Costumes Essays (Examples)

Costumes

A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most whimsical plays, and therefore this production follows in its spirit. Designing costumes for A Midsummer Night's Dream allows for total creative license, as the play takes place within a fantasy world replete with fairies. The overall impact is captured well by an artist at Duke (image credit: http://sites.duke.edu/midsummer/files/2009/12/Study_for_The_Quarrel_of_Oberon_and_Titania.jpg):

This image is a study for what Oberon and Titania might look like. The fairy queen and king here seem innocent. Titania is rendered more angelic than fairy-like, which is why I only appreciate this image as an overall impression of the extent of the fairy world created on the stage. I prefer the fairy world to be peopled thickly like this image here, meaning that the cast of fairies should be as large as possible for the venue. This image also shows the changeling.

The main characters are not fairies, however,…

Costumes in Les Miserables (1998) Directed by Bille August

1998's Les Miserables' costumes were designed by Academy Award-winning costume designer Gabriella Pescucci. Pescucci had previously won for The Age of Innocence and been nominated for The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1993). hile her work for Billie August's Les Mis would go unnominated for any major awards, the costumes are nonetheless on par with her previous work and reflect the authentic style and taste of early to mid-19th century France.

As Caterina Massuras reports for Vogue Italia, Pescucci's costumes are marked by "a cultured taste for invention, colors that are always perfect, and a pathological attention to every detail -- joined to an absolute ability to pick the right accessory." This high praise can be discerned in every choice of costume for the five main characters of August's Les Mis.

The five main characters or Javert, the relentless lawman out to…

Othello Costumes

Designing costumes for Othello, in whatever form -- play, ballet or opera, presents a few problems from the outset. First, of course, is the necessity for the costume to enhance the feeling of paranoia of Othello, a Moor in a Caucasian society. Second, Iago needs to be malevolent without being evil personified; he is, perhaps, simply overly worldly and overly ambitious, as is his wife, Emily. And third, Desdemona has to be understandable in the context of her own time, and of ours. hile it may have been usual then for a woman to trust even when reason would tell her not to, it isn't so today.

A look at historical accuracy is necessary to see whether the costumes do their job properly in four very different productions of Othello/Otello: the San Francisco Ballet's production with music by Elliott Goldenthal; the English National Opera production conducted by Mark…

In conclusion, costumes are used in two essential ways in the film. The first is that it reinforces the sense of normalcy and creates a background that juxtaposes and heightens the horror and drama of the film. The second use of costume in the way that Bates dresses as his mother is a complete transgression of normalcy and psychologically and socially diametrically opposed to the mundane costumes worn by the rest of the cast. This contrast is severe and serves not only to heighten the horror and shock aspects of the film but also functions to highlight and to provide insight into the twisted mind of Norman Bates.

Finally it is also interesting to note that the film was made in the 1960's, when the dress codes were more formalized and strictly related to particular social roles and norms. In this time the issue of cross-dressing and transvestitism was virtually…

Disguise, Costume, And Role Playing in Ben Jonson's Volpone

Ben Jonson's Volpone, first performed in London in 1605, was a highly successful play centering on the theme of greed. Volpone is particularly notable for Jonson's characters' use of disguise, costume and role playing both to advance the action of the story and to visually express Jonson's ethical beliefs to educate his audience. By writing in the satiric comedic style, the author offered a classic example of his own philosophy that the poet should fulfill a moral function in society. The delightful satire of Volpone clearly exhibits the traits common in all of Jonson's drama: the style and setting are simple and clean; the verse is fast-paced and full of life and humor; the writer's point-of-view is expressed without being either didactic or overly lyrical. In addition to the words the characters speak, the physical garb and personalities they don at…

Art, Costume, And Scenery of Major Feature Films of the 1980s

Kiss of the Spider oman. Hector Babenco, 1988.

Adapting The Kiss of the Spider oman to the cinema presented a unique challenge to filmmakers. The story is set in a jail cell, and largely takes the form of dialogue between two prisoners: Molina, a homosexual window dresser, and his cellmate, a fiery radical named Valentin. To pass the time, Molina tells his cellmate stories. The dank, dark cell where the two men wear relatively minimalistic clothing is a stark contrast with the beautiful, melodramatic films that Molina narrates. Occasionally, some brightness will intrude into the jail, such as when Molina cooks for Valentin or when he puts a scarf around his head. Molina may make an attempt at drag, but it is relatively minor given the tools at his disposal. "Hurt wears a kind of improvised drag, mostly involving…

women's dress movement. The writer explores the movement and the progression of changes in women's dress through the years with the movement. The writer places an emphasis on the feminists of the era that created and continued the dress movement. There were five sources used to complete this paper.

For many years the 1960's have gotten all the credit for the women's movement in America. Many people believe that the movement began then and escalated until women were the equal partners that they are today. While many of the women's movements largest steps did indeed occur in the 1960's the actual movement began many years before that. The women's movement was alive and active in the 1800's and caused as many if not more changes for females than the more recent movement has caused. Today's women dress for success and comfort. The very fact that they can choose what to…

Midsummer's Night Dream

Acting:

ere the actors believable in their roles?

I did not find all of the actors particularly believable in their roles. I could not help noticing that several of the members of the cast forgot their lines or misspoke their lines, sometimes saying a line in the wrong place. Knowing the play well, this really threw me off and took me out of the moment of the performance. I felt there was a lot of timing issues with the performers at well where they would not hit their mark or missed their cue.

Identify the performers you considered most successful.

Of all the performers in the play, I felt that the actress playing the role of Hermia excelled in her role. She made the love and despondency and anger very palpable which was conveyed easily to the audience.

If there were performers you did not like, identify…

Cocoon (Howard, 1985) is a 1985 Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre film directed by Ron Howard, who previously directed such films as Splash and Night Shift. Benefitting from the kindly type of aliens previously seen in E.T.: The Extraterrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Cocoon used the advanced technologies of benevolent aliens to explore aging and the pros/cons of reversing that process. Aided by a veteran cast and superior editing/special effects, Cocoon became a hit film.

General Theme/Overview, Style, Plot and Character Development

The general theme is the exploration of aging and the pros/cons of reversing the process, using the style of Sci-Fi/Fantasy. The plot involves the extraordinary results of humans interacting with kindly, advanced aliens, and the dilemmas caused by those results. Thousands of years ago, aliens from Antarea lived on the island of Atlantis on Earth. The island sank and 20 Antareans stayed behind so other Antareans would have…

Scene Four: Parker Adderson, Philospher

This scene will take place exactly as it does in the story. The stage will be divided into two parts. In center stage will be the tent with the Parker Adderson and the general. Adderson will be sitting across from the general at the table and will be questioned. The monologue will unfold with only this part of the stage being lit.

After the fight, Adderson will be escorted to stage left where there will be a doctor and campfire along with soldiers guarding Adderson. Adderson will be wrapped in a blanket and must be visibly trembling and shrunken in horror. The general and dead officer will still be in the tent, which will remain lit. The general will come around and order the execution. At this point, the tent and campfire will go black and the right stage will be lit with the fire…

Descendants is a film that attempts to operate on several layers at once. While it may be said to be allegorical in one sense (taking place on what is popularly presumed to be an island "paradise," where falls are experienced and redemptions are sought), the film by Alexander Payne may also be said to be a simple story about a father and husband who learns (on his wife's deathbed) that he is actually a cuckold. What follows is a two-hour experiment in tolerance, as both the viewer and the characters in the narrative become aware of exactly where their threshold of pain stands. That threshold is then pushed to its limits, as Payne drives home one twist of the screw after another. In a way, the film is about the weakness of man -- Matt King's inability to love his wife, to be there for his children; Brian Speer's inability…

Spade walking down to examine a murder makes use of shadows as well as high black-white contrast in order to convey drama and suspense. This is commonly referred to as the film noir lighting technique because it conveys a sense of mystery and danger. The lighting highlights the most extreme contours of the character's faces, but none of the moderating details such as texture or color. This makes the facial expressions look much more dramatic than they would under normal lighting.

The costumes are also very typical of the film noir genre. Spade is wearing a black wool overcoat and a fedora and his counterpart from the police station is wearing the same outfit. This is a style of dress associated with detectives, who sometimes had to conceal their identity and not stand out. The overcoat conceals much of the person's figure and could conceal weapons or other objects.

The…

For instance, renowned designer Barbara Matera explained that when Glenn Close first tried on the Norma Desmond costume described above, she "winced under its weight" (New York's Top Costume Shop Reveals Its Secrets 1996:3). The costume's designer, Anthony Powell, instructed Close to turn around and face the mirror, and "upon seeing the stunning result her whole attitude changed" (4). Other anecdotal accounts on the design process from Matera included: "e love shows that have underwear scenes" (referring to bustles, corsets, and pantaloons), and "bird costumes can be very taxing"; these comments provide some insight into the creative challenges that face costume designers and makers today.

Each character that appears in a production must be individually assessed, and gradually each movement of each character and each costume must then be integrated into a cohesive whole that presents the imagery desired. "At any rate," Cole et al. say, "slowly, harmoniously, must the…

The script eliminates one of Ophelia's major monologues, when she details to Polonius how Hamlet came to her, after seeing the ghost, when she first fears he is mad. Instead, the movie script shows this seen as action, in the real time of the play. Yet the silent reactions of Ophelia speak volumes, even though Hamlet is the most active character in the room.

hat do you feel was the peak point, dramatically, of the play? hy?

In contrast to Carter's believable restraint during the 'mad scene' Gibson's most emotionally truthful scene is the apocalyptically emotional 'closet scene' with Glenn Close as Gertrude. Hamlet's anger at his mother's perceived betrayal is conveyed through intense physicality. This is Hamlet's most irrationally violent scene in the play, on paper, and the explosive anger that is consistently shown in Gibson's performance seems most appropriate in this scene.

Evaluate how well the costume designer…

Romeo & Juliet Movie Production Critique

This movie production critique is based on the William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet version, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Staring off with the set, this was based as Verona Beach, and portrayed as a modern day city. There are many references to religion in the set, with angel statues and shots of churches and areas of prayer. Also, many of the buildings in the inner city (away from the beach), are large skyscraper-like buildings with large signs denoting Montague or Capulet. The mansion of the Capulet's is large and opulent, with gardens, many staircases, many rooms, and a large pool where the infamous "Romeo, oh Romeo" scene takes place. Modernism is apparent in the billboards, beach front and gas stations shown.

Use of light during the day is infused with color and intensity. The sun shines with golden abundance and each characters eyes…

action-packed sequel to the Expendables (2010), The Expendables 2 expands on Stallone's action-packed script and introduces even more action stars of the 80s and 90s. The Expendables 2 brings back Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Terry Crews, and andy Couture, with expanded roles played by Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. In addition to this impressive cast, The Expendables 2 also features performances by Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Through The Expendables 2's mise-en-scene, the audience is exposed to a non-stop, action-packed, adrenaline fueled adventure.

While Stallone directed the first film, Stallone passed the directorial torch to Simon West for the sequel. As a director, West was charged with guiding "the actors in performance, [determining] the staging of the action, [supervising] all aspects of shooting, and [working] with the producer, writer, and designer before production and with the film and sound editors after production to ensure consistency and…

Limitless is a film that was released by elativity Media and Virgin Produced in 2011. The film's primary cast consists of Bradley Cooper, who plays the protagonist, Eddie Morra, Abbie Cornish, who plays Eddie's girlfriend Lindy, and obert DeNiro, who plays Carl Van Loon, a finance and energy tycoon. The premise of the film is that Eddie, a struggling professional writer, comes across the brother of his ex-wife, Vernon, on the streets of New York City by chance. Vernon, a former drug dealer, and now shady pharmaceutical consultant, offers Eddie a drug that allows him complete access to the full capacity of his brain. Vernon is murdered by criminal rivals and Eddie takes Vernon's remaining cash and stash of the fictional wonder-drug to propel his life in a new, much better direction. The conflicts of the film include the unknown and potentially fatal side effects of the drug that Eddie…

Watch movie clip: The Departed (2/5) Movie CLIP I Want Some Pills (2006) HD http://www.youtube./watch?v=NEwspgySg5s&list=PL31DE65690EE474 Elements Design During process envisioning designing a film, director, production designer, art director ( collaboration cinematographer) concerned major spatial temporal elements.

The Departed -- scene analysis

The director, the production designer, and the art director

The Departed is a 2006 motion picture directed by Martin Scorsese, with Kristi Zea as the production designer and Teresa Carriker-Thayer as the art director.

Martin Scorsese was meant to put the script into play by controlling the motion picture's artwork and the dramatic character it was meant to put across. y guiding the film crew and the actors in producing the best results possible the film director is thus meant to have authority over most of the motion picture's production. One can even go as far as to say that the film director is responsible for interpreting the script…

Beaux Strategem by George Farquhar is about two greedy and recently broke men who plan to seduce heiresses to steal their fortune. The main characters are Aimwell and Archer who pose as a well-to-do gentleman and his manservant. The cast of characters include: Aimwell, Archer, Count Bellair a French officer, prisoner at Litchfield, Sullen a country blockhead, brutal to his wife, Freeman a gentleman from London, Foigard a priest, chaplain to the French officers, Gibbet a high-way-man, Houslow, his companions, Bagshot, Boniface the landlord of the inn, Scrub a servant to Mr. Sullen, Lady Bountiful an old civil country gentlewoman, that cures all her neighbours of all distemper, Dorinda Lady Bountiful's daughter, Mrs. Sullen her daughter-in-law, Gipsy maid to the ladies. The 2013 production is directed by Adam Simon and keeps quick pace and crisp dialogue to allow this latest production breathe new life to a 200+ year old play.…

Camera angles that focus on wretched faces, of young boys in red coated uniforms begging for mercy, and of the arrogance of the British officer corps, not just towards Americans, but towards their own enlisted men, are shown with filming skill. As might be expected for this type of film, John Williams' score was masterful and very much in line with the generation of epics from the 1950s and 1960s -- painting a realistic picture of the film without dialog. Similarly, the audience is set up between the idyllic farm and hard work of a widower in the opening scene to the juxtaposition and hoped for return to normalcy in the final moments -- however, knowing that things will never be as they were (See: http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=336714&contentTypeId=130&category=trailer). The scene, however, that most stays with the audience is not one of the grander battles, but a one-on-one battle between Benjamin and Tavington,…

Thus, the story of both the battle and the crafting of the tapestry is of historical and personal interest.

Location/Setting

Because this movie will emphasize illiam's invasion, it is important that the movie be filmed in England. Both the region where the infamous battle of Hastings was fought, in addition to London, will be major locations in the film. The film will focus on the Norman's impact on English life and culture, in addition to warfare. This can be best emphasized by introductory and final shots at estminster Abbey, where Edward the Confessor was buried and illiam the Conqueror was crowned (Invasion of England n/d).

Cast

The two primary characters will be Harold Godwinson, the English heir to the thrown, and illiam, Duke of Normandy, the invader. Generous flashbacks will also include scenes from the life of Edward the Confessor. The groups that need to be represented are the English,…

Mise-en-scene

As Gerald Mast states, "Details develop the film's emotional dynamics" (138), and these details are everywhere in the mise-en-scene. The most important aspect of the mise-en-scene, of course, is the acting. Actors are the most obvious props -- and Oh Dae-su provides ample instances of buffoonery that keeps Oldboy from sinking into the mire of its own violence. Despite all the gore, the film harbors a gentleness and affection, thanks to the acting from Oh Dae-su and Mido. Even the villain provides a handsome face and charming smile -- and an affable voice; even he is hard not to like, as he plays cat and mouse with Oh Dae-su.

The low-key lighting also helps provide the audience with the emotional connection necessary for the kind of mystery the film attempts to be. Scenes are shrouded in darkness -- such as when the heroes find themselves working in the Internet…

Director Baz Luhrmann's 1996 reworking of Shakespeare's omeo and Juliet is a solid reworking of Shakespeare's classic tale. In the film two young lovers (omeo and Juliet) are separated by a bitter and long-lasting family feud. Despite their family's terrible animosity toward each other, the two marry in secret. Juliet's cousin Tybalt challenges omeo to a duel, but omeo refuses to fight back. Instead, Tybalt stabs Mercutio, omeo's best friend, and omeo kills Tybalt. omeo is banned from the city, and a distraught Juliet plans to fake her own death to avoid marrying Paris. She sends word to omeo of her scam, but her message does not reach him. He sees Juliet's seemingly dead body at the chapel, and consumed by grief, drinks a vial of poison. Juliet wakes up, sees omeo dead, and shoots herself as she cannot bear to live without him.

Leonardo DiCaprio, as omeo, and Claire…

Othello by William Shakespeare and the film version of the play directed by Oliver Parker. Specifically it will analyze play from a dramatic and design point-of-view. The film, released in 1995, stars Laurence Fishburne, Irene Jacob, and Oliver Parker. This film is an excellent rendition of Shakespeare's classic play, made even more appealing by the exceptional acting by Laurence Fishburne, who brings a sensual side to the role that is quite effective.

There have been many performances of Shakespeare's play "Othello" on the stage and in film. One of the best is the 1995 version that starred Laurence Fishburne as Othello. His performance made this dramatic play even more memorable and understandable, and truly brought the character of Othello to life. He gave Othello a sensual quality that helped explain Desdemona's attraction to him, and added another dimension to the character. The film also highlighted the racial tension at the…

Fashion

Romantic Era Fashion

In Europe, the Romantic Period lasted from approximately 1820-1835 and had very distinctive flavor. People were disenchanted with writing and paintings that followed dour religious subject matter for the main part and took away humanity. The Romantic Era can be seen as the birth of the humanist period that continues to this day. People wanted to express themselves as individuals with passion and emotion. This was reflected in the art of the day, in the literature from such great poets and novelists as Edgar Allen Poe and Jane Austen, and in the fashion that became popular for a brief time and then faded away. This was a fashion that was tempered with diversity due to the class of the people wearing it and the utility of the garments. This research paper discusses the fashions of the day and how they were influenced, especially in England by…

SOCIOLOGICAL TERMS (Terms in Italics)

Varsity Jackets, Subcultures, and the Function of Sports in Society

In sociological terms, the varsity letter jackets worn by the students would be considered status symbols because they have specific social connotations that correspond to achievements that are valued by the group. They represent group identity in high school based on membership in sports teams. In many cases, sports teams also feature subcultures in which group norms and values are used by members of the group to maintain a degree of exclusivity to membership in their group as well; in the high school setting, these would typically be referred to as cliques.

In general, competitive sports can be viewed from the structural-functional sociological approach or from the symbolic-interaction approach. In the former, sports would be viewed primarily in connection with their functions, such as a means through which participants maintain physical fitness or pursue enjoyment;…

1934 film The Goddess directed by Wu Yonggang, uses the film elements mis en scene and cinematography in order to compose and deliver a moving and dramatic narrative. This short clip tells the story of a woman who suddenly discovers that her savings are missing. Upon learning this she exits rapidly to find the culprit, but not before comforting her young son. The main elements used in mis en scene are the following: setting, props, costume, performance, lighting and composition. The main elements used in cinematography are: framing, shot distance, length of take, camera movement, camera angle and depth of film.

During the beginning of the clip the first element that stands out is the setting. This element is carefully chosen in order to give the audience specific information about the characters. The setting is the interior of a humble and simple home. This tells the audience about the characters…

Clothing and Culture

Clothing, in the modern definition, is considered to be fiber or textiles that are worn on humans, and one of the anthropological features of human culture and society. The type (color, style, fit) of clothing is typically dependent upon a number of variables -- geography, weather, gender, status, physical state, work activities, and even status symbols. From a practical standpoint, clothing serves as protection from external weather, or for safety reasons (constructing, cooking, hiking, sports); it may protect the wearer from flora and fauna (nettles, bites, thorns); it may insulate against hot or cold conditions; and may even provide a hygienic barrier. Often, studying the aspects of clothing and society tells scholars a great deal about the particular culture -- not just in external appearance but in the technology of textile production, weaving, and adornment (oucher & Deslandres, 1989).

Evolution of Clothing Styles: Scholars are uncertain as…

Curious Case of Filming Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: 1920 versus 2008

obert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has evolved into one of the most acclaimed pieces of modern literature. One aspect of this phenomenon is a continual spark of interest with the novel is motion pictures. Various directors through the years have interpreted the book through their own eyes and the following is a depiction of that. One might question Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde's overwhelming success. Theme restaurants, Broadway shows and movies all have indicated a public interest in the classic. This essay will examine how various cinematic microelements contributed to vastly different artistic productions of approximately the same plot a century apart.

The first movie that I decided to use for this examination is the 1920 restored version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, directed by John S. obertson. I thought that obertson's attempt to…

Renaissance current can be dated, in Europe, as starting around 1480-1490. Renaissance started in Italy and moved towards Hungary, Germany and England, on one hand, and to France, after the French invasions of the Italian Peninsula, on the other. A similar trend occurred in the fashion industry, but the exchanges were continuous and influences from Northern Europe to Italy were not unprecedented.

The general characteristics of the initial period of Renaissance in Europe include the close-body fitting of the clothing and a detailed attention to ornamentation. Both men and women in the upper and middle classes wore elaborate costumes, made of rich materials. The clothing, particular in the upper classes, as well as in the economically successful middle classes, aimed to showcase the individual's success and his or her position in society. As a consequence, in both Northern and Italian Renaissance, there is an attention to detail and to customizing…

Story/Plot

The king died then the queen died. After the death of the king, the queen died from grief.

The first sentence refers to the story while the second sentence is the plot. A plot basically refers to a story being told by a third party. It may be inaccurate and biased, but certainly more interesting. Most of the works of fiction are based on the actual events or the same basic stories (Krane, 2007).

The Objective of the Research

This research aims at describing aesthetic aspects found in the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the rings by J.R.R. To help him fulfil the information required, the researcher employs numerous tactics, including spending time in the library reading bibliographies. The collected data is then analysed using phenomenological approaches to help discover the aesthetic aspects of the novel.

Story Summary

One of the ancient rings believed to have been…

There he was teaching theology and philosophy with equal success.

(Gilson 1960, 1)

The conflicts and associations of Abelard, and his own personal struggle with love and his professional calling, as well as the ideas of falling from grace, as a corporeal being will be the focus of the film, and will contain themes regarding the nature of human challenges, that are relevant in modern society, regarding choices people make about the challenge of choosing "right" and honorable actions.

The work will be based upon the seminal historical text on the subject, Gilson, etienne. 1960. Heloise and Abelard. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press as well as primary documentation, mainly written by Abelard, that is noted in the work.

Setting:

Abelard lived between 1079-1142 CE, (his teaching @ 1108-1118 period coincided with his relationship with Heloise, though it went on slightly longer) the setting of the majority of his…

21mm handguns. The confrontation between the two sides that touches a renewed round of tension between the two families is like watching a multicultural takedown in the hood. The camera angles are fast, succinct and each actor is well rehearsed and never misses a beat of this important scene.

The night of the costume feast when Mercutio (Harold Perrineau) arrives on the scene, it is in drag, dressed in a silver shining bra and miniskirt and dancing about with an endless energy. Again, sticking to a form (it was edited) of the true Shakespearean dialogue, the exchange between Mercutio and omeo is intriguing, fun, and energizing. By the time omeo arrives at the home of Juliet, he is understandably primed and pumped for love at first sight.

From a contemporary perspective, the film has just one weakness: whether or not the need to contemporary conveyance using rock, rapp, classic and…

True Grit (Newest Version)

Joel and Ethan oen's 1969 motion picture True Grit puts across an account involving 14-year-old Mattie Ross as she hires a worn-down U.S. Marshall to track down her father's murderer, Tom haney. This film is intriguing because it revives archetypal Western traits in a time when society has almost forgotten that the genre exists. In spite of his overweight and is wearing an eye patch does not stop him from being an excellent shooter and Marshall, this series of features bringing a sort of general silliness into the film. It is very probable that the filmmaker wanted to involve parody in the motion picture through presenting Bridges' change from a drunkard to an iconic gunslinger as being something that is not out of the ordinary. One of the most significant factors in the film relates to how Bridges' character expresses less of a macho attitude and…

Conclusion

It is hard to deny that Sophie's Choice indeed has the trifecta of what I believe good movie-making needs: superb acting, sound, and cinematography, as it was nominated excellence in acting (won by Meryl Streep), cinematography, and music by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' annual Academy Awards. hile I have seen many movies, few have touched me the way Sophie's Choice has. I can remember the seamless acting, the haunting music, and the visual beauty of the film itself. In viewing Sophie's Choice, it's easy to see that a great film is so much more than commercial success or box office revenue; a great film is compelling. It grabs hold of you and doesn't let go. In looking for movies that resonate with the viewer, one cannot come any closer to perfection than Sophie's Choice, one of the most compelling films of all time, a gripping…

Apfel says her highly original style is due to her constant desire to take a wonderful designer piece and build on it to make it fun and special. "One can change the entire look of an outfit by substituting one accessory for another. I love objects from different worlds, different eras, combined my way. Never uptight, achieving - hopefully - a kind of throwaway chic," she states (Mehl). One such totally eclectic and wild and frivolous outfit consisted of embroidered silk wedding skirt with an English cashmere sweater and Italian handmade glove-leather boots. Since she has been shopping by herself before even becoming a teenager, she may add a pin from decades ago to a dress of present-day vintage.

These above mentioned outfits are all put together through her creation. Her company of Old World Weavers were actual clothes actually designed and created by her and Carl. She explains about…

According to Joan Myers Brown, the founder of the Philadanco, her most favorite part of the Xmas Philes is the part about Silent Night, because of the settings, and the somber music, which make her want to actually sleep in Heavenly peace. The play is a renowned success, and it is hoped that this versatile group of African-American dancers would soon be performing in another play produced by the Philadelphia Dance Company. (Xmas Philes)

eferences

About Dance Advance Dance History, 1999. etrieved at http://www.danceadvance.org/01about/index.html. Accessed 4 November 2005

Ballet is a Cracker of a show. etrieved at http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/stage/reviews/nutcracker.shtml. Accessed 4 November 2005

Baylin Artists Management, the Philadelphia Dance Company. etrieved at http://www.baylinartists.com/philadanco.htm. Accessed 4 November 2005

Dunbar, obert. Arts and Entertainment, Performance, A List. etrieved at http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=1192Accessed 5 November 2005

Kasrel, Deni. Fall Guide: Dance. 15-21 September, 2005. etrieved at http://*****/articles/2005-09-15/cover7.shtml. Accessed 5 November 2005

Kasrel, Deni. Holiday Meets Hollywood.…

My story being done,

She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:

She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange,

Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful:

She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd

That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me,

And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, should but teach him how to tell my story.

And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:

She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd,

And I loved her that she did pity them.

This only is the witchcraft I have used:

Here comes the lady; let her witness it.

Translation

Setting: The inside of the administrative building. Nighttime. Othello is wearing a suit, and is confronted by the school's president, 'Dr. B,' and several members of the administration in their pajamas.

John Othello: Look Dr. B,…

Dolley Madison (1768 -- 1849), one of the most renowned American first ladies, was President James Madison's wife. She was born in North Carolina and spent her life's early years in Virginia in a very simple environment. In 1790, she married John Todd but he died only after three years due to the yellow fever epidemic. In 1794, Dolley married Madison and became the fourth first lady of the United States of America.1 In the subsequent years, Dolley proved herself as a charming, tactful and graceful official White House hostess for both President Jefferson and President Madison. It won't be incorrect to state that her guts, courageousness and the manner with which she conducted herself shaped the role of first lady in the Unites States of America forever.

When Madison took the office in 1809, Dolley took up her role as the first lady very seriously and concentrated on the…

minimum sources... research 1920 sport write ... A thesis, attention catcher, topic sentence?

1920s sport: Swimming

The 1920s was called the 'Roaring 20s' in America. It was accompanied by expanded prosperity for many middle class Americans and the rise of the 'flapper,' the sexually liberated and independent young woman. The rise of the middle class and the larger percentage of Americans with considerable disposable income and leisure time also allowed greater participation in sports. "The 1920s has been called the Golden Age of American Sports. It also has been called the Age of the Spectator" (Summer 2004:1). Thanks to the strength of the U.S. economy, more stadiums for professional and recreational sports were constructed, and radio and newspapers enabled fans to keep abreast of the latest developments of professional teams. "Improvements in roads made it possible for fans to travel to athletic events in distant cities. For the first time,…

History of Fashion: HO TO MARRY a MILLIONAIRE 1953 (Monroe)

History of Fashion: How to Marry a Millionaire

How to Marry a Millionaire is a 1953 romantic comedy set in New York City starring Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, and Lauren Bacall, directed by Jean Negulesco. The costumes of the film, as designed by Charles Le Maire, showcase the 'New Look' popularized by Christian Dior. The 'New Look' (as exemplified most prominently in the red, full-skirted gown worn by Marilyn Monroe in a scene set in a powder room) featured sweeping skirts, a tiny cinched waist, and an exaggerated bosom. It was an ultra-feminine ideal that stood in stark contrast to the more practical, comfortable, and androgynous appearance of orld ar II fashion. The style of the New Look was far more restrictive and made women look more like artificial adornments than the ideal of 'Rosie the Riveter.' omen during the…

Bad Experience ith a Priest:

comparison of the Catholicism aspects in Scott's Ivanhoe and Twain's a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

In reading Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, one cannot deny that the blame for the collapse of Hank's new civilization falls on the Church. Throughout the novel, Twain paints a negative image of the Church and its priests. This negative image can also be found in Sir alter Scott's Ivanhoe. Scott gives us characters such as the confused Templar and the misaligned Prior. Both writers have poor views of religion and this is evident in their unflattering portraits of the corrupt medieval church.

Scott's portrait of the Prior is not a very pleasant one. Nothing about him seems to be spiritual. hen we first meet him, his costume is basically appropriate for a priest, but it is said to be "composed of materials much…

In my view, Elf is the perfect movie for family fun. It is a rare Christmas comedy with a heart, a mind and a rather outlandish sense of humor. It is a great charmer. It includes some rather unexpected casting. The movie is definitely worth watching.
Star rating: 3
Star names: Mary Steenburgen, Will Ferrel, James Caan and Zooey Deschanel
Director Name: Jon Favreau
Rating: PG
Movie length: 97 minutes

Introduction

The plot of the movie is fairly standard. It has to do with a conflict at the publishing company owned by the old man and a demand for a children’s best seller. The movie also contains some interesting subplots involving Michael ( Daniel Tay) ; Buddy’s new little brother. Buddy has an awkward but rather deep and genuine little romance with a store girl (Deschanel). And then, there is the unfinished business at the North Pole (Ebert para5).

Buddy,…

Abstract 
The video game Fortnite, which was originally released July 21, 2017, has become increasingly popular over the last two years.  In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that Fortnite is the video game of the summer of 2019.  Children of all ages, but especially younger children, have spent their summers playing this video game.  However, many adults, especially older generation adults, really do not understand what the Fortnite fuss is about.  This tutorial covers the basics of Fortnite.  It answers questions like: what is Fortnite; how do you get Fortnite; how do you play Fortnite; and what is a Fortnite tracker?  It also discusses commonly used terms, such as battle royale, Fortnite skins, Fortnite costumes, and Fortnite dances.  Finally, it discusses the impact of Fortnite on society and on the development of the children who play it.  
Introduction
Even people who do not play video games…

Andrea Chenier

Though Umberto Giordano's work has often been overshadowed by that of his rather more famous contemporary Giacomo Puccini, Giordano's Andrea Chenier offers the ideal site for one to engage in a critical examination of nineteenth century opera and the various thematic and stylistic strains popularized at the time, as well as the complications which arise from modern interpretation and performance. In particular, examining the critical history of verismo alongside the historical context of Andrea Chenier serves to demonstrate how fully a modern performance of the opera seemingly subsumes and dissolves any revolutionary character that might have been present in the original text by reproducing the story of doomed love during the French evolution in a gaudy, ahistorical performance.

Before conducting an analysis of a modern performance of Andrea Chenier, there are a few key topics one must investigate further in order to place the subsequent analysis in its…

Grave Goods of the Avars in Medieval Carpathian asin

The objective of this study is to examine the burial styles and grave goods of the Avars. This includes such as buried livestock and artifacts. As well the variability in the relationship between different several sites from this similar time period, and some specific burial sites of interest will be examined as well as the various traditions relating to positioning of bodies and preparation of the dead along with any possible meanings. Examined as well will be construction of the tombs and any other grave goods of interest. From this data this study will attempt to determine the traditions, individual wealth and the position of that culture and to determine what the traditions were of this culture as well as how they developed and changed over time. The difference in tribes or clans and other influences from that time period will…

Some Chinese researchers assert that Chinese flutes may have evolved from of Indian provenance.

In fact, the kind of side-blon, or transverse, flutes musicians play in Southeast Asia have also been discovered in Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, and Central Asia, as ell as throughout the Europe of the Roman Empire. This suggests that rather than originating in China or even in India, the transverse flute might have been adopted through the trade route of the Silk Road to Asia. In addition to these transverse flutes, Southeast Asians possessed the kind of long vertical flutes; similar to those found in Central Asia and Middle East.

A considerable amount of similarities exist beteen the vertical flutes of Southeast Asia and flutes from Muslim countries. This type of flute possibly came from Persians during the ninth century; during the religious migration to SEA. Likeise, the nose-blon flute culture, common to a number of…

There has been a lot of debate and discussions on how exactly these so called heritage films must be interpreted, in academic circles as well as in the mainstream press, and in the more specialized film publications.

As a part of the debate, certain issues became more important than others, and some of them were that a limit must be imposed on this type of trend in production, and that in terms of subject matter of the film, the sources from which the film would draw, the casting in the film, and the style. Would all these factors be able to make up and contribute to a major genre of films? As a matter of fact, heritage films do indeed operate at the culturally respectable end of the market, and they are also the main players in the British Art Film genre. The heritage film generally has a sort of…

Bird-Headed Bas Relief

Balefully staring out from a fragmentary bas-relief panel of mottled grey-brown stone, the bird- or reptile- headed creature dominates this viewer's attention: it is an Assyrian religious carving of some sort, entitled "Bird-Headed Deity," dated to 885 BCE and found in Calah, Iraq. The mottling of the stone is inherent in its quality: to a certain extent, the artist seems to have placed the figure so that the mottling would settle like an aura around the creature's head. What remains of this broken engraving from the reign of Sardanapalus, or Assurbanipal II, the last recorded emperor of Assyria, coheres in the form of a loose and lopsided pentagon -- the shape itself of the broken panel is five-sided, but tilts up toward the right, and looks like home plate at a baseball game seen in extreme perspective. The panel itself is mounted on a concrete square of…

Introduction

For centuries during the Middle Ages, Europe had been at war with Moslems of the Middle East. There had been Crusades (beginning in the 11th century), wars for Holy Lands, and wars of great consequence (such as the Battle of Lepanto in 1571). Charles V had struggled to combat both the invading Moslems and the Protestant rebellion in his own kingdom in the first half of the 16th century, showing just how dramatic that conflict between the West and the Middle East was for many. Yet the tension that had existed dissipated to a great extent when the Ottoman Empire began to decline. Russia grew in power in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the West was rapidly modernizing. The Ottoman Empire itself was changing, and the new dynamic of life in the modern world played a significant role in the way that some Europeans saw and created images…

For Stroman, the musical numbers must be integrated within a narrative rather than standing as more autonomous (or hegemonic) components of the Broadway Musical.

Michael Bennett brought a less-defined style than Stroman or Fosse, although he made a great impact on the Broadway musical. His costuming was more colorful than the previously accepted norm, as he incorporated garish neon pink, green, and yellow tones into his costume design for the 1975 play a Chorus Line (Hecht). By focusing on costuming, Bennett made the costuming a more integral component of the Broadway musical than previously been accepted.

(B): How Can Prospective Dancers Use Information About Dance Style to Develop Their Style?

There are many ways in which up-and-coming dancers can utilize information about dance styles and audition techniques to enhance their dance career. ith regard to audition technique, every prospective dancer should have a strong knowledge of the source text for…

Kabuki

In the country of Japan the art of Kabuki has been popular for centuries, dating back to the year 1603 when Izumo no Okuni started performing a new form of dance which was inspired by dramatic plays being written both by Japanese playwrights and which were being imported to the country through trade with the western world. Traditional Kabuki performances were highly dramatic and featured elaborate makeup and hairstyles for the actors and actresses. Usually the stories were tragic dramas told through interpretive dance numbers. Unlike other dramatic or dance forms currently available in Japan, Kabuki was a combination of artistry and entertainment. Originally, the Kabuki was performed primarily and in some cases entirely by women adding to its raucous reputation. Some disparaged the Kabuki theaters are referred to the actresses as "prostitute-singing and dancing performers." This dismissal and marginalization did nothing to dissuade people from attending performances; in…

For example, the scene in which Andrea stands before the statue of Marat and sings "Credi al destino" fails to evoke for me any real sensation. Perhaps it is because, as Grout suggests, the opera is "laden with harmonies that are heavy and oldfashioned [and] has little of special interest" (p. 495). Such could explain why the scenes feel at time clunky and abysmally lacking in flair. Still, at other times, they are vibrant and alive with life -- and those times are when the drama calls for gaity (not for fatalism or idealism).

The opera may, therefore, be interpreted as a political piece -- but I do not wish to convey that interpretation, for I think there is already too much omanticism in contemporary politics today. I think Andrea fits better as a period piece that should be left in the period for which it was written: one that…

Of course, the much shorter pleated skirt we now associate with modern Japanese school girls is also a chic look, and the carrying over of this simple design into a popular and often fetish-linked fashion for Western girls of modern times is an important note of timelessness.

Court" Fashion for Japanese Males, Asuka Period (593-710):

Eastern influence is not reserved for Westerners alone, as one can see in Asuka and Nara period clothing designs from Japan. Chinese influence was strong during this time period for clothing styles in Japan between 593 to 794 AD. uddhism and Chinese culture design was popularized by the imperial court members that wore clothing of this kind. The hakama trousers remained intact, but without the binding ties below the knee that earlier periods had emphasized. The upper garment of this period, the "ho" ("Japanese Dress in Former Times...") was less form fitting than previous designs,…

The medium with which the artist works is also unique in that they are outfits that can and should be worn. The sound suits are designed to be wearable, imparting a grounded character to the exhibit. Instead of taking the suits too seriously, the viewer can imagine them as costumes in which the serious self is left behind in favor of the inner child. Like a mascot at a team game or a Disney character, the sound suits can also be conceived as disguises that obscure the mundane human being inside. No one things of Big Bird as a person in a bird suit, because to do so would ruin the spell. In the same way, one of Nick Cave's sound suits is to be seen and experienced at face value.

Because the costumes are disguises and masks, the viewer is also asked to contemplate the role of such objects…

Although most of the occasions for masques were rather frivolous, such as the celebration of a society wedding, Jonson made sure that his masques were full of Platonic meanings, mythological references and humanistic doctrines that would tax the knowledge of the most learned among the audience. Jones, on the other hand, let loose his prodigious knowledge of classical art, his impressive competence as a painter, and his unmatched creativeness in devising stunning stage scenery and elaborate costumes for the masques, which won the admiration of all discerning observers (Ibid. 26-28).

Relationship with Jonson

Inigo Jones enjoyed a surprisingly tempestuous relationship with Ben Jonson. The partnership of the two men that started so promisingly, resulting in the creation of a number of superb masque productions, ended in bitter acrimony. Their hostility is surprising because both men were of approximately the same age, of similar humble background, shared rare artistic genius in…

Like other aspects of
Trinidad Carnival, the political and social circumstances of the times
played a role in influencing the Carnival.
In more recent times in the 20th century, the Carnival has continued
to play its role as a social and political commentator. In orld ar I and
ard ar II Carnival was suspended, yet it did not stop the calypsonians
from singing against whites or the upper classes (Gilkes 2003). Even
today, "ol mas" played during Jour Ouvert morning, allows the writer to "to
parody negroes who have this sickening obsession with aping everything
hite" (Gilkes 2003). This means that despite the entertainment value and
international acclaim of Carnival, there still remains social and political
commentary that has been a tradition of Carnival since its inception. In
the 1960s and 1970s, for example, there was great pride in Africa expressed
through images of Black Power and African Glory, by…

Voyna I Mir and War & Peace

A Survey of Voyna I Mir and War and Peace

Both the 1956 American film adaptation of War and Peace and the 1965 ussian Voyna I Mir attempt to bring Tolstoy's epic novel to life on the screen. This paper will compare and contrast both film adaptations with the novel and history, and discuss the how each bears its own main idea, its own unique set design and costuming, and its own actors and actresses.

War and Peace (1956) is a film of genuine Hollywood spectacle -- which is to say of grand artifices and shallow substance. The 1965 lengthy (eight hour) ussian version is a spectacular marvel of realism, beauty, and authenticity. While it is impossible to capture the entire magic of Tolstoy's epic novel on film, both versions give a kind of epic interpretation of Tolstoy's work -- both creating their…

The lack of self-respect in particular characters in the play, like Lady Sneerwell and Joseph, sends the message that some people have higher priorities than self-respect. Lady Sneerwell's deep desire to gain Charles to marry her leads her to a chain of unrespectable acts of intrigues and backbiting, in the process, conspiring with equally dubious characters like Joseph and Snake who also follow selfish and destructive agendas of their own. Forming a derogatory School for Scandal all alone speaks against self-respect as against all of those perpetuating that School. While it seems outwardly pleasurable to prey on other people's mistakes, misfortunes and weaknesses, perpetrators of scandals and hypocrisy do not gain the superiority they want among themselves. Lady Sneerwell, Sir and Lady ackbite, Mrs. Candour and Joseph may share a common objective of destroying relationships and reputation but this destructiveness does not build them up in the real sense, but…

In Jamaica, like many other physicians abroad, Sloane collected specimen; later, he acquired the collections of others. Among the botanical material in his collection were exotic plants and bird skins, "unique albums of Durer's prints and drawings" "a vast library of manuscripts and printed books" (Geographical 2003 26+,the second two items of which probably contained abundant botanical engravings.

Not all of the items Sloane collected survived. One that id, however, was cocoa, which he brought back to England and "marketed shrewdly as a medicinal drink valued for its 'Lightness on the Stomach'" (Sterns 2003 411+). The financial incentive was strong in many of the collectors, although with Sloane, it also had a practical side as he went in search of remedies. In 1712, for example, Sloane became keen to purchase the collection of the German physician, Engelbert Kaempfer. A chapter of Kaempfer's book, Exotic Pleasures, mentioned a number of Oriental…