To make this quick journey, we must first understand what we are talking about. Almost monthly I ask myself the same question and then always fail on the followup research. What exactly is a mirror (and no need to get smart, I mean how does it work)? It is not a material that naturally occurs. There are no Great Mirrored Plains in Togo (we can wish, though). No Mirror Canyon. No Mirror Lake (oh, wait, yes there is, but that's different). So what are mirrors and how do we make them? It is really an unbelievable concept if you step think about it. Man has created a substance which can create a true reflection of himself. Wow. Good job early generational people (and, no, I'm not counting you cheaters who put water in a bowl to create a reflection, I'm talking real, manufactured mirrors). This is no history or science lesson, so as to not bore anyone a mirror is simply glass coated in reflective substance which sends light, and more importantly the image, back at its viewer (for much, much more, enjoy).
When you think of mirrors, you automatically think of the general household mirror. Take this away and try to live your life. We have become entirely trained in Western culture to be able to access a mirror that without one, we freak out. Try it for one morning and then consciously notice how you lack your normal self confidence. By not being able to self correct any imperfections (however minor they may be) you have effectively exposed your underdeveloped selves to society. And we know how uncomfortable this can be. You feel the swath of hair laying out of position. You know there must be something stuck in your teeth. Did you get all the shaving cream off your face? What is that guy looking at, is it you? Paranoia settles in. You will almost immediately try and find a reflection in the windows of a store or the freshly buffed exterior of the car in your work parking lot. Running into someone you know is even worse. Sorry, I can't talk, you might say as you akwardly avoid eye contact and brush them off in your rush to get to a safe zone.
I am sure there must be research available on the availability of mirrors and corresponding actions regarding self opinion. If anyone knows of the definitive work, please let me know. As just an amateur (in the sense of everything; professional seeker of knowledge, maybe, but this looks weird on a business card) I personally look at the mirror as a tool to glorifying "self". For sure, the mirror, in a more advanced analysis, has more incredible uses than being able to recreate what your face looks like. I am choosing only to focus on the mirror as a grooming tool and with this framing the mirror becomes very addictive and dangerous.
Go out there and try this little experiment. Take down the mirrors in your house/apartment. Try for only a few hours not to glance at yourself. Then go outside, run an errand or two, see how it feels. You might find the results to be stranger than you imagine.
And with that, I must hurry away, I have a meeting in a few minutes and I can just tell that my hair is out of order. Save me, oh noble Mirror.
GRM for RAL
Additionally:
Interesting study summary on body image from 1997. Fox, Katy. Mirror, mirror: A summary of research findings on body image. Social Issues Research Center.
After writing this post found two other blog posts: The World According to the Fritz & Passing Thought seems it is a popular topic with with strong faith backgrounds. Interesting to note as I do not fall in this category.
