Alter Ego | Mixed Media Project

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What do we mean when we say "alter ego"? One definition given by Webster's Dictionary means "a second self or different version of oneself: such as a trusted friend, or the opposite side of a personality" 1

Without delving too deep into the mental aspect of the term, the word "alter ego" was first used in the 19th century. It was invented by psychologists when discussing dissociative identity disorder.

However, the term was adapted in the fictional writing. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is one example of an alter ego. Mr. Hyde is Dr. Jekyll's evil alter ego, the same person but with different personalities.

In the Comics, Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and other superhero characters all adopted an alter ego to disguise themselves while they were off on their missions to save the world from one disaster or another.

In these scenarios, the alto egos were personalities presented as superior to the ordinary individual and could accomplish feats they and no one else could. I've always wondered why keep their identifies hidden.

Another use of the term applied to the arts: music and writing where artists adopted alto egos also called pseudonyms. The artists attempted to expand or reduce their known presence to cover other areas of their personalities through the pen or instrument.

For music, examples can be seen in rapper Eminen's persona as Slim Shady. Others are one of my favorite musicians, David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust; and Brian Warner's Marilyn Manson. That last one mentioned has me scratching my head to understand.

I believe that alter ego means the best version of one's self; whether docile and demure or outgoing and living to the extreme, larger than life and not caring what others thing about it.

What's your opinion about an alter ego when it pertains a better version of yourself?

Source

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For this mixed media project, I utilized a variety of free-sourced images, together with my pure fractals I created in Apophyis 7X, the advanced version of the fractal rendering program. Three different two different females were used to portray an alter ego. Instead of one version of herself, she chose two. I think I'd love to have wings and be able to liftoff.

Below are my steps utilizing Canva, my design program, to blend the different type images. I leave with you my procedures which began with a blank, white canvas. I then switched the background to peach before adding layers of elements in accordance with my upgraded Annual Pro Membership that includes tools to remove backgrounds, resize, filter, duplicate, and reposition items as required.

Perhaps of all the tools, the ability to remove backgrounds thereby creating transparencies of the images is crucial to the blending process.
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I included in my theme the following images.

Female with flashes of light on face ~ Punk Rock female ~ Woman with red wings sitting ~ Abstract mixed shapes red background ~ Black Striped Sun hat - Contributed to the #LIL by @agmoore ~ Red Circle ~ Black Bars Downward - Abstract image created by me in Bomomo ~ Orange grain wood image ~ Shadow Man #2 - Contributed to the #LIL by @bayuismail ~ Pure Fractal titled "Gaussian Blur - Red" - Pure Fractal titled "Beard Red" ~ Pure Fractal titled "X Cross Red" ~ Pure Fractal titled "Curtains - Red

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I share with you my completed project:

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Thanks for taking the time to view my post. I hope you like my mixed media art project.

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Good luck everyone with whatever your endeavors.

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SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/

1 "Alter Ego" definition as listed in Merriam Webster online at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alter%20ego

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English is my native language.
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.

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24 comments
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I e heard people talk about alter ego’s a lot. There was even a time some musicians sang about it and it was all over the internet that was when Ingo to know something like that existed. Well, I would want mine to be something better than myself and not the other way round. Meanwhile the artist design of your alter ego is beautiful and giving off baddie vibes hahah.

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Yes, mostly one thinks of an alter ego as a better version of themselves or someone they admire with different attributes they wish to have. Thanks so much for your kind compliment for my project. I'm pleased you liked how it turned out. A study in contrast. I appreciate your visit and support.

Take care.
!LADY

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For me I've always known alter ego to be the secret side of someone that when they bring it up, it's like they just tapped into godmode. A second epic self of someone.

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OK, that's interesting: godmode. If only it were true in real life to become invincible. A good concept for the gaming arena in reaching the level one wants to attain.

Thanks so much for your visit and thoughts. I appreciate it. Take care.

!LADY

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you're right, actually godmode in gaming arena, very achievable but in real life, no body really is invincible. I only look at people that have been so great close to perfect as being godmode.

Example: Cristiano Ronaldo, Floyd Mayweather, Roman Reigns, Justin Bieber, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, I would add Trump but I don't like the Tariffs 😂

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Now @thehivetuber. You were good up until you included Justin Bieber. I can forgive that.

But what I can't forgive and will put soap in your mouth for (since I'm not in front of you) is the audacity to add trump in any way associated with godmode. That's just pure blasphemy. So I'll just have to Mute you. Lololol.

All kidding aside. be careful whom you worship.

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hahahaha, well I don't exactly admire him, I consider him to have reached a level of too much power. Actually godmode in my definition doesn't include what they do with their ultimate self, just the fact that they've been able to tap into it

I might just put the soap in my mouth myself 😂😂😂😂 never again will I mention those names 😂😂😂

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I love the combo you put together there, a great balance. I don't get Marilyn Manson either, you're not along! Ziggy Stardust was cool though, good old Bowie.

Great job!

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Yes, Bowie was one of a kind. I was hoping for a balance; sort of contrast between subdued and wild. I'm pleased you liked how it turned out. Thanks so much for your visit and lovely compliment. I appreciate it.

Take care and have a good rest of your week.

!LADY

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Alter Ego is a part of you that you are but not confident enough to show to the world. Mostly, it’s a part of you that you are always impressed with and just prefer to keep it as a surprise to others. That’s what I think.

I watched a movie once. It was in movie I understood the concept and I was surprised to know it is regarded as a medical disorder back then but not anymore.

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That's an interesting take on the term. Could it be that the reason one isn't confident to show it is because it goes against the personality everyone is accustomed to and might frown upon thinking it can't be your true self? So you keep it hidden to stave off ridicule or laughter.

I have a personal example, I feel, of that situation. Growing up, I was always the quiet sibling, never expressing my beliefs, opinions, desires, or ambitions. Instead, I wrote down these things. As a teen I began writing poems and short story fiction of events I witnessed in real life. Mostly what I observed adults do. One day, one of my siblings found my writings and couldn't believe they came from me. I stopped writing until adulthood.

Thanks so much for your visit and thoughts on the topic. I appreciate it, your engagement, and support. Take care.

!LADY

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Yeah? I will say it’s a part of us we keep as a backup incase of anything unusual.

It’s my pleasure stopping you.

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That's a good approach. A backup...just in case we need a quick change. Thanks so much @brofi for your visit and input. I appreciate it and your engagement. Take care and have a nice weekend.

!LADY

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Yeah, lol.
You’re most welcome!

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I think your picture is brilliant. It is especially so in conjunction with your exposition.

I was going to say I don't have an alter ego. I really am pretty much myself, except that over the years I've had to suppress expression of that self in order to 'fit in'. Your hat (my hat 😄)brought that suppression to mind. I'm a rather strange bird. Over the years I've shaved off the edges for other people in order to not seem outrageous. When I first started working at a civil service job I wore a purple felt hat to work, not at work, but to work. It caused some comment. That was me, the purple hat. As years went by, I had people try to instruct me on how to dress...no more than three colors. It took some thought.

These days, I don't pay much attention to clothes. They don't matter. But I am aware as I finish looking at your picture, that I've modified the way I present to the world. Is that an alter ego, or just compromising? I guess with clothes, who cares? But it is true that what people see outside is not me :))

You really got me thinking...I say again, a brilliant piece.

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First off, I want to say @agmoore that I forgot to add you as a beneficiary for use of "our hat". I say ours because I use it in many of my projects. I'll rectify it upon payout.

You know, it feel it's both, compromise and alter ego. The suppressed part is your "alter ego". The later, outer appearance is compromise. Reading your comment, I could have sworn I was reading my younger self. Reserved and willing to please, I compromised my inner being. Go along to get alone is what I learned during my early career. But during that time, I gained a sharp tongue and wit to match. It didn't get me far in the political corporate arena. I adapted and placed those suppressed thoughts in poetry and short story fiction. I think that's why I turned to dark and dramatic to give that "shock".

And, like you, what people see on the outside, isn't truly me. If they only knew my thoughts. But I don't dare.

Thanks so much for your wonderful story and engagement. I appreciate your visit and support of our "hat". I'm pleased you liked the project. I was aiming for a contrast of the demure and outrageous (maybe not to some).

Take care and have a nice rest of your week.
!LADY

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I forgot to add you as a beneficiary for use of "our hat"

You know I don't care about that, although I appreciate the courtesy. I love to see my stuff in other blogs. It's a kind of immortality :))) That hat is personal. Has memories attached.

what people see on the outside, isn't truly me

That may be true for all of us, but some I think some need a little bit more subterfuge than others. That may be the case for you and me.

I adapted and placed those suppressed thoughts in poetry and short story fiction

I know I love writing because in writing I get a chance to say what I think clearly and there is not the issue of superficials getting in the way. I can consider what I have said before I push the 'publish' button. In speech I don't get to edit myself.

The joy of Hive, demonstrated here. Two people who live very far away from each other, reaching out and finding a bit of themself in the other.

Lovely weekend ahead, I hope, for both of us. No matter the externals, we will try to make it so. Take care my friend @justclickindiva.

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You're like me @agmoore. I donated to the LMAC Gallery for others to use. I enjoy seeing how others visualize my images and incorporate them into their scenes and stories that I hadn't thought of. It actually inspires me to look at my own images in a different light.

Wow...you're right about not getting second chances the moment your inner self escapes from your lips. Many a season I wished I could. But, as my family would tell anyone who'll listen, "that's not the person we know!".

And another thing. When you say:

"Two people who live very far away from each other, reaching out and finding a bit of themself in the other."

I immediately remembered my comment earlier today on @anggreklestari's post where she recalled stories of her late mom and their bond when in financial circumstances; then not being able to attend kindergarten, but went straight to first grade and being confronted with knowledge we should know by then. I remember feeling like a deer caught in headlights. Just wow, oh wow. I told her how her story was mine forty years removed.

Thanks so much for reminding me that we're not all that different in certain aspects of our lives. Take care and thanks for the engagement.

!LADY

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