Is Mona Lisa smiling? Or frowning?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
Walnut Creek, California
August 4, 2020 11:34am CST
I just read a pretty cool article about something the author calls "The Mandela Effect." Basically, the article contends that many of our memories, sometimes for fairly simple things, are false.
I have made many a child laugh by saying, in my deepest voice, "Luke, I am your father!" But did Darth Vader ever actually say that?
Did Tom Cruise actually dance on his bed in his undies and shades in Risky Business?
Did Hannibal Lecter ever say "Hello, Clarice" in Silence of the Lambs?
Did the mustached Monopoly guy wear a monocle?
But there's one example in the article I didn't agree with. When you think of Mona Lisa, is she smiling? Or frowning? I'll leave it at that.
Suffice it to say that I KNOW her expression well, because I have discussed its meaning with friends.
Apparently, it is adaptive (good for the survival of the individual and the species) to have "constructed," rather than perfectly accurate memories.
My questions: Can you think of memories you held that proved to be false? Or slightly off? In your memory, what is Mona Lisa's expression?
10 people like this
10 responses
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
4 Aug 20
She’s pissed....”Just paint the dang picture, Leonardo!” 
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (222288)
• United States
6 Aug 20
She's smiling....barely. Yes, those childhood memories of things always looking larger than they actually were. I remember those well.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
4 Aug 20
@TheHorse Poorly fitted dentures.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Aug 20
@BarBaraPrz Ah, that old be it. Mine hurt sometimes.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
4 Aug 20
Did The Horse go on vacation?
1 person likes this
