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point, in desperation when I had a class that was much too large, and inept, besides, I suggested using self-portrait simply because the class was so crowded and there [[strikethrough]] was [[/strikethrough]] were mirrors in the other room. [[strikethrough]] and e [[/strikethrough]] Everyone giggled, which startled me, [[ strikethrough]]also [[/strikethrough]]. It's a standard thing to do, standard as still-life or landscapes. [[strikethrough]] and the room which there was some mirrors on some lockers and [[/strikethrough]] I ordered some mirrors [[strikethrough]] for [[/strikethrough]] from the art department but After two weeks, every person was in that tiny little room. I was just trying to divide that class so that I could deal with it. [[strikethrough]] Within two weeks [[/strikethrough]] the mirrors that I had ordered had not come through yet, and everyone was crowding for space by these tiny mirrors because they all wanted to do self portraits [[strikethrough]] it because they suddenly [[/strikethrough]] and realized that there was nothing terrible about it. There is such a thing about ego, [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] There is an enormous difference between a healthy ego and conceit or vanity [[strikethrough]] self-confidence, like any kind of thing that has to do in dealing with yourself.[[/strikethrough]] This is just astounding to me-[[strikethrough]] like [[/strikethrough]] why do people get so hung up on it [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] when it's a perfectly natural thing to do. [[strikethrough]] I mean, [[/strikethrough]]Just think of all the paintings in the Renaissance in which the painter put himself along side the donor or the donor was placed in with the saints, and Christ, and the Madonna,and all kinds of things.  He gave the painting to the Church and he wanted himself in it as a record that he had done this.  There is a tremendous amount of ego involved.  The point is, is that bad?  I don't think it's bad.  It's only bad when it's self-indulgent, which I don't think it is.
EY: Do you think possibl [[strikethrough]] e [[strikethrough]] y people are afraid to confront themselves in this way?
MM:  Maybe, I hadn't even thought about it because I'm so busy being defensive or trying not to be defensive, and passing it off and thinking that's someone else's problem that gets them [[strikethrough]] self [[/strikethrough]] upset that I do self-portraits.  It's not my problem.  It doesn't bother me.
EY:  Your images have such a confronting attitude-
MM:  But that's the way I like to paint them.  I doesn't matter if it's a person or a thing.