Yinglun Zhang
Mirror
Prompt: Create a short video as Visual Essay, using a combination of elements which may include text, image, sound, documentary elements, and/or performance.
This video is inspired by Sylvia Plath’s Mirror, a poem that expresses her fear and anxiety. I find this poem resonating with my personal struggle. Even though the original texts conveys the woman fearing of aging, we both could not accept ourselves.
Art is expression. When I was working on this project, I was really struggling with my personal identity. Being controlled by the side-influence from social media and peers, I lost myself. I didn’t know who I am and who I should be. So the very initial intention was to express myself as abreaction.
I attempt to show my helplessness when I look into the mirror doubting and not accepting myself. For example, when I try to make myself look better by putting on makeup, I still don’t feel any better. Instead, I get mad and lose patience. So I go crazy with the lipstick.
Several weeks before this project was assigned, I watched this movie called Daisies. The part where the characters make abrupt squeaking noise as they move their limbs seems very creepy. It reminds me of being a puppet having no control of myself. I was inspired by the use of the sound.