la Croix