The image of a porcelain mask has become a staple for characters who use it to hide their true selves or project a terrifying lack of emotion.

These "tin faces" were crafted to restore the soldiers' pre-war appearance, helping them "re-enter" society with a smooth, doll-like porcelain look that concealed their injuries. Dollface in Popular Fiction

: Ultimately, the machine reaches too far, its face cracks, and it self-destructs—a haunting metaphor for how technology and media can fracture our sense of self. Real-Life Origins: The "Tin Faces" of WWI

The "Dollface" aesthetic has a surprisingly touching historical parallel. During World War I, soldiers often returned with severe facial disfigurements. American sculptor opened a studio in Paris to create custom, hand-painted copper masks for these men.