Friday 27 March 2015
Claudia and Quentin Presentation ideas and Feedback
So on Tuesday I did my 5 minute informal presentation explaining my ideas for the Two Characters I am choosing to design which are Claudia and Quentin. The reason I did not choose Mrs Laderman is because I thought Claudia had an interesting brief and I liked the idea of Quentin being real only in her mind. Also these two characters tied in nicely to the series I chose which is Buffy The Vampire Slayer, with the story behind my designs being based on the love story between the two characters.
I chose the words "glass prison" referring to Claudia and "save us" referring to Quentin.
The reason I chose Glass prison for Claudia is due to the fact that she suffers from Agoraphobia. Although there is no real reason, no physical walls or bars separating her from the world outside, she is a prisoner in her own home and a prisoner of her own thoughts. Just like glass can sometimes be when viewed from a a certain angle, her thoughts are invisible. However they are powerful and strong enough to keep her imprisoned in her own dysfunctional little world, with only her horror movies for entertainment, and her imaginary boyfriend Quentin for company, leaving her totally reliant on her neighbor Mrs Laderman.
save us refers to the relationship between Claudia and Quentin. in the brief we realsise that Quentin is merely a figment of Cluadia's imagination, therefore he is whatever she decides or believes him to be at any one time. In addition to this we read that Claudia often imagines that Quentin is unfaithful therefore "save us" is how either of character can and may feel about the relationship. The images I am going to create reflect the characters after an argument about Quentin's Supposed cheating, in which Claudia loses her temper and attacks him, therefore I am Going to use make up to create scratches, bruises and vampire like features. I have decided not to go for the full blown vampire look as in the series on which I am basing my characters, the vampires usually appear human up until the point where they are either angered, about to attack, or fight to defend themselves. Therefore the make up I am going to use will be the face of a vampire during this transition, half way between demon and human.
Sharon did point out that my idea of dressing Claudia as an all american sweet, pretty yet rather average girl yet designing her make up to to represent her strong, powerful seductive side may not work well together and on reflection I have decided to dress Claudia in a gothic, bondage type outfit as this will add to the mood, and is more fitting to how the idea of how she views herself and wishes to be viewed by others. styling her out fit and designing make up which reflects this same darker side of the character will enable the look to flow, tell a story, and will be less miss matched and confusing to the viewer.
It was pointed out to me after my presentation that I did not go into a great amount of detail of the key components of horror which appear in the series such as typical horror character types and horror tropes.
Monday 23 March 2015
Claudia and Quentin Powerpoint
I have taken a picture using my phone of my Powerpoint presentation as I could not figure out how to put it onto my blog
Sunday 22 March 2015
Quentin mood board
This is my mood board that I have created for the character of Quentin. I have used an image of a teddy bear to represent his kind caring and affectionate side which he often displays when Claudia is in a good mood along with an image of a man in a suit. This image also reflects the good mood Quentin where Claudia imagines him to be smart, good looking and charming. This version of the character would be most women's idea of a perfect man. However in contrast, the version of Quentin that Claudia visualises when she is angry or upset is the polar opposite. Although Claudia has a fascination with vampires and decides that Quentin is without a doubt a vampire playing to her fantasy, when she is angry he is no longer the perfect sweet protective type of vampire such as Edward Cullen (top left of the mood board) he suddenly transforms into a vicious heartless creature from hell, lazy, un-groomed, unfaithful and sharp tongued which usually sets off a wild rage in her mind fuelled by jealousy. This leads to vicious and heated imaginary arguments in her head this is represented by the bottom right image of an evil blood thirsty looking Vampire and the glass of blood. However as vile tempered as he can be Quentin adores Claudia and it is in fact her that frequently loses control and attacks him physically, as well as imprisoning him in her apartment to ease her paranoia.
Claudia mood board
This is the mood board that I designed for the character of Claudia. It icludes some images of characters from different horror movies including Mandy Lane from All the boys love Mandy Lane, and Ginger from Ginger Snaps. I chose these two characters specifically because they share character traits with Claudia such as being socially awkward and not having a huge amount of confidence in themselves... at least... in the begining of the movies. Both girls actually end up becoming killers, Mandy teams up with her deranged best friend to murder her admirers and Ginger sets off on a bloody killing spree after being bitten by a warewolf. as well as reflecting Claudias quieter less confident side, their transformations into murderers are similar to the transformation that Claudia has in her mind of herself sometimes when she is angry or if she is determined to get her own way, jealous or paranoid usually concerning her imaginary boyfriend Quentin. When Claudias mind runs wild she becomes a strong, independent, furious and cold hearted ice queen, with looks to kill dressed in seductive, revealing clothes which are yet empowering, with dark, smouldering make up, giving her a beautiful yet mysterious appearance.
The mood board includes a colour chart displaying the colours I am going to use to create her look (plus red) which I have recently decided to add to my design. the flowers represent her natural beauty and femininity and the picture of the characters of Buffy and Angel represent the series in which she is set to appear as well as an example of the way Claudia visualises, and desires her relationship with Quentin to be. When she is in a good mood...
Friday 20 March 2015
Great Expectations, The Gothic, The Grotesque And The Uncanny
Another task which I have just realised I have failed to produce on time... this should have been completed and posted a while ago but due to my preparation for assessments I forgot to do so here it is a little late.
This post is going to address 4 questions relating to the Charles Dickens Novel Great Expectations regarding three themes present throughout the tale which help to define and depict certain character traits and set the scene and ambiance within story.
How is the grotesque depicted in Great Expectations?
In general terms in the literary sense the grotesque refers to a style of writing which over exaggerates scenarios, relationships, features or feelings in an outlandish and fantastical manor of written descriptions and imagery. For example Dickens's description of Miss Havisham as wax work and skeleton like strikes up a morbid and ghoulish representation in the readers mind of what she may look like. In addition to this the ruthlessness and merciless behaviour portrayed by Magwitch in the opening scenes in which he threatens to cut the young boys throat, however highly descriptive in a form of realism regarding the depiction of his physical appearance which is intricately detailed, his exaggerated bloodthirstiness via his aggressive and ferocious language is a prime example of the grotesque.
How is the Gothic depicted in Great Expectations?
Great Expectations is one of Novelist Charles Dickens most famous works, set during the Victorian Era when Gothic Horror was becoming an extremely popular genre in literature. as mentioned previously during this blog Charles Dickens was said to have been inspired by Gothic Horror literature he enjoyed to read during his teen years.
The Dickens's Gothic inspiration is most evident in the use of characters such as Miss Havisham whom allows the story to take a less literal, slightly unrealistic path. Her paradoxical personality however has its purpose, playing a major a role in binding together all the different aspects of the tale, which in the beginning of the book you may not realise are related in any way whatsoever. However as the story begins to evolve Miss Havishams bizarre behaviour starts to make some sense in terms of her relationship with her adopted daughter, and and her ability to manipulate Pip along with the amusement she gains from doing so. It is Miss Havisham's unhinged, negative influence in their lives which lasting and detrimental effect on both characters thus shaping the relationship between the two of them. Dickens has used Gothic themes such as death to shape the character of Miss Havisham by introducing the theme of death, although not in the literal sense. Miss Havishams abnormal behaviour which reflects that of someone grieving the loss of a loved one during Victorian times, would lead the reader to assume that her significant other is indeed deceased. However he is not literally deceased at all, but very much alive. as the story begins to unravel and we learn of Compeysons deceit and betrayal we begin to understand why in Miss Havisham's mind he is dead, that and she is mourning the notion or ideal of "what could have been" This idea of mourning provides also provides a powerful insight to just how deranged she in fact is and helps to set a somewhat Gothic like, dark and haunting atmosphere. Dickens has included fine details such as Miss Havisham having stopped the clocks (a Victorian superstition associated with death) along with descriptions of her physicality such as skeleton like and that of similarity to a waxwork giving her a peculiar and mysterious aura.
Prior to this, alternative scenes of the story is set and which also contain links to a re-occurring and underlying Gothic theme are the misty grey marshland and the use of a graveyard where Pip is visiting the resting place of his departed parents. And with the unpleasant fates of Pips sister, Mrs Gargery, Miss Havisham, Able Magwitch and Mr Drummle still to follow death is also a prevalent theme from beginning to end.
What are the specific elements of the Uncanny?
The uncanny relates to something wich is unexplainable, strange or mysterious.yet strangely familiar. In the story of great expectations the uncanny elements would include the relationships between Miss Havisham and Estella, Pip and Estella, Pip and Miss Havisham, Pip and Able Magwitch and Finally Estella and Able Magwitch. in the case of Pip and Magwitch Pip has spent his life being ashamed of his poor roots, even when he is granted the opportunity to become a gentleman he still despises the fact that he was not born a gentleman and it eats away at him from within. As a result of this when he finally learns that Magwitch is indeed his benefactor he is both repulsed and ashamed at the same time. for the money that has provided him with his new lifestyle has come from a source that represents everything about himself that he has tried to change and bury within himself. In terms of the relationship Between Miss Havisham and Estella, Miss Havisham finds immense satisfaction and pleasure in creating a monster in Estella, whom she uses to purposely toy with the emotions others. Her seemingly endless bitterness towards men drives her ambition to create a woman who is able to break the heart of others as was once done to her, and she clearly enjoys watching Pip suffer. However when the tables turn and Estella is finds herself unable to love her mother, it is only then when, forced to feel the pain she has inflicted on others that Miss Havisham is able comprehend what she has done. In this moment of self realization she see's that she has become the victim of her own bitterness and yet again has to face rejection from the person she loves, only this time she herself is to blame.
This bizarre turn of events could be described as Karma, the mysterious phenomenon of what you give out to others gets returned, almost like a higher power intervened to inflict payback on Miss Havisham for her cruel actions towards others.
At first Estella and Pip seem to be the complete opposite of each other however as the story unfolds it becomes apparent that although in some respects they are worlds apart they actually have a great deal in common, these similarities bond them and It is almost as if they are "meant to be" by supernatural intervention, as their individual situation unfold in a peculiar and unexpected way almost as if the universe were trying to put them both together, the events and experiences of both characters during clashing time periods, and although experienced via contrasting lifestyles are still however very similar in nature in terms of emotional and situational challenges they are both required to overcome.
Estella has been fortunate enough to have an upper class and privileged upbringing, whilst pip comes from a very poorer background. Never the less both children have been orphaned and both have less than ideal relationships with the mother figures in their life. It is obvious to the reader that Pips elder sister Mrs Gagery who has raised him feels a great deal of resentment towards him, constantly treating him as nothing but a nuisance and a burden. At the same time Estella's and Miss Havisham's relationship is just as complex with Miss Havisham using Estella to play her wicked and twisted games. Neither child is shown love or affection by either of these women which may explain why they share some kind of understanding of one another. it is clear to the reader that there is more to the relationship between Estella and Pip. It is obvious that Pip has feelings of both a romantic and sexual nature towards Estella and although She is quick to dismiss him and warn him away you cant help but wonder if she is suppressing similar emotions herself. Miss Havisham has encouraged Estella to use her sexuality, beauty and femininity to entice men with the aim of leaving them heartbroken, and although Estella seems to be sure of herself and her abilities you do begin to wonder her flirting and taunting of Pip is somewhat an instinctive reaction which reflects her true feelings. Dickens has created a character in Estella which keeps the reader guessing as to how the tale will unravel.
How does Dickens give the uncanny a unique twist within the novel in terms of Characterization?
In terms of characterization and the twist s within the plot Magwitch and Miss Havisham are the two characters which bind together the story and links between the other characters.
Miss Havisham's bizarre, creepy and mysterious behaviour is a key component of the plot as it influences one of the biggest plot twists which eventually allows her to see herself for hat she is and regret the pain and bitterness which has fuelled her desire to inflict pain on Pip. If it were not for Estella's dysfunctional upbringing she would have undoubtedly grown up to love her mother, yet as she matures into a woman we see that the psychological damage that has been inflicted as she cuts he mother out of her life, unable to love her with a cold heart. This twist, where Estella becomes everything Miss Havisham wanted, yet instead of ending in pleasure it which she believed it would it inevitably ends in heartbreak.
The realization of Magwitch being the mystery benefactor of Pips fortune is also a surprise in the plot. this twist has a great effect on Pip which makes him question and reassess his behaviour of late.
Again both of these individual stories and relationships are almost Karma like in nature, Pip is granted everything he has ever wanted yet it is at the expense of his morals, he ignores those closest to him who have loved and cared for him instead solely focused chasing his dreams of Estella being wealthy, and becoming a gentleman, however by the end of the novel he comes to realise that what he prioritized was not of true value and that it is those that he shut out, those who loved him that were.
This post is going to address 4 questions relating to the Charles Dickens Novel Great Expectations regarding three themes present throughout the tale which help to define and depict certain character traits and set the scene and ambiance within story.
How is the grotesque depicted in Great Expectations?
In general terms in the literary sense the grotesque refers to a style of writing which over exaggerates scenarios, relationships, features or feelings in an outlandish and fantastical manor of written descriptions and imagery. For example Dickens's description of Miss Havisham as wax work and skeleton like strikes up a morbid and ghoulish representation in the readers mind of what she may look like. In addition to this the ruthlessness and merciless behaviour portrayed by Magwitch in the opening scenes in which he threatens to cut the young boys throat, however highly descriptive in a form of realism regarding the depiction of his physical appearance which is intricately detailed, his exaggerated bloodthirstiness via his aggressive and ferocious language is a prime example of the grotesque.
How is the Gothic depicted in Great Expectations?
Great Expectations is one of Novelist Charles Dickens most famous works, set during the Victorian Era when Gothic Horror was becoming an extremely popular genre in literature. as mentioned previously during this blog Charles Dickens was said to have been inspired by Gothic Horror literature he enjoyed to read during his teen years.
The Dickens's Gothic inspiration is most evident in the use of characters such as Miss Havisham whom allows the story to take a less literal, slightly unrealistic path. Her paradoxical personality however has its purpose, playing a major a role in binding together all the different aspects of the tale, which in the beginning of the book you may not realise are related in any way whatsoever. However as the story begins to evolve Miss Havishams bizarre behaviour starts to make some sense in terms of her relationship with her adopted daughter, and and her ability to manipulate Pip along with the amusement she gains from doing so. It is Miss Havisham's unhinged, negative influence in their lives which lasting and detrimental effect on both characters thus shaping the relationship between the two of them. Dickens has used Gothic themes such as death to shape the character of Miss Havisham by introducing the theme of death, although not in the literal sense. Miss Havishams abnormal behaviour which reflects that of someone grieving the loss of a loved one during Victorian times, would lead the reader to assume that her significant other is indeed deceased. However he is not literally deceased at all, but very much alive. as the story begins to unravel and we learn of Compeysons deceit and betrayal we begin to understand why in Miss Havisham's mind he is dead, that and she is mourning the notion or ideal of "what could have been" This idea of mourning provides also provides a powerful insight to just how deranged she in fact is and helps to set a somewhat Gothic like, dark and haunting atmosphere. Dickens has included fine details such as Miss Havisham having stopped the clocks (a Victorian superstition associated with death) along with descriptions of her physicality such as skeleton like and that of similarity to a waxwork giving her a peculiar and mysterious aura.
Prior to this, alternative scenes of the story is set and which also contain links to a re-occurring and underlying Gothic theme are the misty grey marshland and the use of a graveyard where Pip is visiting the resting place of his departed parents. And with the unpleasant fates of Pips sister, Mrs Gargery, Miss Havisham, Able Magwitch and Mr Drummle still to follow death is also a prevalent theme from beginning to end.
What are the specific elements of the Uncanny?
The uncanny relates to something wich is unexplainable, strange or mysterious.yet strangely familiar. In the story of great expectations the uncanny elements would include the relationships between Miss Havisham and Estella, Pip and Estella, Pip and Miss Havisham, Pip and Able Magwitch and Finally Estella and Able Magwitch. in the case of Pip and Magwitch Pip has spent his life being ashamed of his poor roots, even when he is granted the opportunity to become a gentleman he still despises the fact that he was not born a gentleman and it eats away at him from within. As a result of this when he finally learns that Magwitch is indeed his benefactor he is both repulsed and ashamed at the same time. for the money that has provided him with his new lifestyle has come from a source that represents everything about himself that he has tried to change and bury within himself. In terms of the relationship Between Miss Havisham and Estella, Miss Havisham finds immense satisfaction and pleasure in creating a monster in Estella, whom she uses to purposely toy with the emotions others. Her seemingly endless bitterness towards men drives her ambition to create a woman who is able to break the heart of others as was once done to her, and she clearly enjoys watching Pip suffer. However when the tables turn and Estella is finds herself unable to love her mother, it is only then when, forced to feel the pain she has inflicted on others that Miss Havisham is able comprehend what she has done. In this moment of self realization she see's that she has become the victim of her own bitterness and yet again has to face rejection from the person she loves, only this time she herself is to blame.
This bizarre turn of events could be described as Karma, the mysterious phenomenon of what you give out to others gets returned, almost like a higher power intervened to inflict payback on Miss Havisham for her cruel actions towards others.
At first Estella and Pip seem to be the complete opposite of each other however as the story unfolds it becomes apparent that although in some respects they are worlds apart they actually have a great deal in common, these similarities bond them and It is almost as if they are "meant to be" by supernatural intervention, as their individual situation unfold in a peculiar and unexpected way almost as if the universe were trying to put them both together, the events and experiences of both characters during clashing time periods, and although experienced via contrasting lifestyles are still however very similar in nature in terms of emotional and situational challenges they are both required to overcome.
Estella has been fortunate enough to have an upper class and privileged upbringing, whilst pip comes from a very poorer background. Never the less both children have been orphaned and both have less than ideal relationships with the mother figures in their life. It is obvious to the reader that Pips elder sister Mrs Gagery who has raised him feels a great deal of resentment towards him, constantly treating him as nothing but a nuisance and a burden. At the same time Estella's and Miss Havisham's relationship is just as complex with Miss Havisham using Estella to play her wicked and twisted games. Neither child is shown love or affection by either of these women which may explain why they share some kind of understanding of one another. it is clear to the reader that there is more to the relationship between Estella and Pip. It is obvious that Pip has feelings of both a romantic and sexual nature towards Estella and although She is quick to dismiss him and warn him away you cant help but wonder if she is suppressing similar emotions herself. Miss Havisham has encouraged Estella to use her sexuality, beauty and femininity to entice men with the aim of leaving them heartbroken, and although Estella seems to be sure of herself and her abilities you do begin to wonder her flirting and taunting of Pip is somewhat an instinctive reaction which reflects her true feelings. Dickens has created a character in Estella which keeps the reader guessing as to how the tale will unravel.
How does Dickens give the uncanny a unique twist within the novel in terms of Characterization?
In terms of characterization and the twist s within the plot Magwitch and Miss Havisham are the two characters which bind together the story and links between the other characters.
Miss Havisham's bizarre, creepy and mysterious behaviour is a key component of the plot as it influences one of the biggest plot twists which eventually allows her to see herself for hat she is and regret the pain and bitterness which has fuelled her desire to inflict pain on Pip. If it were not for Estella's dysfunctional upbringing she would have undoubtedly grown up to love her mother, yet as she matures into a woman we see that the psychological damage that has been inflicted as she cuts he mother out of her life, unable to love her with a cold heart. This twist, where Estella becomes everything Miss Havisham wanted, yet instead of ending in pleasure it which she believed it would it inevitably ends in heartbreak.
The realization of Magwitch being the mystery benefactor of Pips fortune is also a surprise in the plot. this twist has a great effect on Pip which makes him question and reassess his behaviour of late.
Again both of these individual stories and relationships are almost Karma like in nature, Pip is granted everything he has ever wanted yet it is at the expense of his morals, he ignores those closest to him who have loved and cared for him instead solely focused chasing his dreams of Estella being wealthy, and becoming a gentleman, however by the end of the novel he comes to realise that what he prioritized was not of true value and that it is those that he shut out, those who loved him that were.
Bibliography
Wright, B. (2011) The Grotesque in Great Expectations - Pip’s Early Encounters With Magwitch. Available at: http://www.sooperarticles.com/art-entertainment-articles/grotesque-great-expectations-pips-early-encounters-magwitch-652194.html (Accessed: 4 May 2015)
Citation
(Wright, 2011)
What is the human fascination with Vampires?
Vampires have always been an extremely popular theme for horror literature as well as fantasy and romantic literature televisions series and movies. Many popular adaptations of recent years including 1994's movie Interview With Vampire starring Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, Stephanie Mayers Twilight book series which was so popular it also becaume into a film series, the hit 1990's television series Buffy the Vampire slayer, popular television series Vampire Diaries, to add to this True Blood.
All of the above stories focus on the Vampires role in society and their struggles to live amongst the living, some are driven purely to kill and remain soul-less whilst others wish to integrate with humans finding resourceful ways to obtain the blood they need to survive without harming those who are still living. Another focal point within all of the above is the relationships between Vampires and humans regarding love. It is inevitable that this type of relationship will draw in viewers as it plays up to human fantasy of tainted and forbidden love, with a creature that appears human on the surface yet constantly in battle to suppress the wild, dangerous and unpredictable beast within.
So what is the fascination that we humans have with these un-dead yet dead unearthly creatures? Especially since they supposedly hunt and kill humans to drink their blood (not the most attractive quality in potential partner).
Vampires play an important role in literature and film due to their characteristics serving as metaphors for human behaviour such as lust and temptation. Gothic Horror and modern Vampire Fiction paints Vampires as being extremely attractive, mysterious, seductive and beautiful as well as dangerous and blood thirsty making it often difficult for the ever more curious humans to keep their distance. However Vampires in fiction also struggle with their lust for humans, one one hand humans are a source of food to he hunted and killed but somehow they find themselves as predators of human flesh sexual nature also. Just as equally as humans have a a hard time fighting temptation to stay away from the Vampire the Vampires are Fighting their own temptations.
The fact that Vampires are neither exactly dead or un-dead is and interesting theory also. They are of course not living beings in the sense that they have no pulse, nor no need for food, (except blood) water, shelter or even the need to breathe yet they are still living and appear in the form of human beings. This notion toys with the instinctive human fear of death. As it it impossible to know what happens after our lives on earth are over, humans are of course innately afraid of what lies ahead after we part this world known as life, so therefore it is only natural that the idea of immortality is extremely attractive. To mention just a couple, both the Television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Vampire themed Movie Byzantium have played with this idea of converting to a life of Vampireism to escape the our inevitable fate of death. During the Buffy episode "Lie to me" it first appears as a coincidence that a familiar face from Buffy's past "Ford" has been transferred from her previous school in L.A to her current high school in Sunnydale. However it is eventually revealed that Ford's real reason for turning up in Sunnydale is that he wishes to be killed by and thus transformed into a Vampire to avoid dying, as he he has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. Not dissimilar, Byzatium tells the story of two Vampires on the run from an evil Vampire Brotherhood. As they do not wish to harm innocent human beings the pair kill and feed either from violent criminals or the sick and elderly who wish to die. The younger of the two Vampires Elanor (the daughter of the other) eventually falls in love with a writer named Frank who is dying from Leukaemia in order to keep him from fulfilling his fate of an early death she takes him to and unnamed island to be killed by the unnamed saint and thus transformed into a Vampire resulting in his immortality.
But it is not only that Vampires are to an extent immortal (without staking, or decapitation) another attractive quality that these creatures of the night possess is eternal youth not only in appearance but in strength it is thought that when they feed on the blood of humans they are in-fact feeding on the life source itself which maintains their ageless abilities and beauty.
All of the above stories focus on the Vampires role in society and their struggles to live amongst the living, some are driven purely to kill and remain soul-less whilst others wish to integrate with humans finding resourceful ways to obtain the blood they need to survive without harming those who are still living. Another focal point within all of the above is the relationships between Vampires and humans regarding love. It is inevitable that this type of relationship will draw in viewers as it plays up to human fantasy of tainted and forbidden love, with a creature that appears human on the surface yet constantly in battle to suppress the wild, dangerous and unpredictable beast within.
Image of Vampire of course being depicted as both beautiful and youthful
So what is the fascination that we humans have with these un-dead yet dead unearthly creatures? Especially since they supposedly hunt and kill humans to drink their blood (not the most attractive quality in potential partner).
Vampires play an important role in literature and film due to their characteristics serving as metaphors for human behaviour such as lust and temptation. Gothic Horror and modern Vampire Fiction paints Vampires as being extremely attractive, mysterious, seductive and beautiful as well as dangerous and blood thirsty making it often difficult for the ever more curious humans to keep their distance. However Vampires in fiction also struggle with their lust for humans, one one hand humans are a source of food to he hunted and killed but somehow they find themselves as predators of human flesh sexual nature also. Just as equally as humans have a a hard time fighting temptation to stay away from the Vampire the Vampires are Fighting their own temptations.
Above is an image of Edward Cullen a Vampire character form the hugely successful book and film series Twilight
Angel, Vampire and Buffy's boyfriend in the hit T.V series Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The fact that Vampires are neither exactly dead or un-dead is and interesting theory also. They are of course not living beings in the sense that they have no pulse, nor no need for food, (except blood) water, shelter or even the need to breathe yet they are still living and appear in the form of human beings. This notion toys with the instinctive human fear of death. As it it impossible to know what happens after our lives on earth are over, humans are of course innately afraid of what lies ahead after we part this world known as life, so therefore it is only natural that the idea of immortality is extremely attractive. To mention just a couple, both the Television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Vampire themed Movie Byzantium have played with this idea of converting to a life of Vampireism to escape the our inevitable fate of death. During the Buffy episode "Lie to me" it first appears as a coincidence that a familiar face from Buffy's past "Ford" has been transferred from her previous school in L.A to her current high school in Sunnydale. However it is eventually revealed that Ford's real reason for turning up in Sunnydale is that he wishes to be killed by and thus transformed into a Vampire to avoid dying, as he he has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. Not dissimilar, Byzatium tells the story of two Vampires on the run from an evil Vampire Brotherhood. As they do not wish to harm innocent human beings the pair kill and feed either from violent criminals or the sick and elderly who wish to die. The younger of the two Vampires Elanor (the daughter of the other) eventually falls in love with a writer named Frank who is dying from Leukaemia in order to keep him from fulfilling his fate of an early death she takes him to and unnamed island to be killed by the unnamed saint and thus transformed into a Vampire resulting in his immortality.
But it is not only that Vampires are to an extent immortal (without staking, or decapitation) another attractive quality that these creatures of the night possess is eternal youth not only in appearance but in strength it is thought that when they feed on the blood of humans they are in-fact feeding on the life source itself which maintains their ageless abilities and beauty.
3 of the cast members from Vampire drama, Vampire Diaries. The Two male characters are both Vampires in the series. However it can be noted that most of the cast in this series are young and beautiful, Vampires or not.
Bibliography
Alexander, B. (2009) ‘Dangerous liaisons: Why we find vampires sexy - Health - Sexual health - Sexploration - msnbc.com’. msnbc.com. Available at: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33509755/ns/health-sexual_health/t/dangerous-liaisons-why-we-find-vampires-sexy/#.VQwBJtKsWSo (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
HadesPub (no date) Why are we so deeply attracted to vampires? Nancy Kilpatrick reveals the secret... Available at: http://liswire.com/content/why-are-we-so-deeply-attracted-vampires-nancy-kilpatrick-reveals-secret (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
Johannah Cousins ~ 2 min read and Users Online: 11626Join Us Now! (no date) ‘Edward Cullen and the Allure of Depression’. Psych Central.com. Available at: http://psychcentral.com/lib/edward-cullen-and-the-allure-of-depression/0003729 (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
Jones, P. (1899) ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s 18th birthday’. RadioTimes. Available at: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-03-10/the-a-to-z-of-buffy-the-vampire-slayer (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
Jordan, N. (2013) Byzantium, IMDb. IMDb. Available at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1531901/ (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
LURE OF THE VAMPIRE (no date a). Available at: http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/ENDEMONIADA/lureofvampire.html (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
LURE OF THE VAMPIRE (no date b). Available at: http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/ENDEMONIADA/lureofvampire.html (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
Sexy Vampire wallpapers HD free - 252405 (2012). 1ms. Available at: http://1ms.net/sexy-vampire-252405.html (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
Team Buffy vs Team Angel - Battles (no date). Available at: http://www.comicvine.com/forums/battles-7/team-buffy-vs-team-angel-1530793/ (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
‘The CW Announces 2014 – 2015 Schedule for “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Originals,” & More!’ (no date). The Vampire Diaries. Available at: http://vampirediaries.alloyentertainment.com/the-cw-primetime-schedule-2014-2015/ (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
Whedon, J. (2006) Lie to Me, IMDb. IMDb. Available at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0533453/ (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
Citation
(HadesPub, no date)
(Alexander, 2009)
(Whedon, 2006)
(Jordan, 2013)
(LURE OF THE VAMPIRE, no date a)
(LURE OF THE VAMPIRE, no date b)
(Sexy Vampire wallpapers HD free - 252405, 2012)
(Johannah Cousins ~ 2 min read and Users Online: 11626Join Us Now!, no date)
(Jones, 1899)
(Team Buffy vs Team Angel - Battles, no date)
(‘The CW Announces 2014 – 2015 Schedule for “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Originals,” & More!’, no date)
Thursday 19 March 2015
Vampires And My Chosen Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Vampires
Vampires are mythical creatures either demonic entities with the ability to shape shift (some are thought to transform into bats or wolves) or the deceased who have risen from the grave due to being bitten and killed by a vampire in their previous life as human and thus becoming a demonic possessed version of the human. Vampire legends and myths come from all over the globe and date back centuries including with many supposed sightings and alleged attacks prevalent in both Native American Folklore and Eastern European folklore.
within literature Vampire characteristics vary due to the writers favoured version of the legend or to suit the needs of the plot however many ancient myths generally seem to follow a pattern and have common characteristics such as
Vampires are mythical creatures either demonic entities with the ability to shape shift (some are thought to transform into bats or wolves) or the deceased who have risen from the grave due to being bitten and killed by a vampire in their previous life as human and thus becoming a demonic possessed version of the human. Vampire legends and myths come from all over the globe and date back centuries including with many supposed sightings and alleged attacks prevalent in both Native American Folklore and Eastern European folklore.
within literature Vampire characteristics vary due to the writers favoured version of the legend or to suit the needs of the plot however many ancient myths generally seem to follow a pattern and have common characteristics such as
- Vampires have no reflection
- Vampires have no shadow
- Sunlight will kill Vampires
- 4 ways to kill Vampires (including sunlight) others are; Stabbing the vampire through the heart with a wooden stake, decapitation, of being burnt.
- Vampires have no pulse as they are dead
- They have no breath as they do not need to breathe to live
- A Vampire can not enter a house without invitation
- Vampires can not cross running water
- Vampires can be repelled by Garlic, Holy Water, or a Crucifix
- Vampires are said to have superhuman strength
Some of the most famous historical Vampire tales are those of Vlad Tepes 1431-1476 a Romanian Prince who also referred to as Vlad The Impaler, earning his reputation as a Vampire due to gaining great pleasure from his exceedingly cruel and bloodthirsty methods of torture which he inflicted on his enemies, which allegedly included roasting children and feeding the to their parents and cutting the breasts off of women and feeding them to their husbands, after which he would impale all that was left of his victims on posts. German art images from the period of his rein show Vlad feasting amongst a field of corpses impaled on spikes. However as bloodthirsty as he may have been in Romanian Folklore he is actually seen as a national hero who fought to protect his country and his people.
Vlad Tepes was a member of the house of Draculesti, with his father who was named Vlad II Dracul being the inspiration for Bram Stoker Horror Novel character Count Dracula.
Peter Pologojowitz A Serbian peasant who allegedly rose from the grave as a Vampire 3 days after he died. The tale says that Pologojowitz returned home to appear before his son demanding food to which his son responded by feeding him, after which Pologojowitz fled the scene. However on returning to his son the next night requesting food he was turned away, and his sons corpse found by fellow villagers the following morning, after his sons death 9 more consecutive deaths occurred in the small and remote Serbian village With Peter Pologojowitz becoming the main suspect. According to folklore prior to departing this world the victims complained of exhaustion and appeared to have symptoms connected with extreme blood loss.
With tales of Vampires sweeping through Europe at the time the people of the village were terrified and called for the body of Peter Pologojowitz to be exhumed, and on doing so were shocked at what they found. Peters body was apparently perfectly preserved with no signs of decay anywhere to be found, even more chillingly was the blood present around his mouth. The villagers decided to that in an attempt to prevent any further attacked they would drive a wooden stake through Peters heart and on doing so reports say that an unusually large volume of blood gushed out from the body. As an extra precautionary measure the villagers then burnt the remains on a pyre. The 9 bodies of Peters victims were also disposed of via a stake through the heart and were then re buried with garlic and Whitethorn.
The Vampire Of Alnwick Castle this tale of a blood sucking monster actually pre dates the term "Vampire" it is reported that a man who died whilst spying on his cheating wife, by falling from a great hight (the position on the top of a roof he was using to spy) returned from the dead attacking villagers in the middle of the night and leaving a outbreak of plague in his wake. According to the accounts of chronicler William of Newburgh the villagers marched to the burial site of the man and exhumed his body, which was said to leak fresh warm blood when accidentally sliced with a spade. The villagers dragged the corpse from the grave and burnt it on a pyre until nothing remained but ashes. However in relation to this tale rumour has it that beneath the grounds of Alnwick Castle and the town nearby run a series of underground passages which are said to be home to bizarre creatures not known of this earth. Humans in the past are said to have attempted to seal the passage ways using witchcraft.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The reasons I chose Buffy the Vampire Slayer as my series are because I used to watch the show as a child/young teen and as I am not a huge fan of Gruesome scenes, I thought this series would involve far less blood and guts due to the fact that it is aimed at a slightly younger audience.
I think that Claudia has quite a lot in common with the main character of Buffy as she is a character who is bar no means perfect and has problems in her life that other people can not understand. she is a bit of an out cast and not hugely popular at school which many young women and tens can relate to. I feel that Claudia herself probably feels like an odd one out considering most people in the world have fairly normal lives and by contrast hers is very abnormal.
The series deals with a range of issues many young people are faced with everyday such as romantic relationships, and divorce again these are things that people recognize in their own lives and relate to.
The series focuses on the life of this young individual Buffy, who happens to be what is referred to as "the chosen one" she has a calling, and that is to kill vampires and other such demons in the town where she lives which also happens to be the gate way to hell called "Sunny Dale".
Other main character's in the series tend to be generally good looking which again appeals to a younger audience who place a lot of value on appearance. The characters are likeable for the most part with a few exceptions, one particular female character named Cordelia is rather unpleasant at times, being extremely obnoxious, shallow, not entirely trustworthy, also sometimes cruel and self obsessed. Her character is meant to reflect the typical American popular cheerleader type of teenage female in a high school setting. As she feels threatened by Buffy probably as she sees her as competition in terms of gaining attention from boys and being popular she takes an instant dislike to her, and as she senses there is something a little different about Buffy she likes to taunt and bring her down at every opportunity.
Other than Cordelia there are not a great deal of unlikeable regular characters, that is until the point where Buffy's boyfriend Angel turns from a good Vampire who has a soul to a soulless evil Vampire which she eventually has to slay.
Other than this, Most of the "baddies" in general only last for a 1 episode, on the rare occasion some return for a few more, however this is not typical, especially not in the first season.
Season two sees the first appearance of a character named Spike, a vampire who in sorts has two personalities, evil in terms of killing humans to feed,whilst having an almost likeable side, his part is that of a comedic role and is both entertaining and charming at times.
the series features a number of creatures and entities from other worlds including Witches, Werewolves, Ghosts, Demons, Mummy's, Curses and a range of Monsters as well as Vampires.
The Vampires in this series are for part of the time completely normal looking, in that I mean that they look just like human beings usually with just slightly paler skin. However when they are provoked or hungry for blood they turn into ugly, wrinkled, demons with yellow eyes and sharp fangs.
The main theme from the series which I am basing my Claudia and Quentin characters on is the love story behind the pair. I feel that making Quentin a Vampire provides me with ample opportunity to explore his different character traits and design looks for two personalities within the same character. The same theme is going to be applied to the character of Claudia where I shall describe the character and appearance of her in the reality of her situation whilst creating a contrasting look which reflects the person and behaviour she creates in her mind of how she would like to be seen.
Bibliography
about, read with Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about (2010) ‘The Terrifying Tale of Peter Plogojowitz • Vampires.com’. Vampires.com. Available at: http://www.vampires.com/the-terrifying-tale-of-peter-plogojowitz/ (Accessed: 19 March 2015).
Dorian, M., Sorescu, M. and Deletant, D. (1988) ‘Vlad Dracula, the Impaler’, World Literature Today, 62(2). doi: 10.2307/40143599.
Miller, E. (no date) Traits of the Vampire. Available at: http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~emiller/traits.html (Accessed: 19 March 2015).
‘Vampires: Fact, Fiction and Folklore’ (no date). LiveScience.com. Available at: http://www.livescience.com/24374-vampires-real-history.html (Accessed: 19 March 2015).
Citation
(Miller, no date)
(‘Vampires: Fact, Fiction and Folklore’, no date)
(Dorian, Sorescu and Deletant, 1988)
(about with Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, 2010)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The reasons I chose Buffy the Vampire Slayer as my series are because I used to watch the show as a child/young teen and as I am not a huge fan of Gruesome scenes, I thought this series would involve far less blood and guts due to the fact that it is aimed at a slightly younger audience.
I think that Claudia has quite a lot in common with the main character of Buffy as she is a character who is bar no means perfect and has problems in her life that other people can not understand. she is a bit of an out cast and not hugely popular at school which many young women and tens can relate to. I feel that Claudia herself probably feels like an odd one out considering most people in the world have fairly normal lives and by contrast hers is very abnormal.
The series deals with a range of issues many young people are faced with everyday such as romantic relationships, and divorce again these are things that people recognize in their own lives and relate to.
The series focuses on the life of this young individual Buffy, who happens to be what is referred to as "the chosen one" she has a calling, and that is to kill vampires and other such demons in the town where she lives which also happens to be the gate way to hell called "Sunny Dale".
Other main character's in the series tend to be generally good looking which again appeals to a younger audience who place a lot of value on appearance. The characters are likeable for the most part with a few exceptions, one particular female character named Cordelia is rather unpleasant at times, being extremely obnoxious, shallow, not entirely trustworthy, also sometimes cruel and self obsessed. Her character is meant to reflect the typical American popular cheerleader type of teenage female in a high school setting. As she feels threatened by Buffy probably as she sees her as competition in terms of gaining attention from boys and being popular she takes an instant dislike to her, and as she senses there is something a little different about Buffy she likes to taunt and bring her down at every opportunity.
Other than Cordelia there are not a great deal of unlikeable regular characters, that is until the point where Buffy's boyfriend Angel turns from a good Vampire who has a soul to a soulless evil Vampire which she eventually has to slay.
Other than this, Most of the "baddies" in general only last for a 1 episode, on the rare occasion some return for a few more, however this is not typical, especially not in the first season.
Season two sees the first appearance of a character named Spike, a vampire who in sorts has two personalities, evil in terms of killing humans to feed,whilst having an almost likeable side, his part is that of a comedic role and is both entertaining and charming at times.
the series features a number of creatures and entities from other worlds including Witches, Werewolves, Ghosts, Demons, Mummy's, Curses and a range of Monsters as well as Vampires.
The Vampires in this series are for part of the time completely normal looking, in that I mean that they look just like human beings usually with just slightly paler skin. However when they are provoked or hungry for blood they turn into ugly, wrinkled, demons with yellow eyes and sharp fangs.
The main theme from the series which I am basing my Claudia and Quentin characters on is the love story behind the pair. I feel that making Quentin a Vampire provides me with ample opportunity to explore his different character traits and design looks for two personalities within the same character. The same theme is going to be applied to the character of Claudia where I shall describe the character and appearance of her in the reality of her situation whilst creating a contrasting look which reflects the person and behaviour she creates in her mind of how she would like to be seen.
Bibliography
Cult Television - Buffy the Vampire Slayer Homepage (no date) Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/ (Accessed: 5 May 2015)
VanDerWerff, T. (2012) 10 episodes that show how Buffy The Vampire Slayer blew up genre TV. Available at: http://www.avclub.com/article/10-episodes-that-show-how-ibuffy-the-vampire-slaye-89781 (Accessed: 5 May 2015)
Citation
(Cult Television - Buffy the Vampire Slayer Homepage, no date)
(VanDerWerff, 2012)
Tuesday 17 March 2015
Horror, Fear And The Uknown
This post is going to discuss the theme of horror and what makes it so appealing to human beings. Although most of us are scared and fearful of dying especially in a painful or particularly gruesome way and the same time many of us have a strange fascination with death in any form and will at some point in our lives question what happens after death.
Every day in the news we are bombarded with gruesome images and tales of evil goings on from all over the world. From wars and terrorism to murders, suicides and abuse. In fact, horrifying news is so common it seems to some degree to be almost inescapable, even if you choose not to watch the news or read the paper, magazines print terrifying real life stories and with the ever growing popularity of social networking sites it is ever more difficult to not hear about some atrocity or another by some form or another. But what exactly is it that makes nasty news spread like wild fire? The answer to this is a psychological one. Fear is a natural survival response to real or perceived danger, therefore if we hear or see something that we feel may endanger us especially if particularly brutal inciting a feeling of anxiety or alarm within ourselves, we will more than likely feel the need to talk about it with others, either for a sense of comfort, or because as much as we like to deny the fact that we in some way enjoy telling spreading the word about events that horrify us. After all what shocks us is most likely going to have a similar effect on another person. In terms of deviant acts by other human beings such as terrorist groups or violent gangs in city areas, the style of news reporting which is frequently used is partly to blame for the spread of fear and disgust. In sociological terms this is referred to as moral panic, where deviant acts are over exaggerated or defined as a threat to societal values. Increasingly everyday it seems we read about terror groups,gangs,violent individuals or corruption from above which maybe perceived as a threat throughout our society and thus turned into big bucks by the media, and whilst the threat may be real you can always count on newspapers to print negative and shocking stories because it is a well known fact that humans WANT to be in the know. Fear can be almost addictive in this case, you may pick up a newspaper and read a horrifying headline which creates and overwhelming feeling of despair within yourself, however instead of putting the paper down, most of us will succumb to the curiosity and not be able to resist reading on, even though we know from the few words used in the tile of the article that the gory details ahead will cause us to experience negative emotions from what we are about to read.
Horror movies work on a similar basis. although with films of this genre there is another element to the attraction of fear. As w all know, whatever be observe in movies is not real. Therefore watching someone getting murdered but knowing reassuringly in the back of our minds that it is fake, when we are able to say to ourselves "its just actors doing there jobs" this allows us to feel the fear but at the same time not to take what we have witnessed at such a serious level as hearing about some grim massacre on the 10,clock news. in Addition to this, it appears that the fear we experience during the viewing of a horror movie might actually be enjoyable to some. This is down to the release of a hormone called Dopamine in our brains which happens as a response to a real or perceived threat, which throughout our evolution would have aided our ability to protect ourselves through the fight or flight response. It appears that some people get a feeling of enjoyment or a kick from this sudden surge of Dopamine, however as we are all unique even down to the individual chemical balance of our brains, others may not experience such a thrill and may dislike watching scary movies.
Another theory regarding horror and the human interest surrounding it is the curiosity of what makes people tick,.. with so many unanswered questions... for example; Why are the majority us unable to carry out heinous acts against others and are naturally repulsed/terrified by those who seen to inflict pain so easily and willingly? also the question of nature and nurture, Are some people just born evil or is it the experiences and situations they are dealt in life that cause them to become bad people? for example brainwashing or suffering abuse as a child. Not only this but where and what is the the thin line between mental illness and evil? How do you define if someone can be held responsible for their actions? How do you rule out behavior caused by an underlying illness or condition which hinders someones ability to act in a normal manor, and how do you establish whether or not someone is sane but purely cruel? It is this curiosity and fascination with the unknown, lack of understanding and the need or desire to understand which fuels our interest in subjects such as murder and other vicious crimes. The fear of the unknown however does not purely relate to human behavior but also the world of the supernatural and/or paranormal. Those stories, eyewitness accounts or first hand experiences to which no one is able to assign a logical explanation, which evoke great terror in many. Children love telling ghost tales to scare the pants off of each other as they experience thrill from matters of the unexplained but this is not only relevant to childhood. Many adults will dabble in activities such as playing the Oui Ja board or holding seances to contact the other side, Some because they have a genuine thirst for knowledge of what lies ahead for us all after parting from this world, whilst others purely participate in such activities as a form of entertainment or to scare themselves witless. In fact there is a growing number of documentary style television shows in which "paranormal investigators" will visit well known allegedly haunted sites such as old mental asylums, houses and prisons armed with cameras and recording equipment in the hope of catching evidence of life after death or "supernatural" anomalies of some sort or another. Again the supernatural makes for great entertainment, with a huge number of extremely successful televisions series popping up on different channels all over the world, with plots of flesh eating Zombie attacks, Ghosts, Vampires and Witches, not only providing viewers with their fix of adrenaline induced by sheer terror, but creating a world of fantasy and escapism from the humdrum of everyday life. Finally another vitally important point to consider is the role religion plays in peoples perception of good Vs evil and regarding fear. What terrifies one person may have little to no effect at all on another, so the obvious question that arises is why? Why are some people scared of ghosts and some not? of course the answer to this phenomenon is individual perception. This perception of threat or danger may be rooted in our subconscious for example in the case of phobias, which may have been sparked by an unpleasant or shocking experience, a dream or stress, which is unexplained but usually surrounds a creature inanimate object or situation which has no real logical explanation to cause such an extreme response. Other fears however may have been passed on to one person from another, such is the case of religion. Whatever a person chooses to believe then becomes their reality, whilst some need hard evidence and scientific proof to fear or acknowledge something, for others it is merely enough to hear a theory once which can be interpreted within their mind to make sense, and they will start to truly and whole heartedly believe it. Therefore when confronted with stories of Satan and sinning against God a religious believer may feel fear but and atheist would just shrug it off as a silly notion which they consider to be ridiculous. Atheists often believe organised religion to be a from of control for the masses by which the religious organization can to great extent dictate to people how they should behave, for example with threats of going to hell if they miss behave. However to a religious follower this perceived danger is something they want to avoid because they truly fear it, and in their world it is very real.
Every day in the news we are bombarded with gruesome images and tales of evil goings on from all over the world. From wars and terrorism to murders, suicides and abuse. In fact, horrifying news is so common it seems to some degree to be almost inescapable, even if you choose not to watch the news or read the paper, magazines print terrifying real life stories and with the ever growing popularity of social networking sites it is ever more difficult to not hear about some atrocity or another by some form or another. But what exactly is it that makes nasty news spread like wild fire? The answer to this is a psychological one. Fear is a natural survival response to real or perceived danger, therefore if we hear or see something that we feel may endanger us especially if particularly brutal inciting a feeling of anxiety or alarm within ourselves, we will more than likely feel the need to talk about it with others, either for a sense of comfort, or because as much as we like to deny the fact that we in some way enjoy telling spreading the word about events that horrify us. After all what shocks us is most likely going to have a similar effect on another person. In terms of deviant acts by other human beings such as terrorist groups or violent gangs in city areas, the style of news reporting which is frequently used is partly to blame for the spread of fear and disgust. In sociological terms this is referred to as moral panic, where deviant acts are over exaggerated or defined as a threat to societal values. Increasingly everyday it seems we read about terror groups,gangs,violent individuals or corruption from above which maybe perceived as a threat throughout our society and thus turned into big bucks by the media, and whilst the threat may be real you can always count on newspapers to print negative and shocking stories because it is a well known fact that humans WANT to be in the know. Fear can be almost addictive in this case, you may pick up a newspaper and read a horrifying headline which creates and overwhelming feeling of despair within yourself, however instead of putting the paper down, most of us will succumb to the curiosity and not be able to resist reading on, even though we know from the few words used in the tile of the article that the gory details ahead will cause us to experience negative emotions from what we are about to read.
Horror movies work on a similar basis. although with films of this genre there is another element to the attraction of fear. As w all know, whatever be observe in movies is not real. Therefore watching someone getting murdered but knowing reassuringly in the back of our minds that it is fake, when we are able to say to ourselves "its just actors doing there jobs" this allows us to feel the fear but at the same time not to take what we have witnessed at such a serious level as hearing about some grim massacre on the 10,clock news. in Addition to this, it appears that the fear we experience during the viewing of a horror movie might actually be enjoyable to some. This is down to the release of a hormone called Dopamine in our brains which happens as a response to a real or perceived threat, which throughout our evolution would have aided our ability to protect ourselves through the fight or flight response. It appears that some people get a feeling of enjoyment or a kick from this sudden surge of Dopamine, however as we are all unique even down to the individual chemical balance of our brains, others may not experience such a thrill and may dislike watching scary movies.
Another theory regarding horror and the human interest surrounding it is the curiosity of what makes people tick,.. with so many unanswered questions... for example; Why are the majority us unable to carry out heinous acts against others and are naturally repulsed/terrified by those who seen to inflict pain so easily and willingly? also the question of nature and nurture, Are some people just born evil or is it the experiences and situations they are dealt in life that cause them to become bad people? for example brainwashing or suffering abuse as a child. Not only this but where and what is the the thin line between mental illness and evil? How do you define if someone can be held responsible for their actions? How do you rule out behavior caused by an underlying illness or condition which hinders someones ability to act in a normal manor, and how do you establish whether or not someone is sane but purely cruel? It is this curiosity and fascination with the unknown, lack of understanding and the need or desire to understand which fuels our interest in subjects such as murder and other vicious crimes. The fear of the unknown however does not purely relate to human behavior but also the world of the supernatural and/or paranormal. Those stories, eyewitness accounts or first hand experiences to which no one is able to assign a logical explanation, which evoke great terror in many. Children love telling ghost tales to scare the pants off of each other as they experience thrill from matters of the unexplained but this is not only relevant to childhood. Many adults will dabble in activities such as playing the Oui Ja board or holding seances to contact the other side, Some because they have a genuine thirst for knowledge of what lies ahead for us all after parting from this world, whilst others purely participate in such activities as a form of entertainment or to scare themselves witless. In fact there is a growing number of documentary style television shows in which "paranormal investigators" will visit well known allegedly haunted sites such as old mental asylums, houses and prisons armed with cameras and recording equipment in the hope of catching evidence of life after death or "supernatural" anomalies of some sort or another. Again the supernatural makes for great entertainment, with a huge number of extremely successful televisions series popping up on different channels all over the world, with plots of flesh eating Zombie attacks, Ghosts, Vampires and Witches, not only providing viewers with their fix of adrenaline induced by sheer terror, but creating a world of fantasy and escapism from the humdrum of everyday life. Finally another vitally important point to consider is the role religion plays in peoples perception of good Vs evil and regarding fear. What terrifies one person may have little to no effect at all on another, so the obvious question that arises is why? Why are some people scared of ghosts and some not? of course the answer to this phenomenon is individual perception. This perception of threat or danger may be rooted in our subconscious for example in the case of phobias, which may have been sparked by an unpleasant or shocking experience, a dream or stress, which is unexplained but usually surrounds a creature inanimate object or situation which has no real logical explanation to cause such an extreme response. Other fears however may have been passed on to one person from another, such is the case of religion. Whatever a person chooses to believe then becomes their reality, whilst some need hard evidence and scientific proof to fear or acknowledge something, for others it is merely enough to hear a theory once which can be interpreted within their mind to make sense, and they will start to truly and whole heartedly believe it. Therefore when confronted with stories of Satan and sinning against God a religious believer may feel fear but and atheist would just shrug it off as a silly notion which they consider to be ridiculous. Atheists often believe organised religion to be a from of control for the masses by which the religious organization can to great extent dictate to people how they should behave, for example with threats of going to hell if they miss behave. However to a religious follower this perceived danger is something they want to avoid because they truly fear it, and in their world it is very real.
Bibliography
Cherry, K. (no date) ‘The Age Old Debate of Nature Versus Nurture’. About.com Education. Available at: http://psychology.about.com/od/nindex/g/nature-nurture.htm (Accessed: 17 March 2015).
Choices, N. (2014) Phobias - Causes - NHS Choices. Department of Health. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Phobias/Pages/Causes.aspx (Accessed: 17 March 2015).
Moral Panic (no date). Available at: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/moral_panic.htm (Accessed: 17 March 2015).
Ringo, A., Friedersdorf, C., Glaser, G., Kornhaber, S., Lichfield, G., Khazan, O., Romm, C., Swartz, A., Berman, R., Fassler, J. and Lam, B. (2013) ‘Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear? — The Atlantic’. The Atlantic. Available at: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/why-do-some-brains-enjoy-fear/280938/ (Accessed: 17 March 2015).
Citation
(Choices, 2014)
(Ringo et al., 2013)
(Cherry, no date)
(Moral Panic, no date)
Saturday 14 March 2015
Review Of Great Expectations BBC Series
So today I have been watching the BBC Series version of the Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations. Although I should have done this previously I did not have Netflix and could not find the series in full to watch until now.
However I would like to point out that I have previously looked at still images from this version and the 2012 adaptation in order to research and inspire my final assessment looks.
I think this version was a little slow starting just as the book itself. As expected the beginning scenes are extremely dark,gloomy and grey giving the film a very cold chilling atmosphere.
The Miss Havisham character in this version portrayed by Gillian Anderson appears quite youthful in the first scenes in which she appears, her skin is pale yet has pearly glow and he hair although white does not age her as much as some of the images of alternative Miss Havisham characters I have seen. The dress which she wears helps with the aging effect due to the fine lace material of which it is made and the way it fits hanging from her body almost like old cobweb's giving her a witch like appearance.
The set of Satis house is fantastically creepy looking, the walls covered in mould, the rotting cobweb covered wedding cake and table of food, combined with the grey/blue lighting gives it and eerie, haunting feel. When Pip discovers wedding table still set under layers of dust he turns around to find Miss Havisham standing silently behind him at which point she describes herself to him not as a bride but as the ghost of a bride.
The make up in general in this production is brilliant from the wounds covering mag witch in the opening scenes and the ageing through the episodes of Miss Havisham and Joe done subtly but with great effect.
Depression, bitterness and revenge are the prevalent themes of the novel which are reflected excellently throughout the 3 piece series with the lighting permanently remaining gloomy, dark and cool. The fact that very little warmth is used at all in the creation of this adaptation either from literall sources of warmth such as fires candles being used sparingly in scenes, along with a lack of warm lighting or warm colours being used in the set or wardrobe of the characters and the fact that it appears to be winter in all scenes adds to the cold, and heartlessness of many of the characters.
Being a BBC production It was obvious expectation that the costume, make up and scenery would be on point for historical accuracy which it indeed was. The make up was kept simple and VERY natural to the point that to an untrained eye may have been undetectable. The acting was of course brilliant and believable throughout Gillian Anderson performance was particularly impressive as she highlighted the characters clear mental instability, irrational hatred towards all men with the bitter - sweet enjoyment and pleasure she gains from manipulating and degrading others without overdoing it this keeping the character at least somewhat believable and hard to completely dislike.
Estella played by Vanessa Kirby was also very well depicted the depth of her character on one hand with her coldness, callousness and confidence in her ability to detroy others yet letting the audience get small glimpses into the loneliness, vulnerability hiding beneath the surface.
However I would like to point out that I have previously looked at still images from this version and the 2012 adaptation in order to research and inspire my final assessment looks.
I think this version was a little slow starting just as the book itself. As expected the beginning scenes are extremely dark,gloomy and grey giving the film a very cold chilling atmosphere.
The Miss Havisham character in this version portrayed by Gillian Anderson appears quite youthful in the first scenes in which she appears, her skin is pale yet has pearly glow and he hair although white does not age her as much as some of the images of alternative Miss Havisham characters I have seen. The dress which she wears helps with the aging effect due to the fine lace material of which it is made and the way it fits hanging from her body almost like old cobweb's giving her a witch like appearance.
The set of Satis house is fantastically creepy looking, the walls covered in mould, the rotting cobweb covered wedding cake and table of food, combined with the grey/blue lighting gives it and eerie, haunting feel. When Pip discovers wedding table still set under layers of dust he turns around to find Miss Havisham standing silently behind him at which point she describes herself to him not as a bride but as the ghost of a bride.
The make up in general in this production is brilliant from the wounds covering mag witch in the opening scenes and the ageing through the episodes of Miss Havisham and Joe done subtly but with great effect.
Depression, bitterness and revenge are the prevalent themes of the novel which are reflected excellently throughout the 3 piece series with the lighting permanently remaining gloomy, dark and cool. The fact that very little warmth is used at all in the creation of this adaptation either from literall sources of warmth such as fires candles being used sparingly in scenes, along with a lack of warm lighting or warm colours being used in the set or wardrobe of the characters and the fact that it appears to be winter in all scenes adds to the cold, and heartlessness of many of the characters.
Being a BBC production It was obvious expectation that the costume, make up and scenery would be on point for historical accuracy which it indeed was. The make up was kept simple and VERY natural to the point that to an untrained eye may have been undetectable. The acting was of course brilliant and believable throughout Gillian Anderson performance was particularly impressive as she highlighted the characters clear mental instability, irrational hatred towards all men with the bitter - sweet enjoyment and pleasure she gains from manipulating and degrading others without overdoing it this keeping the character at least somewhat believable and hard to completely dislike.
Estella played by Vanessa Kirby was also very well depicted the depth of her character on one hand with her coldness, callousness and confidence in her ability to detroy others yet letting the audience get small glimpses into the loneliness, vulnerability hiding beneath the surface.
Thursday 12 March 2015
Porcelain doll make up
Killing boredom by practising make up trying to achieve a Victorian style Porcelain doll look as I think they are slightly creepy and Dolls being sort of horror related for instance in the movie Chuckie. The pictures on my right I did over last summer and the left one I created tonight although I do prefer the first attempt!!
Porcelain or "Bisque" dolls as they were also known were constructed using a smooth clay called slip which when dry would produce a smooth matte finish often confused with China which would have been glazed to create a shiny smooth finish.
Porcelain or "Bisque" dolls as they were also known were constructed using a smooth clay called slip which when dry would produce a smooth matte finish often confused with China which would have been glazed to create a shiny smooth finish.
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Here are some examples of Victorian Porcelain Dolls with their pale complexions and darker make up. The dolls all have very round childlike or infant like faces with pouting red lips and are often dressed in christening style lace gowns or elaborate Victoirian style garments similar to that of which would have been worn by children of wealthy Victorian families.
A Victorian style ball jointed Porcelain doll, the ball joints allowed the dolls arms and legs to be moved slightly into different poses.
A Victorian Era little girl and her porcelain doll
Chuckie and His Doll bride from the Horror movie Bride Of Chuckie
Bibliography
Porcelain Gothic Dolls - Ball Jointed Dolls - by Koitsukihime (no date). Available at: http://www.darkromance.com/gothic-arts/sculpture/koitsukihime/ball-jointed-dolls-2.html (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection (no date) ‘VICTORIAN PORCELAIN DOLLS - THE RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX COLLECTION’. Available at: http://blog.americanheritage1.com/blog/bid/71561/VICTORIAN-PORCELAIN-DOLLS-THE-RALEIGH-DEGEER-AMYX-COLLECTION (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
(no date). Available at: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/chucky-the-killer-doll/picks/results/843313/which-chucky-movie-scariest (Accessed: 20 March 2015).
Citation
(The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection, no date)
(Porcelain Gothic Dolls - Ball Jointed Dolls - by Koitsukihime, no date)
(no date)
Wednesday 11 March 2015
Estella Assessment Pictures and review
Yesterday I had y final assessment which was the Estella look. I found the make up part of this assessment fairly easy as i tried my best to keep the make up fairly simple and true to Victorian style. therefore the make up element of the assessment was not time consuming at all leaving plenty of extra time to focus on getting the hairstyle right, which was lucky because it took me quite a while to create the look I was going for. Phoebe has very thick and very straight hair which meant curling very small sections which took a while. Once the hair had been curled I then moved onto the task of styling the curls which also turned out to be pretty tricky as I wanted the curls to form a sort of layered effect from the top of the curled ponytail down to the underneath section which was all curled but not tied up. the front of the style was especially tricky as phoebes hair was layered and shaped around the face meaning the hair that I wanted to bring back off the face was fairly short and kept falling out of the style. to tackle this problem I used a fair amount of hairspray and twisted the hair into the curls.
Overall I think the assessment went okay and I am pretty pleased with he finished photographs one thing that I would spend more time on to change if I had to do the assessment again would to make more use of my mirrors when styling the front of the hair style to make sure it looks even from front view which I did not do enough of this time as the curls on one side stand out much more on one side when viewing the style straight from the front.
here are my final pictures..
Overall I think the assessment went okay and I am pretty pleased with he finished photographs one thing that I would spend more time on to change if I had to do the assessment again would to make more use of my mirrors when styling the front of the hair style to make sure it looks even from front view which I did not do enough of this time as the curls on one side stand out much more on one side when viewing the style straight from the front.
here are my final pictures..
Friday 6 March 2015
Continuity Assessment Part Two Review
Yesterday was the second part of my Miss Havisham continuity assessment. I think that the assessment went better than expected in some ways yet I do feel that some of my work could have been better. When I went into the assessment I did not take any photographs of my last assessment to stick on my mirror as to save money in printing I decided to refer to the pictures using my phone. However this did not turn out to be the brightest of ideas as whenever I went to refer back to the photographs my phone would have returned to the lock screen which meant me physically picking it up and unlocking it to view the images which because quite frustrating after a while and inhibited me from using two hands at a time to recreate and copy parts of the design for instance the hair whilst looking at the photographs. I realise now that in future I NEED to print the pictures and have them displayed where I an see them at all times.
Another problem I encountered during this assessment was the fact that I had purchased different brand (cheaper own store brand) of dry shampoo. Again I did this to attempt to save some money as I used an Entire can of dry shampoo during my first assessment which isn't cheap!! However the downside to using a different make was that when I sprayed the dry shampoo it was of a different consistency, and did not give the hair such a white colour. In fact the cheaper dry shampoo was not really dry at all, it came out in a fine liquid form such as hairspray would when sprayed from a can and soaked into the hair rather than sitting on top, thus giving the hair a much less visible shade of grey and made some areas of hair look wet. To add to this because the consistency of the dry shampoo was much finer I managed to go through the whole can without covering all of the hair leaving some areas completely black.
This being said I think that the actual styling of the hair in my final assessment came out much closer to the previous images than I had expected and had it not have been for the dry shampoo would have been a close match.
The make up I did not feel turned out so well. In the pictures I took on my phone in the studio the make up appeared to be much stronger in colour in comparison to the pictures I had taken with the camera I think this may be partly down to the fact that I left some shine on the face which was picked up by the flash. and also because in rushing my make up to complete on time I did not take as much care as I should have done to ensure the lines and colours were as similar to the original image as possible. Again getting frustrated with looking at my phone constantly did not help matters.
Although the images I produced this time were not perfect I feel that this assessment has raised some important points for improvement from which I can learn and use to my advantage in future assessments. and there are areas such as the hair styling with which I was pleasantly surprised.
Here are my images from yesterdays assessment the pictures with the black background are the photographs taken with the camera and the last was taken in the make up studio using my phone.
Another problem I encountered during this assessment was the fact that I had purchased different brand (cheaper own store brand) of dry shampoo. Again I did this to attempt to save some money as I used an Entire can of dry shampoo during my first assessment which isn't cheap!! However the downside to using a different make was that when I sprayed the dry shampoo it was of a different consistency, and did not give the hair such a white colour. In fact the cheaper dry shampoo was not really dry at all, it came out in a fine liquid form such as hairspray would when sprayed from a can and soaked into the hair rather than sitting on top, thus giving the hair a much less visible shade of grey and made some areas of hair look wet. To add to this because the consistency of the dry shampoo was much finer I managed to go through the whole can without covering all of the hair leaving some areas completely black.
This being said I think that the actual styling of the hair in my final assessment came out much closer to the previous images than I had expected and had it not have been for the dry shampoo would have been a close match.
The make up I did not feel turned out so well. In the pictures I took on my phone in the studio the make up appeared to be much stronger in colour in comparison to the pictures I had taken with the camera I think this may be partly down to the fact that I left some shine on the face which was picked up by the flash. and also because in rushing my make up to complete on time I did not take as much care as I should have done to ensure the lines and colours were as similar to the original image as possible. Again getting frustrated with looking at my phone constantly did not help matters.
Although the images I produced this time were not perfect I feel that this assessment has raised some important points for improvement from which I can learn and use to my advantage in future assessments. and there are areas such as the hair styling with which I was pleasantly surprised.
Here are my images from yesterdays assessment the pictures with the black background are the photographs taken with the camera and the last was taken in the make up studio using my phone.
Ideas for Claudia
I feel like I needed a bit of a break from great expectations as am finding I'm lacking in motivation to write anything great expectations related at all at the moment. So decided to read the brief for Quentin and Claudia and see if I could come up with any ideas for my Character designs.
On reading the brief I have created two designs so far for the character of Claudia, one is a design of her in her everyday life using minimal make up, appearing as though she does to everyone else in the world in reality. The second image is a fantasy Creation of how she would imagine herself to look based on a number of female Villains from horror type movies, or at least evil characters, as she has a passion for horror genre films which she uses as an escape from her rather dull, and unhappy reality.
On reading the brief I have created two designs so far for the character of Claudia, one is a design of her in her everyday life using minimal make up, appearing as though she does to everyone else in the world in reality. The second image is a fantasy Creation of how she would imagine herself to look based on a number of female Villains from horror type movies, or at least evil characters, as she has a passion for horror genre films which she uses as an escape from her rather dull, and unhappy reality.
My first design
The inspiration for this first image which is the everyday Claudia comes from the Charecter of Carrie from the horror movie Carrie. I feel that it would be natural for Claudia to identify with a character such as Carrie who lives a sheltered life and is socially awkward. Other characters who come to mind when creating this version of Claudia are Ginger from the movie Ginger Snaps who again is a bit of a social reject and who also has a strong interest in the morbid and deathly spending her time recreating scenes from horror movies.
below an image of the character of Carrie from the 2013 remake of the horror classic.
My second design
This version of Claudia is the Claudia that she sometimes imagines in her head that she would like to be the inspiration for this look has come from 3 Characters, firstly Carrie again because of the background story of Claudia as she is similar to the freal Claudia underneath. also Carrie being a readhead has a naturally pale skin tone which I have used in my design. The second character is Maleficent although from a disney movie, she is still a horror character (for a younger audience). Pictured below is Angelina Jolie as Maleficent in the 2014 Disney Movie named after the character.
I would incorporate elements of Maleficent's look into this character by using strong contouring to create sharp contour lines making the face appear drawn in and bony, and also by using a strong red colour on the lips which both accentuates them and adds a strange sort of beauty to the evil character.
Finally the third fictional character which influenced this design is the black swan ballet dancer from the Movie Black Swan played by Natalie Portman. The inspiration from this image was the heavy striking eye make up designed to look like swan feathers on the face of the Black Swan. In my design I have created swipes of black make up, almost wing like but finer so more feathered, coming away from the eyes, down the face to give them a dark, mysterious appearance which the meet sharp pointed feathered swipes of red blusher from the cheek bones. I like the idea of the black and red make up meeting in the middle as they are both colours associated with evil, horror and death.
below the Black Swan portrayed by Natalie Portman
Bibliography
Murray, E., Emily Murray20. Leeds Uni History (2014) ‘Angelina Jolie was AWESOME!’. moviepilot.com. Available at: http://moviepilot.com/posts/2014/06/10/maleficent-2014-spoilers-easter-eggs-review-1494546?lt_source=external,manual (Accessed: 6 March 2015).
‘Natalie Portman Black Swan Jokes’ (no date). Hangover School. Available at: http://hangoverschool.com/natalie-portman-black-swan-jokes/ (Accessed: 6 March 2015).
‘The creepy things you’ll hear if you dial that number in the Carrie trailer’ (2013). Blastr. Available at: http://www.blastr.com/2013-8-27/creepy-things-youll-hear-if-you-dial-number-carrie-trailer (Accessed: 6 March 2015).
Citation
(Murray, Emily Murray20. Leeds Uni History, 2014)
(‘The creepy things you’ll hear if you dial that number in the Carrie trailer’, 2013)
(‘Natalie Portman Black Swan Jokes’, no date)
Wednesday 4 March 2015
Final idea for Estella hair
This is the first design I have come up with for the hairstyle of Estella. The hair will be a typical late victorian style with a centre parting at the front of the head. Each side will be Identical with two rows of curls starting from the parting down the side of each head and back up to join in the centre of the rear of the head where they will blend into a big pile of loops and curls. The underneath will consist of dangling sausage shape curls with a layer of bigger looped curls lying flat over the top to blend the two and pinned into place using pins.
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