Review on Mirror, Mirror

          

          The title Mirror, Mirror seemly derives from the words that wicked Queen uses to address her magic mirror. Judging from this caption, audiences can presume a story mainly focuses on Queen instead of Princess Snow White. With modern and creative plots, this film triggers reflections on feminism, body image, and ageism.

I read so many stories about prince saving princess in the end,

And I think it’s time to change the ending.

          In the forest, Snow White tells Prince Alcott “I read so many stories about prince saving princess in the end, and I think it’s time to change the ending.” Besides the ending, this film actually changes lots of stereotypes, especially on those female characters. In conventional fairy tales, almost all princesses patiently wait for someone to rescue them. Yet in Mirror, Mirror, Snow White becomes a leader of the bandit against Queen, and even kills monster. Moreover, her initiative kiss to Prince Alcott breaks both Queen’s spell and the traditional image of a passive female. As for villain Queen, she spares no effort to maintain her throne by transforming her husband King into a monster, and sending it to kill Snow White due to her identity of legitimate heir. Just like Queen, nowadays some women in high position with misandry may discriminate and pose threats to men. They become as resentful as chauvinist whom they hated before. (Similar to the Black Riding Hood discussed in class)

Mirror, Mirror on the wall,

Who’s the fairest of the all?

           Although Snow White is the fairest of the all, Queen still endeavors to improve her appearance. In one scene, Queen orders maids cover her body with bird excrement, meal worms, scorpions, and milk paste. This might be an irony to people who receive plastic surgery, arousing an awareness of body image. Everyone under health condition should be satisfied with their figures. Obsessively pursuing skinny beauty portrayed by media will only lead to destroy. Karen Anne Carpenter in Carpenters band is the most distinguished example. In her twenties, she cared more about her beauty but consumed less, finally suffering from anorexia nervosa. In 1983 she died at age 32 from heart failure caused by complications related to her illness. Carpenter's death led to increased awareness of eating disorder and body image, and made people introspecting what kind of beauty they pursue.

Age before beauty

             In the end, clever Snow White slices the poison apple to Queen in disguise, and says “Age before beauty.” This is a jocular and slightly rude way of encouraging elderly be given precedence over the younger. However, audiences can sense ageism in this line. No matter in stories or in nowadays society, old people suffer discrimination physically and inwardly. In Taiwan, over 90% owners of houses secretly refuse elderly renting their suites. Other ageism cases lie in animations (See how Disney portrays the transformation of wicked Queen) and daily conversations, stereotyping the aged as proud, vulnerable, and unable to consume new information. Yet ageists seemly forget someday they will become old, and live in the discrimination they set in their youths.