Meshes of the Afternoon #3

Meshes of the Afternoon is a perfect application of Jacques Lacan’s

mirror stage. At the end of the movie, Deren uses a knife to stab 

the man, but the mirror breaks. Therefore, we can know that the

man is Deren’s reflection in the mirror. The woman cannot catch up

with the mirror-faced man, which means she cannot see herself in the

mirror. Why Deren can’t catch up with the mirror-faced man? I believe

that Deren wants to show that under the patriarchal society, women

cannot acquire subjectivity, which like at first babies can’t identify

themselves when they are not placed in front of a mirror. I believe

that breaking the mirror has two layers of meaning. First, the

woman wants to struggle against a patriarchal society. Second, she

breaks the mirror and dies. I think Deren wants to convey that it is

futile to resist.

Author’s Note:

Hmmm… i’m not sure, just a try