This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2010)

Playing cards with one's alter ego.

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. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists.^[1] A person who has an alter ego is said to lead a double life.

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. Similarly, the term alter ego may be applied to the role or persona taken on by an actor^[2] 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.^[3]

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.

[edit] 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[link]

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.

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.

Performing arts usage[link]

Gene Simmons as "The Demon" of KISS

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".^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

In contemporary Hip Hop, artists such as Eminem, Lil Wayne, Traphik, B.o.B, Kool Keith, Nicki Minaj, Tech N9ne and T.I. have used the alter egos Slim Shady, Tune-Chi Lee, Timothy de la Ghetto, Bobby Ray, Dr. Octagon. Roman Zolanski, Tecca Nina and T.I.P., 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.)". Another example of a celebrity who uses an alter ego is Skye Sweetnam, who uses her alter ego, Sever, to express her obsession with zombies and her sexual desire. She uses this name when she performs with her band, Sumo Cyco.

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^{[by whom?]} 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, and Brüno.

Professional wrestlers can also be said^{[by whom?]} to perform as alter egos (or ring names), such as Terry Bollea, who used the character of Hulk Hogan, and Mark Calaway, who is best known as The Undertaker.

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

Singer/songerwriter Beyonce used an alter ego named Sasha Fierce when she wrote her album I Am...Sasha Fierce. Beyonce stated that she wanted to explore her romantic side and her aggressive side. ^[7]

In film[link]

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. For another example, you can watch Hannah Montana.

In Fight Club, *SPOILERS* the narrator, played by Edward Norton, takes on an alter ego, played by Brad Pitt. The narrator takes on his alter ego after dissatisfaction in his life and by the end of the movie tries to eradicate 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.

See also[link]

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

References[link]

v t e Superhero fiction Media Comics · Film · Live-action TV series · Animation · Video games · Role-playing games Plot elements Superhero · Supervillain · Superpower (List) · Secret identity · Alter ego · Comic book death · Women in Refrigerators Continuity Continuity · Canon · Retroactive continuity · Reboot · Crossover  Portal:Superhero fiction  ·   Category:Superhero fiction