Better Lives Reflection

Reflecting on the themes, alongside my previous blog post, ‘Better Lives’ will inherently change my future work and thoughts. In light of exploration into the themes, I have noticed that the allowance of these motifs to infiltrate the ways we conduct our individual practices is of great importance. Further educating others on key issues will precipitate micro changes in individual practices among many; entailing the curation of macro scale differences within contemporary society. 

Hair, makeup and prosthetics within performance is a fast pace industry. Congested invariably with ‘think-on-your-feet’ ideation, there is sadly an unconscious neglect of contemporary societal problems. An issue often overlooked amongst the busy ambience, is the negative environmental impact. Continuous exploitation of ‘single use’ products, mass wastage of non-biodegradable materials, alongside gas emissions through transportation – means this industry is unsustainable. Evidently, there is a severe lack of social responsibility to the detrimental effects on the planet in which we are causing. This entails the notation that products and materials should attempt to be diversified to meet both the needs of production, and sustainability. 

To enhance understanding, I turn to the prosthetics made for Lord of the Rings. Hundreds of Hobbit feet prosthetics were used daily, with each of them being ‘single-use’. They were disposed of continuously throughout the entirety of the filming process, resulting in enormous amounts of wasted materiel. Importantly, the nature of the materials meant decomposition rates were slow – being highly detrimental.

In reflection, I have experienced the themes of Better Lives already influencing the way in which I work. For example, on the selected project of ‘Mask Making and Politics’, I decided to explore the key issue of micro-plastics and waste infiltrating the ocean (my creative practice of hair and makeup being a key culprit of contributing to). This exploration of the project entailed crucial decisions such as re-using a preexisting face casts to avoid wasting materials like clay and alginate. Combining this with the intentions of using scrap materials from other students to form accentuated details of the mask – presenting the idea of disregard for reusable materials. This has caused me to understand the idea of power in which we presume to withhold over the natural environment.

However, it is not just the natural world in which we unconsciously destruct. With detrimental effects circulating the environment, this progresses to further maintaining social class inequalities. Waste is more often than not disposed of in non-westernised areas, provoking ill-health and oppressive values resulting in a hierarchical structure of importance. 

“The imagining and conceiving of cultural, nature-based, societal and economic prosperity involves the creative exploration of fashion’s artistic, culture-shaping and business practices in the context of a changing world.” – LCF’s Education for Sustainability Transformation Strategy 2016-22.

Since reflecting on the themes of ‘Better Lives’, it will be simple and constant changes to help provide a more sustainable, diverse and socially responsible industry. Small changes undertaken by many, alongside greater awareness will provide challenge to the pre-existing unsustainable ways of working.