If we watch for them, many things occur in our lives and in popular culture that offer an chance for discovery and self-reflection. The popularity of Donald Trump, I believe is one of these.
He is, in a way, like one of those weird carnival mirrors. You look into it, but the image that is reflected back is distorted in a comical, perhaps grotesque way. The proportions are all wrong – the face too fat, the neck to long for a stubby body, or the other way around.
The carnival mirror has been used as a vehicle in movies and television for the dramatic effect that viewing the distorted image has on the character staring at it. The character knows it's distorted, but it reveals something disturbing to them about themselves that ends up being pivotal to the plot.
The comforting thing about a real-life carnival mirror, is that when you walk away from it, you have the assurance that it was indeed a distortion – that it’s not really you. What decent people, who happen to be Republican, have to face with Donald Trump is that as grotesque, distorted, and mean-spirited as is the caricature represented by his views and his behavior, a decisive component of their party's coalition—a coalition they absolutely need to hold together in order to win—looks at this hideous image … and likes what they see.
He is, in a way, like one of those weird carnival mirrors. You look into it, but the image that is reflected back is distorted in a comical, perhaps grotesque way. The proportions are all wrong – the face too fat, the neck to long for a stubby body, or the other way around.
The carnival mirror has been used as a vehicle in movies and television for the dramatic effect that viewing the distorted image has on the character staring at it. The character knows it's distorted, but it reveals something disturbing to them about themselves that ends up being pivotal to the plot.
The comforting thing about a real-life carnival mirror, is that when you walk away from it, you have the assurance that it was indeed a distortion – that it’s not really you. What decent people, who happen to be Republican, have to face with Donald Trump is that as grotesque, distorted, and mean-spirited as is the caricature represented by his views and his behavior, a decisive component of their party's coalition—a coalition they absolutely need to hold together in order to win—looks at this hideous image … and likes what they see.
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