The mini mighty mask 👧🏻👺
Alter Egos: where freedom meets fury
Would you hide your dangerous ideas behind a 6-year-old girl?
When dictatorships plagued Latin America, Quino kept publishing Mafalda books with the meaning of democracy.
It wasn’t Quino telling Videla to fuck off.
It was Mafalda telling Videla to fuck off.
The power of an alter ego is colossal. Take MF DOOM, a rapper who rhymed as a villain when every other MC wanted to be the hero.
He created a character and spun tales from the perspective of a supervillain. Then, producing another alter ego, King Geedorah, he offered the viewpoint of an alien visiting Earth.
Now picture King Geedorah observing Mafalda lecturing a dictator about democracy and a rapper roasting the music industry behind a metal mask. He'd probably think to himself:
"Hmm, maybe pissing off humans wasn't such a great idea after all."
An alias provides freedom at the expense of celebrity status. For the Jake Pauls of the world, that's unthinkable. For the Banksys, it's a necessity.
If I had to choose an alter ego, it'd be a hideous and reclusive writing goblin named Barfaduk. Setting the bar so low that people would be pleasantly surprised when they meet me in person.
"Oh, you're actually quite nice, sir. Drinks on me!"
There's this notion that the best art makes you uncomfortable to share. The kind that's a little too close to the bone. We attach value to others' vulnerable bits of work because they're relatable.
But what happens when you put on a mask or channel your ideas through a 6-year-old girl? Does it dilute authenticity? Is it an armor that will alienate people?
Perhaps those are questions for Barfaduk and King Geedorah— students of the human race.
See you on the next one! 🫶
Matías.
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