Reflections of Narcissism
If studied carefully, the paintings Metamorphosis of Narcissus (Dali) and Swans Reflecting Elephants (Dali) by Salvador Dali, both made in 1937, revealed reflections or double visions. Perhaps the reflection captures the venturous atmosphere of these different kinds of pieces. Dali specifically presents not so much a reflection of power—but feelings of malfunction. Indeed, failure is partly necessary to produce a refreshing image of which one actually exists; Dali substitutes timeworn images with new visions: whether the person exists as a bulb breaking through an egg or a swan balancing atop of an elephant.
The strand of madness and the binaries of power versus powerless and compliance versus revolt reveal Dali’s …show more content…
One has many colors of vivid reds still in the shape of a body, while the other is casting a pale, deteriorating gray stone signifying his sorrow and defeat. However, the eroding hand seems to set a stage for the cracked egg to hatch out the bulb flower, Narcissus. These images could mean whitewashing away self-hate, and learning about upcoming new birth. Similarly, in Swans Reflecting Elephants (Dali), Dali wrestles with images on top of the cliffs. On the right side, perhaps a town or a headstone, with two clouds above it. Conceivably, there is a yielding or observance of his brother’s passing away or the large cloud becoming an angel to keep watch. On the opposite cliff sits the city of Catalonia, Spain, home of Salvador Dali, which reveals fear about having control. Moreover, in the painting there is a red flag tied from the branches, which could represent failure and insufficient about losing power. According to Andrew Dowling, Dali’s painting is “subject to deep-rooted anti-clericalism, with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the Church found itself the target of an unprecedented assault” (594). Dowling’s view seems suitable when compared to the Narcissus painting because Narcissus was an image that was appealing to the people, therefore a target of an unprecedented
If studied carefully, the paintings Metamorphosis of Narcissus (Dali) and Swans Reflecting Elephants (Dali) by Salvador Dali, both made in 1937, revealed reflections or double visions. Perhaps the reflection captures the venturous atmosphere of these different kinds of pieces. Dali specifically presents not so much a reflection of power—but feelings of malfunction. Indeed, failure is partly necessary to produce a refreshing image of which one actually exists; Dali substitutes timeworn images with new visions: whether the person exists as a bulb breaking through an egg or a swan balancing atop of an elephant.
The strand of madness and the binaries of power versus powerless and compliance versus revolt reveal Dali’s …show more content…
One has many colors of vivid reds still in the shape of a body, while the other is casting a pale, deteriorating gray stone signifying his sorrow and defeat. However, the eroding hand seems to set a stage for the cracked egg to hatch out the bulb flower, Narcissus. These images could mean whitewashing away self-hate, and learning about upcoming new birth. Similarly, in Swans Reflecting Elephants (Dali), Dali wrestles with images on top of the cliffs. On the right side, perhaps a town or a headstone, with two clouds above it. Conceivably, there is a yielding or observance of his brother’s passing away or the large cloud becoming an angel to keep watch. On the opposite cliff sits the city of Catalonia, Spain, home of Salvador Dali, which reveals fear about having control. Moreover, in the painting there is a red flag tied from the branches, which could represent failure and insufficient about losing power. According to Andrew Dowling, Dali’s painting is “subject to deep-rooted anti-clericalism, with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the Church found itself the target of an unprecedented assault” (594). Dowling’s view seems suitable when compared to the Narcissus painting because Narcissus was an image that was appealing to the people, therefore a target of an unprecedented