Text:

Interviewee: “I’ve just heard that cracked mirrors are bad, and they look scary.”

“Can you tell me about it, please?”

Interviewee: “There’s a lot of mirrors in New Orleans. With lots of, like, strange patterns of glass.

“Why?”

Interviewee: “I mean, New Orleans is a funky place.”

“But, like, what’s the belief around the cracked mirrors?”

Interviewee: “People think that they (the cracked mirrors) can trap, slash, distort your spirit, like, your reflection isn’t fully you.”

“But why are they funky looking?”

Interviewee: “Why is the mirror funky?”

“Yeah.”

Interviewee: “I mean, I guess they’re eerie because of how locals, locals believe in like Louisiana voodoo. They can be seen as portals between the living. You could get stuck inside a mirror. I have no idea why that ties to why they are like different colors and different shapes in New Orleans, but it definitely has to do with the culture.”

Context:

The interviewee was originally born in Mississippi and has an apartment in New Orleans with his family. They go to the city often. He is a white male aged 22-23.

This conversation comes from a discussion about local beliefs in New Orleans, a place known for its strong cultural traditions and spiritual practices. Cracked or decorative mirrors are seen all over New Orleans, so the interviewee is trying to explain ideas they’ve heard about mirrors.

Analysis:

This is an example of belief-based folklore related to mirrors. The idea that cracked mirrors can trap or distort the soul reflects a magic superstition, where an object is believed to have power over a person’s spirit. In places like New Orleans, ideas about spirits and the afterlife are culturally significant, reflecting the culture.

Overall, the “funky” or eerie appearance of the mirrors adds to their perceived power, blending design with spiritual meaning.