Philippa Snow's 'Obsession' Explores Possession and Identity in Flash Fiction Series

Critic and essayist Philippa Snow has contributed a piece titled 'Obsession' to AnOthermag.com's 'Screen Shots' series, a collection of flash fictions examining the interior lives of female characters on screen. The story, accompanied by a 2025 film still, delves into themes of possession, identity, and psychological horror through a first-person narrative. The protagonist describes a split self—'Me-Not-Me'—that takes over her body, forcing her to witness her own actions as if watching a film. She oscillates between shame, fear, and a desperate desire for death, while her partner remains oblivious, mistaking her suffering for devotion. The narrative repeats the phrase 'I ASK FOR NONE OF IT, AND STILL FEEL IT ALL' to emphasize the protagonist's lack of agency. Snow's writing draws on visceral imagery—vomit, teeth, a dead cat—to convey degradation and the failure of language ('Say the word “love” enough, and it loses all meaning'). The piece critiques romanticized notions of obsession and the erasure of self, culminating in a chilling realization of utter isolation. Snow is known for her critical essays on art and culture, and this work continues her exploration of female experience and the grotesque.