What is the Purpose of a Costume?
Masks and costumes have continually been used through history for plays, storytelling, representation, enjoyment, and so much more. The purpose of costumes are to add something to the natural human body to convey a thought or idea that isn’t naturally occurring on that specific human’s body.
What is OUR Purpose?
My partner Liz and I have been ideating things that fit within the realm of duality. In the beginning we focused on aspects that were visually or surface-level opposites. Some ideas that we had were:
- sticky/flaky
- messy/clean
- spiky/fuzzy
- inside/outside experience on a rainy day
- blurry/clear vision
- inhale/exhale (blobby vs. limp)
- yell/whisper
- shaky/stable
- candle/ light bulb
After talking and doing a few mind maps, we decided to go with flaky/sticky.
You can view a PDF of some of our ideas here: Face Off Project
Better Defining our Ideas
After talking in class with Emily, we started to consider more of what the purpose and meaning of our costume was meant to be. We began to change from textures to types of traits in humans. The sticky changed to clingy (which changed to dependent) and flaky changed to aloof (which changed to independent). Then for our narrative, we focused on how these roles interact in a toxic relationship.
Our Narrative
“The time has now come to discuss the nature of toxic relationships. Often there is one partner that falls victim to the other. There is a manipulative individual who projects their negativity and toxic tendencies unfairly onto their partner. They want to taint them by trapping them in manifestations of doubt and insecurity. The objective becomes hooking them in to tear them down and siphon their energy. In an attempt to build their own damaged selves back up, they dangerously depend upon their partner to bend to their will. A developed sense of cunning is permitted to evolve the longer their partner is allowing the cycle to continue. So much pain has been endured through emotional damage, but this cycle will end–as all things must do.
Never underestimate the moment when the victim begins to find their inner strength. Gradually, steps are taken toward emotional well-being through building their strength of mind. They are hardening against their partner’s persistent attacks. They are building a shield and preparing to strike back, now armed with self-awareness as their weapon. Welling inside them is their true defense, a suppressed version of themselves that is now ready to break out. When it does, a new energy, stronger than any that was taken from them before, emerges symbolizing a newfound resilience. The efforts of their former manipulator are rendered ineffective now and for the future.”
Independence (My focus of the Project)
WHO — this mask is to show the personal growth of independence and show that from independence grows self-love. This mask is for someone to realize their self worth and be firm in it
WHAT — this mask protects the wearer from being susceptible to the manipulations put in place by others who may want to suck their innocent and caring energy
WHEN — One uses this mask when it is finally time to concur its enemy in an attempt to escape to a happier and more fulfilling state
HOW — this mask cannot always be a choice to wear. Others may need to help the victim along the journey, yet very often in this process there becomes a decision made by the victim to split away from the tormentor
Visualizing Independence
You can view my entire Face-Off visualization process here: Face Off Process
What I learned
In this project I learned to work effectively with another mind. I experienced a collaborative design process (which was one of my firsts) and loved it! We were able to ideate very basic ideas and brainstorm lots of ideas from them. I am so glad that our project moved in the direction it did. I love the powerful message behind our narrative, and glad that we were able to represent it in a way that we were both proud of!