See yourself and your origins in a new way.
Pepe Mar created Paprika as an alter ego, an invented identity that lets him explore culture, fantasy, and transformation.
a. Imagine Your Alter Ego
Ask students to imagine an alter ego of their own — bold, mysterious, humorous, powerful, or completely unexpected. Have students sketch or collage their alter ego on paper, exaggerating features, colors, patterns, or symbols that express personality. Ask students to think about:
- What part of themselves this alter ego represents
- What makes this character different from their everyday self
- What emotions, powers, or traits the alter ego expresses
b. Write an Origin Definition
Ask students to write a short origin definition and a brief description of where their alter ego comes from. This could be a real place, a dream or imaginary world, a cultural reference, or a moment of transformation. Encourage them to keep it slightly mysterious or poetic, just like an artist might.
c. Build a Collective World
Have students work in small groups to arrange their alter egos together on a table or wall to create a collective world. They can organize their characters by personality, origin story, mood, or imagined relationships.