a terrifying alter ego

I love old, black and white movies and TV shows. I used to stay up late watching Perry Mason, Andy Griffith, and I Love Lucy as a teenager. I have many of those shows on DVD now and have brainwashed my husband into watching them regularly with me.

Another huge favorite growing up was Alfred Hitchcock. My grandma had a bunch of his movies from the 50s and 60s on VHS in her basement, and at a [too] young age I watched The Birds (terrifying, creepy birds that swarm around and poke people's eyes out and steal their homes), and The Rear Window (original version of Disturbia where Jimmy Stewart sees some unfortunate events through his binoculars and in a weird twist of fate, Perry Mason turns out to be a murderer).

But the classic-est of all the classic Hitchcock films is without a doubt, Psycho.
Norman Bates, a seemingly normal, shy, tender dude who runs a motel, greets a girl who is running from her boss and gets her set up in her room. They talk for a few minutes, during which time it is revealed that he has a controlling mother who he both resents and fiercely wants to please.

Fast forward to a few hours later when the girl is stabbed repeatedly in the shower by a shadowy, gray haired ambiguity.

Turns out, cute little Norman Bates is actually a psycho (get it) who has a split personality disorder that basically turns him into his dead, jealous mother when he starts to feel guilty and unfortunately must murder any woman that the 'Norman part' finds attractive. Creepy right.

Queue my dad, who was totally stoked when I told him that I wanted to do a photographic interpretation of Norman Bates/Mom starring him. He was literally perfect for the task and I am actually pretty freaked out about how well he does that maniacal eye sparkling grimace. It kind of took some convincing for him to release the photos of the application of lipstick but he realized it was all for a noble cause. Thanks dad.

The final image:

the persistence of memory: REMIX

For a recent school assignment, I was prompted to choose a classic, well-known piece of artwork and 're-interpret' it photographically with my own touches.

This trippy Salvador Dali painting The Persistence of Time has always intrigued me with its droopy clocks. I love how they are so out of context and doing something clocks really are never supposed to do.




The saggy clocks probably have some kind of deep meaning in Surrealism, but to me, they just take my mind to other things that make that droopy shape.



For example: Breakfast food. Pancakes and eggs both have that same oblong, saggy feeling when draped over your fork or plate. Can't you just imagine the syrup and egg yolk oozing and dripping? Plus, way more delicious than clocks.


So, here's my re-interpretation of the classic Persistence, breakfast style.




And for comparison's sake: