Alter ego

For other uses, see Alter ego (disambiguation).

"Double life" redirects here. For other uses of Double Life, see Double Life (disambiguation).

An alter ego (Latin, "the other I") is a second self, which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. A person who has an alter ego is said to lead a double life. The term appeared in common usage in the early 19th century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists. Cicero was the first to coin the term as part of his philosophical construct in 1st century Rome, but he described it as "a second self, a trusted friend".

A distinct meaning of alter ego can be found in literary analysis, wherein it describes characters in different works who are psychologically similar, or a fictional character whose behavior, speech or thoughts intentionally represent those of the author. It's also used to design the best friend of another character in a story. Similarly, the term alter ego may be applied to the role or persona taken on by an actor or by other types of performers.

The existence of "another self" was first recognized in the 1730s. Anton Mesmer used hypnosis to separate the alter ego. These experiments showed a behavior pattern that was distinct from the personality of the individual when he was in the waking state compared to when he was under hypnosis. Another character had developed in the altered state of consciousness but in the same body.

Alter ego is also used to refer to the different behaviors any person may display in certain situations. Related concepts include avatar, doppelgänger, impersonator, and split personality.

Performing arts usage

Alter egos are used by numerous performing artists who use stage or screen personae both to entertain audiences and to explore new identities for themselves. An early example of a musical group to make use of alter egos was The Beatles, who recorded and performed as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in order "to alter our egos, free ourselves and have a lot of fun". Alter egos would later be used for entertainment value by glam-associated artists such as David Bowie (as Ziggy Stardust and The Thin White Duke) and KISS, and to exploit horror themes by shock rockers Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson. Often, these artists are known almost exclusively by their alter egos; for example, Brian Warner (Marilyn Manson) is seldom seen in public without his horror makeup. In 2004, Jay Sean made innovative use of an alter ego in Me Against Myself, where his two personae, one an R&B singer and the other a rapper, clash in a rap battle.

In contemporary hip hop, artists such as, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Traphik, B.o.B, Kool Keith, The Notorious B.I.G., Tech N9ne and T.I., Kid Cudi have used the alter egos Jay-Hova, Tune-Chi Lee, Timothy de la Ghetto, Bobby Ray, Dr. Octagon. Roman Zolanski, Tecca Nina T.I.P., and Mr. Rager, respectively, to explore divisions in their personalities. T.I.'s album T.I. vs T.I.P. even directly appropriates a Jekyll and Hyde plot. More subtle uses of alter egos can be seen in artists who redefine their image for an album, such as Christina Aguilera as Xtina and the members of My Chemical Romance as members of an outlaw gang known as the Fabulous Killjoys, and artists who describe their stage personalities as different from their private ones, such as Beyoncé Knowles' identity as Sasha Fierce, Katy Perry's identity as Kathy Beth Terry in music video "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)", and also Tyler, The Creator uses many alter egos such as Wolf Haley, Young Nigga, Ace Creator, Thurnis Haley, Tyler, The Creature, Ty Dollaz, T-Dollaz, Creator Ace, Tron Cat, Dr. T.C., Tyler Haley. He used many more in his show loiter squad such as Jefferson, Maurice, Captain Stanley, etc.

Mariah Carey have used the alter ego Mimi, Brithey Spears (Mona Lisa), Madonna (Esther)

Artist with multiple alter egos includes Eminem (Slim Shady, Evil), Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta have two alter egos, her female alter ego Lady Gaga and her male alter ego Jo Calderone, Onika Tanya Maraj with Nicki Minaj and Roman Zolanski.

Some of the most notable alter egos 2009:

1. Sacha Baron Cohen / Brüno
2. Stephen Colbert / Stephen Colbert
3. Andy Kaufman / Tony Clifton
4. The Beatles / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
5. David Bowie / Ziggy Stardust
6. Bono / MacPhisto
7. Eminem / Slim Shady
8. Miley Cyrus / Hannah Montana
9. Garth Brooks / Chris Gaines
10. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog / Robert Smigel

Comic performers also make use of alter egos as a part of their routines. The Marx Brothers performed throughout their careers as their vaudeville characters. For example, Julius Marx would play (and be credited as) Groucho, whether he was cast a professor (as in Horse Feathers), a veterinarian (A Day at the Races), or a president (Duck Soup). Standup comedians such as Don Rickles (Mr. Warmth) and Jackie Mason (Hartounian) can be said to have developed their shtick into distinct alter egos. Performer Andy Kaufman was chiefly known to fans through several characters, including the Foreign Man (later Latka Gravas), Tony Clifton, and Kaufman's impersonation of Elvis Presley. The biopic Man on the Moon depicts Kaufman as a man whose true identity was difficult to isolate, even by his close friends, because of the prevalence of these alter egos. Actor Sacha Baron Cohen, who has often been compared to Kaufman, is similarly best known as the characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno and Admiral General Aladeen.

Professional wrestlers, more often than not, perform under ring names depicting alter egos, such as Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan), Mark Calaway (The Undertaker), Paul Levesque (Triple H), Mike Mizanin (The Miz) and Phillip Brooks (CM Punk).

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Nyjer Morgan occasionally goes by the alter ego "Tony Plush", although not usually.

Singer/songerwriter Beyoncé used an alter ego named Sasha Fierce when she wrote her album I Am...Sasha Fierce. Beyoncé stated that she wanted to explore her romantic side and her aggressive side.

Lead vocalist of the band Korn Jonathon Davis has also recently created his own alter ego for his DJ/dubstep career naming himself JDevil. Whilst he performs as JDevil, Davis wears black contact lenses and a black mouth piece in order to differentiate himself from his normal appearance.

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Main article: Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

The title characters in Robert Louis Stevenson's thriller Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde represent an exploration of the concept that good and evil exist within one person, constantly at war. Edward Hyde literally represents the doctor's other self, a psychopath who is unrestrained by the conventions of civilized society, and who shares a body with the doctor. The names "Jekyll and Hyde" have since become synonymous with a split personality or an alter ego that becomes capable of overpowering the original self.

Comic book usage

File:Superman 296.jpg

Superman and his alter ego, Clark Kent

In Pre-Crisis comic books, superheroes and their secret identities are often considered alter egos. The archetypal comic book hero, Superman, assumes the identity of the "mild-mannered" newspaper reporter Clark Kent in order to live among the citizens of Metropolis without arousing suspicion. Whereas Clark Kent's true self is Superman (or rather the Kryptonian Kal-El), Batman is a character created by Bruce Wayne in order to disguise himself for the purposes of fighting crime. The Batman comics and movies such as Batman Begins have also explored the theme of the true self (Wayne) becoming lost in or giving himself over to the alter ego, much like the plot of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Post-Crisis comics flip this idea around for both superheroes. Superman becomes the persona that Clark Kent adopts in order to freely use his gifts to help the world without jeopardizing his friends, family and personal life. Conversely, carefree playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne becomes the alter ego necessary to hide the true persona of the crime-fighting Batman. The Incredible Hulk comic book series further complicates this theme, as Bruce Banner loses control to the Hyde-like Hulk whenever he becomes angry, yet also depends upon the Hulk's super powers in order to combat villains. Also the Batman villain Two-Face seems to split his alter-ego from Harvey Dent, whose personality changes from being judge-like to changing back to his Two-Face persona and being ruthless using his two-faced coin to determine life and death.

Comic book-inspired alter egos can be seen in other forms of popular fiction, including television and movie adaptations of comic books, parodies of this genre, and unrelated fictions such as Star Wars or Angel.

In film

In the Our Gang short Mama's Little Pirate, after Spanky gets in trouble for touching his dad's flashlight he gets sent to his bedroom and he talks to his alter ego.

In Youth in Revolt, the protagonist Nick Twisp, played by Michael Cera, is a shy, socially inept teenager who is hopelessly in love with Sheeni Saunders. Twisp then creates an alter ego to help him win her love.

In Bleach, main character Ichigo Kurosaki is confronted by his darker alter ego, Hollow Ichigo, and the two fight for control of Ichigo's body.

In Black Swan, the protagonist Nina Sayers, played Natalie Portman, faces her alter ego represented by the character of the Black Swan.

In Breaking Bad, the protagonist Walter White, a high school Chemistry teacher, slowly forfeits himself to his alter ego, Heisenberg, to survive the drug dealing world.

In 400 Blows, main character Antoine Doinel is the alter ego of the director, François Truffaut.

See also

• Pen name
• Persona
• Ring name
• Stage name
• True self and false self