Mirror Mirror on the Wall: A TikTok Analysis
In merely 10 seconds, the given clip, just one of the many intriguing short videos that contribute to the masses on the popular platform “TikTok”, brings on a plethora of questions- one of them being, who is that girl I see staring straight back at me?
The creative director and producer of this TikTok, Heath Vaughn, is also the protagonist of this short but impactful film, and can first be seen clad in nothing but the stereotypical uniform of the basic man- a simple grey t-shirt, accessorized only by the black frames of his spectacles. With arms crossed protectively over his chest in a masculine fashion, he appears to be a man of guarded bearing- revealing nothing about himself apart from what he chooses to show. Adding to his reserved nature is the neutral colour palette, seemingly chosen to portray him as a commoner, not unique or noticeable in any way- however, as the video progresses, viewers realize that he is anything but.
Carefully timed with the lyrics, we soon see the subject hastily remove the oppressive garments that hide his true form. Chin tilted high and shoulders back in helpless gaze, he reveals from underneath his plain attire- colour. Adorned in blue, one could connect his reflected self to the sky, representing the freedom and expanse of the personality he longs to explore, but cannot.
With his left breast tastefully exposed, left out for all to see, the protagonist brings out the confidence that he carries in his feminine side; unguarded and accepting of the vulnerability that comes with partial nudity- a contrast to his previously crossed arms, that just a few seconds ago, hid that same breast so fearfully. Yet, despite this confidence, he still hides behind a facade.
The fact that the protagonist’s true self appears only in the mirror also stands as a symbol for how his own methods of self-expression are confined to the boundaries of his reflection- the part of himself he chooses to see, but the outside world cannot. Despite the expanse of his individuality, he is trapped as just a face among many- making him a stranger to his own being, perfectly aligning with the lyrics’ message of being unable to identify oneself.
As for the brief nature of the video, one can only conclude that it in itself is a reflection of the distracted, cluttered mindsets of today’s youth, riddled with thoughts that they switch between just as the protagonist does from shirt to tank- collected to chaotic.
In conclusion, Vaughn’s piece tells the story of an individual with the inability to connect to their identity, a common occurrence in a world that is seemingly susceptible to every form of insecurity and dysphoria- thus perfectly representing the unstable nature of today’s society through just one actor, two outfits and a couple of seconds.
