Most of us have probably encountered books, plays, TV shows, or movies involving characters somehow switching bodies. Perhaps one of the more well-known stories is found in Disney's 'Freaky Friday' movies. Today, we'll discuss some of the uncomfortable realities of body-swapping, including those often less focused on.
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| "I'm old!" "I beg your pardon?" |
Well, this is awkward.
Okay, let's just get the worst one out of the way first. Not everyone thinks about this, or really wants to, but let's be realistic for a few unpleasant moments. You're in a different body, and you still have to do everyday tasks. Like changing clothes, using the toilet, or even showering. Even worse, consider that the person in your body must also do the same things.
But this is too weird and uncomfortable to think about now. Moving on.
Sorry, I'm kind of clumsy today.
For example, if I switched bodies with my brother, I'd spend the day finding it very amusing how short people have become... when I'm not whacking my head on that really low-hanging light fixture, of course. And he was banging his head on the dining room light when accustomed to being 6'4, so you can imagine how well a person who's usually 5'5 would do. Hopefully I won't cripple him while in his body. (misjudges length of arm and breaks hand on the corner of the cupboard) Too late.
There's also a situation like that in the 2003 'Freaky Friday', where the teenager, now in her mother's body, realizes, "Woah, she's blind!" You may have to adapt to being near-sighted, having arthritis, or a sudden pollen allergy.
Where on Earth does she put her good blouses? And how do I get here?
Maybe it's in this drawer, or that one. Or maybe you can just go to their workplace in a stained work shirt, or pajamas.
Now, to get to the office, you have to turn left on this street. Wait, that's not right! It must have been right! Or maybe it's Clueless Street you turn left on, not Lost Lane. But now that you're here, let's hope no one asks you where the copy machines are.
Okay, going home now. And then you have to make dinner. Which means finding the spices, which aren't at all organized like you expect them to be, and you're starting to wonder if there's any canned peas on the premise.
"Dear, what are you looking for?"
"Uh, the mugs."
"They're right here in this cupboard. Where they've been for the past sixteen years."
Now, to get to the office, you have to turn left on this street. Wait, that's not right! It must have been right! Or maybe it's Clueless Street you turn left on, not Lost Lane. But now that you're here, let's hope no one asks you where the copy machines are.
Okay, going home now. And then you have to make dinner. Which means finding the spices, which aren't at all organized like you expect them to be, and you're starting to wonder if there's any canned peas on the premise.
"Dear, what are you looking for?"
"Uh, the mugs."
"They're right here in this cupboard. Where they've been for the past sixteen years."
"Oh, right. I know that!" (nervous laughter while not-husband looks at you like you have a screw loose)
Who are you, and what do you want?
"Yo, Julie!"
"Uh, hi?"
"So do you have Sky Sailing?"
"Huh?"
"The CD, dude."
"I'm a woman, and I have no idea who or what this band is."
"It's a music project by one person, Adam Young. Are you feeling all right? Like, maybe you took a blow to the head or something?"
"Oh, sorry, I must have misheard you. Adam Young, I knew that!" (nervous laughter while not-friend looks at you like you have a screw loose)
"Uh, hi?"
"So do you have Sky Sailing?"
"Huh?"
"The CD, dude."
"I'm a woman, and I have no idea who or what this band is."
"It's a music project by one person, Adam Young. Are you feeling all right? Like, maybe you took a blow to the head or something?"
"Oh, sorry, I must have misheard you. Adam Young, I knew that!" (nervous laughter while not-friend looks at you like you have a screw loose)
I'm not qualified to do this!
Maybe it's a job doing tech repair, and you can't even work your flip phone or figure out how to turn on your son's Nintendo Switch. Maybe this person has a rotary phone, and you weren't even born yet when those things were commonplace. Or if you're a thirteen-year-old kid in her mother's body, it might even be cooking or doing a load of laundry.
Perhaps we can take a leaf from Dr. Tess Coleman, aka Anna Coleman.
"I've been reading your new book, Doctor, and it has me feeling depressed."
"And how do you feel about that?"
"Depressed."
"Depressed."
I'm... just not myself today.
"Since when are you left-handed? Or suddenly can't remember the password for your work computer?"
The 'Freaky Friday' movies create all sorts of awkward situations with this. In the 2003 film, Anna's friends are talking to 'her', and her mother proves to have a different personality than Anna. She claims to have no interest in Anna's crush, is surprised when an unkind girl tricks her, and openly rants about things that are the opposite of Anna's own feelings. There's also the way Anna acts and speaks while in her mother's body, which throws people off throughout the day. She teases her brother and asks her mother's fiancé to 'like, chill for a sec', among other things.
And in the 1976 movie, a number of slip-ups are made, like when Annabel, in her mother's body, calls her father 'Daddy', to his confusion. She also doesn't know how to drive, creating the illusion of her mother breaking about eighty laws while on the road.
So before you switch bodies with someone for the day, or write a story in which this happens to your characters, consider the things mentioned above. Unless you're creating a Disney movie, and then maybe avoid the awkward first thing mentioned. I think I think too much.
The 'Freaky Friday' movies create all sorts of awkward situations with this. In the 2003 film, Anna's friends are talking to 'her', and her mother proves to have a different personality than Anna. She claims to have no interest in Anna's crush, is surprised when an unkind girl tricks her, and openly rants about things that are the opposite of Anna's own feelings. There's also the way Anna acts and speaks while in her mother's body, which throws people off throughout the day. She teases her brother and asks her mother's fiancé to 'like, chill for a sec', among other things.
And in the 1976 movie, a number of slip-ups are made, like when Annabel, in her mother's body, calls her father 'Daddy', to his confusion. She also doesn't know how to drive, creating the illusion of her mother breaking about eighty laws while on the road.
So before you switch bodies with someone for the day, or write a story in which this happens to your characters, consider the things mentioned above. Unless you're creating a Disney movie, and then maybe avoid the awkward first thing mentioned. I think I think too much.
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