The style, cut and colour of a costume is a very powerful tool as these elements can visually reveal information about each character. As Celfato asserts, ‘like language in this sense, dress functions as a kind of ‘syntax’, according to a set of more or less constant rules. These rules allow a garment, and body coverings in general to acquire meaning’ (2004 p91). If we look at the 2007 film ‘Juno’, one can see the different meanings and visual information that costumes portray. The costume in this film are minimal but through subtle use of styling, cut and colour reveal information about each character and their respective personalities. Below are the costume designs of the two protagonist and what the meanings they convey.

Juno is the protagonist of the film who falls pregnant. The layered style of the clothing reflects Juno’s age and alternative personality. The red colour of her jumper acts as a visual metaphor for her vulnerable situation. It signifies both blood, life passion which alludes to her pregnant state. The label free simple designs of the clothing further reflect her middle/lower class socio-economic status.

Vanessa is another protagonist from the film who wants to adopt Junos child. Vanessa is dressed in very smart, fitted clothing. Her costume consists of a crisp white shirt layered by a conservative black v-neck sweeter, topped off with a pearl necklace. The costume conveys Vanessa’s conservative nature through the tradition buttoned shirt and classic jumper. She represents the typical suburban wife. The black and white colour symbolically signify Vanessa medical problems.The white and black are very sterile and represent her inability to have children and barren state.

Through analysis of the two costume designs from Juno, one can see how costuming assists the process of visual storytelling by revealing information about the characters and their personalities.

Furthermore, besides revealing social and cultural information about characters, costume may also ‘function to reinforce the films narrative and thematic patterns’ (Bordwell and Thompson 1997 p176). This is once again seen through the visual elements of style, colour and cut and the changing shape of costumes. In the photographic stills below one can see how the same costume manipulated in different ways can portray different visual meanings.

In the first picture, the character is properly dressed in a black dress with a scarf covering her neck. She appears confident and strong and in control. In the second still shot, the character is wearing the same black dress but the scarf is removed. She appears less confident and uneasy. In the third still, the dress is slightly pulled off the shoulder. In this shot the visual image of skin revealing makes the character look vulnerable. She appears to be out of control and weak. Through the slight changes in costume, by removing a scarf and pulling a sleave off a shoulder a visual journey is presented.

In the process of visual storytelling costume can also assist by placing the characters in a particular environment and era. For example, the costumes from the film ‘Chicago’ are stylized to the 1920′s era. The dresses, suits and other clothing match the era of the 20′s and 30′s and thereby place the film in the time context. This is further seen with costumes like police officer or other uniforms. These costumes affiliate the characters with certain power structures or social status and thus further assist the story telling process. For example the police uniform, gives the character attributes of authority and power whilst a prisoner uniform associates the character with dangerous and negative characteristics.

Indeed, it becomes clear, that costumes through their cut, style and colour assist the visual story telling process. This is due to the costumes power to evoke a sense of symbolism, meaning and contextualize characters.

Reference list.

Bordwell, D. & Thompson, K. 1997, Film Art, 5th edition, McGraw-Hill, New York.

Celafato, P. 2004, Clothed Body, Oxford Berg Publishers, viewed 31st oct, http://site.ebrary.com/lib/utslibrary/Doc?id=10146601&ppg=15

Today was the first really hot day of Spring.

You can always tell when spring is in action and summer is just around the corner, when you wear thongs and your feet get a thong tan.

I am a big fan of the summer months.
I feel as though everyone is much happier. The days are longer and warmer and filled with beautiful rays of UV sunshine!!!

September is not only the first month of spring, but it is also the month of my family’s birthdays. My Mother is today, my sister is tomorrow, and my dad is the day after and I am on the 20th.

Indeed, September is an expensive month for my family and I.

I used to get sad on my birthday, as I would get so excited that the day is coming and get such high expectation that when the day did come I was often disappointed. But as the years pass and with age, Birthdays seem less and less meaningful and become just another day.

However, with the birthday season comes lots of birthday parties and celebrations!!!

Bring on the birthday cake I say!

Hope is a waking dream – Aristotle

“Today Has Been OK”

Friends tell me it’s spring
My window show the same
Without you here the seasons pass me by
I know you were not new
That loved like me and you
All the same I miss you
Today has been ok
Today has been ok

The preacher lost his son
He’s known by all in town
He found him with another son of God
Feeding on the prayer
Nevermind what God said
But love had lost its cause
And I thought today had been ok
Today has been ok
Today has been ok

Wind has burned your skin
The lovely air so thin
The salty water’s underneath your feet
No one’s gone in vain
Here is where you’ll stay
‘Cause life has been insane but
Today has been ok
Today has been ok
Today has been ok
Today has been ok

I love the different patterns, styles, cuts and fabrics and the way that designers can mold these fabrics to fit the beautiful female and male form.

For this reason, I am always looking out for new designers that arouse my interest and today I found one. Her name is Genevieve Er and she is a local Sydney based designer.

Her latest collection, ‘She dreams in fables’ is youthful, innovative and fun… and best of all the collection is actually affordable! The way clothes should be.

so check her out… http://www.thisisgenevieve.com/

Like all creatives I have an extreme side to me.

I call it passion, love and drive but my close friends and family call it EXCESS!

In a nutshell, When i do something, I do it to the fullest, extreme and and to the limits!
This is not the best personality trait but it is one my friends have learned to love.
That is why i am at home on a Monday morning still recovering from the Weekend!

But I do not see this as a bad thing, All great artists and creatives have an extreme side.

As long as I don’t chop my ear off like Van Gogh, I believe I am heading in the correct direction.

On that note, Here is my favourite artwork By Van Gogh to inspire you all -Cafe terrace at night

That is all you need to know.

my previous blogs have not been very informative.

So today im putting it out all on the table for you all to consume.

mmm delicious.

My name is Anna.

I am 19, although i have a very old soul and I classify myself as a creative.

I no i sound like an AA meeting, but being a creative is like an addiction and this blog is my new drug. It is another creative outlet to poor all my thoughts, experiences and ideas into. So you all very lucky people get to read and indulge in my insanity!

As i previously said, i use three words to describe myself.

1. Dreams

I am a dreamer. I see things and get inspired very easily. My friend Josh and I have this thing, what I like to call a talent, where we would be walking down the street and suddenly we are drawn to an individual. We call it character spotting.

For example, today i was walking through Devonshire tunnel by central station and these two men grabbed my attention. The first man was tall and slim, wearing an old worn out Nike tracksuit. the second man was average height dressed in an old scruffy suit. (they both appeared to live on the streets)… They began to interact with each other. The skinny man was very nervous. The second man was reaching deep into his pockets and looking cautiously around. Then the second man began to pull something out of his pocket…. and to my surprise it was a simple white bread sandwich… I giggled as i assumed the worse.. then the men sat down and began to share the sandwich together…

These two characters got my mind racing. I started thinking about their lives and where they came from and by that evening I knew their life stories and had planned their futures….

See being a creative is sometimes a curse, as my mind is constantly working at overtime! Below i have posted my self portrait. It epitomises me as a dreamer and free spirit!

Most people, when they describe and introduce themselves use words such as ‘outgoing’, ‘funny’ or ‘shy’. But these words fail to do me any justice or provide true insight about my personality or nature.

Then one day, a few years back, I was listening to a song called ‘Dance into the night’ by The View.

The phrase ‘Dreams Romance Excess’ captured me. The words on their own have little significance. But when the words are put together they transform into something meaningful.

The words became my lifes motto!

]]> http://amzhotz.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/todayyy/feed/ 0 amy Dreams romance excess lyric http://amzhotz.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/now/ http://amzhotz.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/now/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:36:17 +0000 amy http://amzhotz.wordpress.com/?p=22 ]]>

This painting by Betsy Walton is the best way to introduce myself and my blog.

I believe that this beautiful artwork, through Walton’s use of wild colours, patterns, shapes and delicate lines simply captures and conveys the essence of me.

The beauty of art is that is can be interpreted in many ways…

Welcome to my blog.

Anna Summers.

P.S More of Walton’s eye candy artwork can be viewed through the flickr link!