I think this might be obvious to some. But I think if anyone is trying to figure out who is Snoke there is an in or out of movie explanation for at least his visual appearance. I was looking at a video to look for info on this because it always gets me how much people miss obvious seeming things. Or they at least don't add it completely into their argument. This isn't about the video but it happens to highlight with visuals my point. One way or another Snoke is visual designed on Vaders corpse after his death and being put in the fire. If you notice the most obvious thing is that his body has basically the same scares as Vader with his mask off in the original. And he has a more severe face scare. But there might be another clue or at least design choice hinted or coincidentally placed in the movie. That is the burned mask of Vader so blatantly displayed in the movie. If you notice the side of the mask of Vaders mask is the same side of Snokes face more severely deformed compared to Anakins/Vaders mask off scene in the original trilogy. It actually perfectly seems to fit the palces where the mask material supposedly deformed while on his corpses face in the funeral pyre. Is also has the original scares seen on his face in the same area. So his deformed face was burned and that side of his face was affected under the mask. What this means is potentially several things: 1. It for one reason or another could be based on Vaders face with no in movie repercussion and is totally aesthetic but irrelevant to the movie. 2. It is a hologram, as we have not yet seen snokes face in the original movie and the hologram was based on Vaders corpse after the funeral pyre possibly in connection to Kylo. In which case he coincidentally has the burnt mask as well. This could be for multiple reasons. 3. It is the corpse of Vader and this could again mean a large number of things. Look at pictures of the burn mask, Snokes face at various stages, and Vader with his helmet off. Specifically the exact nature of the burnt mask and where and how it was deformed. It fits basically perfectly how Snokes face is deformed at points. It could completely make sense for Snokes character somehow. At least visually. It would be poetic or practical in many ways for the hologram to be based on Vader with how Kylo is obsessed with his grandfather. It could in all scenarios have a great emotional effect on Kylo potentially and would make a lot of sense with the elements the movie makers purposely put in the first movie together. I have linked a video at a timestamped location hopefully displaying this.