Key Gothic Motifs

These images are taken in various different places but they all have a common link - key gothic motifs.  All of the photos are taken from cemeteries, a place which I believe can be linked to a number of the motifs. 

Strange places - when you consider the reality of cemeteries you are standing somewhere surrounded by those who were once but no longer are alive, despite this people still take comfort in visiting them, feeling closer to the loved ones they've lost.

Clashing time periods - in a literal term the cemeteries have graves that were dug over a number of centuries and therefore a mixture of time periods. In addition to this, some of the photos were taken of memorials in Vienna. These were made from some form of metal which is no longer a common practise when creating memorials as the metal begins to rust from rain and oxidisation. These old practices in a modern day world cause a clash of time.

The supernatural and the real - some people believe that life is not over after death but there is instead a supernatural world where spirits are able to live on in the form of ghosts, as a cemetery is a resting place for the bodies of the deceased, they bring together both the idea of this supernatural world of the spirits that were once part of the deceased but also the real; that these people are no longer with us and their physical beings lay beneath us.

The Gothic

The Gothic is depicted in Great Expectations through a number of different elements, first of all is the idea of imprisonment. Imprisonment is a large part of the 'gothic' theme in novels, and Charles Dickens' novel is no exception from this. In Great Expectations imprisonment is represented through the character of Miss Havisham - although no one is physically restraining her or stopping her from leaving the room in her house she is completely overcome with the grief of being rejected so many years ago she faces a personal battle of embarrassment and despair that is restricting her from being able to move on from what has happened in her past.
In addition to this, power, also a theme within 'The Gothic' is clearly evident in Dickens' story. The idea of power in the gothic is usually portrayed by those who are vulnerable and put themselves and their lives at risk. This is evident in Miss Havisham and how she has become engrossed in the search to gain power and manipulate the entire male population. She trained Estella from a young age when she would have been vulnerable so she was unable to love another, especially a man, as her own personal revenge.

The Uncanny is a key theme of what makes up 'The Gothic', it is the idea that there is something new but it takes us back to our own psychological or physical past. This becomes apparent with Miss Havisham and how when she looks at Pip and Estella together it reminds her of herself and the fiancé that left her. Another element of 'the uncanny' is the idea that something appears almost human but they're not, for example a doll or a waxwork. This can be linked to Pips description of Miss Havisham when he first meets her, he tells the reader how "Once, I had been taken to see some ghastly wax-work at the Fair, representing I know not what impossible personage lying in state. Once, I had been taken to one of our old marsh churches to see a skeleton in the ashes of a rich dress, that had been dug out of a vault under the church pavement. Now wax-work and skeleton seemed to have dark eyes that moved and looked at me. I should have cried out, if I could." Pip describes Miss Havisham as having some relation to the appearance of that waxwork he once saw, the idea of 'the uncanny'. This take on this part of The Gothic has been given a unique twist by Charles Dickens as Miss Havisham is in fact human but her behaviour and appearance is so unbelievable of that of any human being that she appears almost like an idea, unrealistic and distant.

Finally there are elements of the 'grotesque', this implies that there are features and behaviours of a character that are transformed from normal to extremes and in some cases scarily comical. This is depicted in Great Expectations through Miss Havisham. Everything she does seems over-exagerated and over the top, from becoming a recluse and not leaving her house to taking revenge on all men through the use of manipulating Estella. All of her behaviours and attributes are in some way grotesque.

High-definition Broadcasting

High-definition Broadcasting is a better and clearer than normal standard television broadcasting. What the viewer sees in HD is a much better quality than what is seen from a standard analog television or other TV formats.
As a result of this make up artists have to be more aware of the looks and the work they are creating for camera as everything is more detailed and more obvious in HD. Small things that wouldn't normally be picked up will be very obvious when broadcasted in high definition. For this reason, many makeup brands have created a specific makeup line designed to make the wearer look flawless under HD film and photography. This makeup is made up of micro-fine particles that reflect light in just the right way under a HD lens, leaving the wearer's skin looking unbelievable.
However this is not the only thing makeup artists must consider when working under HD broadcasting; too much makeup is also very obvious under a HD lens, therefore cleansing, toning and moisturising the skin before applying makeup is essential in evening out the hydration of the skin and assisting in applying makeup to look flawless.
As well as HD makeup, makeup artists also use a technique known as 'airbrushing' to create a flawless finish, this consists of micronised pigments that are less obvious on camera. The technique works using a mini compressor that discharges compressed air that leaves the final look to appear lightweight and even. In addition to making the skin look so clear, the airbrushing technique is also easier to blend and doesn't leave lines of makeup.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production/article/art20130702112136285

http://www.mirenesse.com/74332-large_default/sp-photoshop-in-a-tube-smooth-nude-cc-hydra-makeup-mousse-high-definition-4-pce-collection.jpg

Miss Havisham (Character Analysis)

There have been a number of adaptations of Charles Dickens' character 'Miss Havisham', dating back from 1934 right up to 2012, and each time the character has been represented in a variety of ways. Up until recently Miss Havisham has been represented by older looking women, such as Florence Reed, Margaret Leighton and Joan Hickson. All portrayed the character as old and senile, someone who never quite got over being jilted before her wedding. However in recent years actresses such as Gillian Anderson (2011) and Helena Bonham Carter (2012) have taken on a new approach to playing the character. When looking at the finer details of Dickens' novel producers found that the character was in actual fact only in her late forties to early fifties as she had been inside for 20-30 years but got married when she was in her early twenties. This provided a fresh take to the character that people had come to know and these recent adaptation were my inspiration for my own portrayal of Miss Havisham.
In order to gather as much information about the character as I could, I made an effort to highlight any description relating to the character that Dickens had provided, this meant not only visual descriptions, but also any information provided about the characters behaviours and state of mind. This then enabled me to draw up a character profile for Miss Havisham which I could then use to create my own adaptation for assessment.
I first considered her physical appearance, this description included notes of her still wearing her wedding dress after all these years which according to Pip's initial descriptions was made up of 'rich materials' such as satins, lace and silks. The character had just one shoe on as she had not yet put on the other when she heard of her fiancé Compeyson's betrayal and she wore a veil over her hair along with some flowers that had been placed in her locks before her life broke down. In the novel Miss Havisham's hair is claimed to be white, possibly from age and distress but also it could be due to her sitting in the same room for so many years while dust has settled on and around her. In addition to this, Miss Havisham is also described as wearing some jewels on her hands and around her neck.
Pips description of the captivating character continued to describe how the sparkling white dress she put on so many years before had now become a faded yellow colour. He then goes on to describe how the dress that once would have been a perfect fit for a young woman now hung off Miss Havisham's skin and bones. Pip goes on to describe the rejected lonely woman as looking sunken and gaunt.
To gain an even further understanding of Miss Havisham's character, I also had to consider her behaviours and how her past experiences may have affected her judgements. It is clear that she has never been able to move on from Compeyson's rejection, her constant harbouring of the past has clearly affected her mind in more ways than one. First of all she stopped all of the clocks at 20 minutes to 9 - the time she found out her fiancé had rejected her and from that point onwards it appears she sought revenge on the whole male species. In order to gain this revenge she spent years manipulating and brain washing Estella to play and manipulate boys into falling in love with her and then breaking their hearts, she has made it impossible for Estella to ever love a man, making Miss Havisham come across as almost like an evil fairy godmother.

All of this information assisted me to create some of my look for the Miss Havisham assessment, for example the hairstyle - Pip described her hair as white and I would assume it would look dry and brittle from having had no care or treatment for so many years. Therefore I think it would be perfect to use dry shampoo as it comes out white but also gives the hair a dull look to it. In addition to this, Miss Havisham hasn't changed since the day she was supposed to get married, leading me to assume that her hair would still be in somewhat of a wedding hairstyle but perhaps messy and fallen out due to time. I think the hairstyle should be kept simple so simply pinning the front section of the hair back with stray strands fallen out would be effective. As for the makeup, she would be in her late 40's / early 50's so I don't think the skin should be aged but instead pale  and contoured to make the character look sunken and withdrawn. A basic makeup would be much more effective.
I would also add some of my own personal ideas to make the character my own such as dry, peeling skin around the lips and the top of the head as she was inside in the dark for so long without daylight so her skin would be dry.
Both this hair and makeup combined with her old and discoloured wedding dress and Miss Havisham's manipulative behaviour should lead viewers to feel a mixture of emotions. In some ways they should feel sorry for the seclusive and lonely woman that Miss Havisham has become, but at the same time her manipulative and cruel behaviour leads an audience to feel angry and repulsed by her and her treatment of Pip.

The Film Review (2012)

One of the many adaptions of Charles Dickens novel 'Great Expectations' was a film directed by Mike Newell in 2012. After previously watching older versions of the film I was hesitant as to how different this would be, assuming it would be an exact replica of the work that had previously been created before, however I was very wrong.

First of all the general attention to detail and accuracy in the film, I feel, was done extremely well. The costumes, makeup and settings found throughout the film were accurate to those described in the book but at the same time unique from other versions of the film. The various surroundings that Pip entered into (i.e. the graveyard, Mrs. Havisham house etc.) all had an eerie but captivating feel to them, leaving me worried for Pip that the scary world around him could see him hurt.

I felt that all the characters in the film were played perfectly and were a great justice to the excellent work of Mr. Dickens, however my favorite character in this recreation had to be that of Mrs. Havisham.

Helena Bonham Carter’s interpretation of the wild widow was truly captivating and left me in awe that an actress could lead me to believe the character she was playing was so real and that I could be manipulated into feeling genuine emotions of sadness, panic and sympathy for the role she was playing.

Overall I believe that Newell’s production of the famous novel brought a fresh and distinctive new interpretation, bringing an old classic to a very real modern day reality. Out of all the recreations I have seen, this has to be my favourite.

My Victorian Hairstyle

Common features in Victorian hairstyles were curls and middle partings so I decided to create a hairstyle that included both of these elements .. 

I began by creating a middle parting through the hair, down to the nape of the neck, I then seperated approx. two inches of hair on either side of the front of the hair and pinned them to separate it from the rest of the hair.

I then split the hair into smaller sections and curled the hair, working my way up from the bottom layer of hair up to the top of the head.

I then combed the hair from the roots towards the centre of the back of the head and pinned otto create the curly section of hair at the back of the head and the smooth sections from the roots towards the back.

Finally I took the front sections of the hair that I previously separated from the rest of the hair and twisted tightly and pulled it round so it fell loosely over the ears (another element common in Victorian hairstyles) and pinned it into the curls at the back.

Mid/late Victorian Hairstyles (1860's - 1890's)

From 1860 - 1865 there was a civil war in America which required women to take on more responsibilities in the absence of their husbands. Victorian women took on the roles of the home as well as their husbands businesses. As a result of this their hairstyles became tighter and more appropriate for labour, the hair was often parted in the middle and pulled back into a bun or braid, some women wore snoods to keep their hair covered and out of the way.

Towards the end of the civil war, husbands returned and women again began to focus on their appearance. Hair became larger and women began to use hair fillers and hair pieces to make their styles bigger and more elaborate. Rats were like sponge in various shapes that enables to give the hair more height and style depending on what they were looking to create. 

Towards the late 70's the hair became tighter - tighter curls, tighter buns and hair pulled back and slicked tighter as women began to become more business orientated and spent less time in the home.

By the early 80's right up until the start of the 90's the Victorians entered an era known as the 'bustle' period. This was a result of not only the hair becoming increasingly bigger but also the dresses. Women began to wear fitted, corseted dresses that then had an additional petticoat attachment that created a large rounded shape at the back. This was covered by drapes of material and led the women to believe it made them look wealthier and more extravagant. The hair in this time period focussed on   hair being pulled back and then perfectly formed curls fell down the back of the head. Despite the dresses becoming increasingly bigger, surprisingly the hairstyles often stayed close to the head, unlike those extravagant styles sported just a few years earlier.

http://thevintagethimble.tumblr.com/post/48014868873/victorian-hairstyles-a-collection-of-victorian

http://bartoscollection.com/vehairstylesbyera/hairstylesearlybustle.html

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/women-during-civil-war

http://www.fashion-era.com/bustles.htm

Early Victorian Hairstyles (1830's - 1860's)

Middle partings were a common occurrence in early Victorian hairstyles matched with the hair twisted and pulled back over the ears or other elements such as 'sausage curls' that framed the face.

Curls were created using heated irons which often led to women's hair drying out to become a wool like texture and the need for heavy perfume in order to cover up the burnt smell it left the hair with.

The Victorians considered curly hair to indicate a sweet nature, straight hair led to the assumption that the woman was reserved and awkward. Elaborate 'up' hairstyles were reserved for women who were mature and had reached a rite of passage in their life (i.e. married) and leading up to the event they would often have their hair tied loosely into a plait with a ribbon to signify the approaching event. 

When sporting an 'up' hairstyle, the Victorian women aimed for height and precision, the hair was neat and tidy in order to present the female as together. well polished and sophisticated.

It was important for Victorian men that their hair was styled and slicked impeccably in order to portray their level of class and sophistication. Inevitably it was a lot less complicated to style than the women's hair, however a lot still went in to keeping up their groomed appearance. The men would  keep their hair relatively short, although it had to be long enough to be parted and combed over. The top sides and back were all of a similar length and was parted on the side rather than the middle - like the women - and combed away from the parting, however it was sometimes combed up and away from the head in order to create the appearance of a slight wave to the front of the head. The hair was always above the collar and often paired with a perfectly trimmed and groomed beard.

Although Victorian men kept their hair relatively short, they had extremely long sideburns, regardless of whether they has facial hair or not. However these went out of style in the 20th century.