In the animated movie Shrek, one of the most memorable characters is the Magic Mirror. This talking mirror plays a minor role in the overall plot, but its haunting voice leaves a lasting impact on viewers. The mirror serves as a tool for the main antagonist, Lord Farquaad, to choose his bride by asking it who the fairest of them all is. The Magic Mirror's voice is deep, mysterious, and slightly eerie. **Its voice is haunting, and it adds an extra layer of darkness to the character of Lord Farquaad**. This voice is achieved through the use of voice modulation and effects, giving it an otherworldly quality.
This voice is achieved through the use of voice modulation and effects, giving it an otherworldly quality. The mirror's voice is so distinct that it has become iconic and is often imitated and recognized by fans. **The haunting voice of the Magic Mirror is crucial in creating an atmosphere of unease and tension**.
The Curse of False Expertise
A growing body of research reveals details of the “Curse of Expertise” in which it is shown that as an individual’s level of expertise increases, their ability to communicate their knowledge to a novice declines. The extent to which an expert assumes information to be common knowledge can be so large that they fail to see the gaps which exist in the understanding of a novice. The take-away is that the expert needs to consciously think like a novice and be deliberate in seeking an understanding of where the novice’s knowledge of a subject strikes its limit.
Physicist and author, Richard Feynman could be considered a master at overcoming the curse of expertise. He understood that the best indication of a truly deep understanding of a concept was revealed in one’s capacity to describe it to a child. His advice: "When we speak without jargon, it frees us from hiding behind knowledge we don’t have. Big words and fluffy “business speak” cripples us from getting to the point and passing knowledge to others.” Feynman understood that his expertise would prove to be a barrier to his students learning and that as such he would need to take actions to ensure his knowledge was accessible; something all educators should do.
But what if our expertise is imagined or false. What if what we think is so, just ain't so. This might be more common than we care to admit, and it is worth considering the source of this difficulty and its implications.
Not just what we were taught but also the way that we were taught things in school shapes our beliefs about what matters, and these messages can be hard to undo. Consider the average mathematics class that the typical teacher experienced when they were forming an understanding of what mathematics is all about. The emphasis was almost certainly on accurate calculations and application of prescribed methods which would result in the correct solution. Today that teacher is likely to believe that mathematics demands this sort of knowledge and that an expert mathematician is one who can quickly and accurately perform calculations. The trouble is this is false expertise as revealed by comparing these beliefs with the way that maths is described by a modern syllabus; "Mathematics is a reasoning and creative activity employing abstraction and generalisation to identify, describe and apply patterns and relationships….The study of mathematics provides opportunities for students to appreciate the elegance and power of mathematical reasoning and to apply mathematical understanding creatively and efficiently.” (NESA, 2017) In place of speedy and accurate calculation the syllabus speaks of “enjoyment”, active participation” and “challenging and engaging experiences”.
The same is undoubtedly true of other disciplines. If you spent time in a typical Science classroom you would likely believe that the work of a scientist revolves around correctly filling in a science lab report. The emphasis of the learning is on accurately filling in the template and a knowledgeable scientist would know the template by heart. In History the lessons seemed to revolve around remembering a list of dates, names and places and expertise could be measured by the number of facts which one might recall on demand. Somehow this does not fit with the rationale for the study of History according to the syllabus: "History is a disciplined process of inquiry into the past that helps to explain how people, events and forces from the past have shaped our world.” And if Geography is a “rich and complex discipline" that “build(s) a holistic understanding” and "is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments”, how does it get reduced to knowing where you find Muscat on a map. False Expertise.
The implication of this unquestioned false expertise is that it becomes self-repeating. We believe that our knowledge base and underlying beliefs about the disciplines we teach are sound. Our teaching methods are founded upon this knowledge and these beliefs and so we present our students with a view of learning within these disciplines which is aligned with them. We perpetuate false expertise.
We must unlearn and relearn what we know and in doing so question the beliefs upon which our expertise is constructed. We need to examine closely the rationales for what we teach and understand deeply the concepts our students are needing to learn. We need to ask always, What will students actually do with the skills and knowledge they are acquiring and what underpins my belief that this learning will matter in the lives they are likely to live.
The implication of this unquestioned false expertise is that it becomes self-repeating. We believe that our knowledge base and underlying beliefs about the disciplines we teach are sound. Our teaching methods are founded upon this knowledge and these beliefs and so we present our students with a view of learning within these disciplines which is aligned with them. We perpetuate false expertise.
It sets the tone for Lord Farquaad's character and emphasizes his obsession with appearance and status. The magic mirror acts as a symbol of vanity and superficiality, as Lord Farquaad's sole interest is in finding the most beautiful bride, rather than true love or compatibility. Despite its minor role, the Magic Mirror's haunting voice adds depth and complexity to Shrek's overall narrative. It serves as a reminder that beauty and appearances can be deceptive, and urges viewers to look beyond what is on the surface. **The voice of the Magic Mirror is a part of what makes Shrek unique and memorable, leaving a lasting impression on audiences**..
Reviews for "The Haunting Melody of the Magic Mirror in Shrek: A Musical Analysis"
1. Ashley - 2 stars
I didn't find the voice of the magic mirror in Shrek to be haunting at all. In fact, it was rather annoying. The voice lacked depth and was more irritating than eerie. It didn't have the chilling effect that I was hoping for, considering the character is supposed to be a mystical creature. I was disappointed with the portrayal and felt like it was a missed opportunity to create a truly haunting voice for the mirror.
2. Jason - 3 stars
While the voice of the magic mirror in Shrek was adequate, I didn't find it particularly memorable or captivating. It lacked the sinister undertones that you would expect from a character like the magic mirror. The voice didn't have the ability to send shivers down my spine or create the eerie ambiance that the character's role demanded. It fell short of my expectations and left me wanting more depth and complexity.
3. Samantha - 2 stars
The haunting voice of the magic mirror in Shrek was a major letdown. It failed to create the creepy atmosphere that was essential to the character. The voice lacked the necessary intensity and didn't give me the feeling that the mirror possessed any supernatural powers. It sounded more like a regular voice with a slight echo, rather than a haunting entity. Overall, I was disappointed with the portrayal and found it underwhelming.