Blog Post 2
Prior to our introduction to makeup and prosthetics, I had never really considered the importance of the two in regard to the creation of a character. This prompted a cycle of deep thoughts considering the ways in which an audience or viewer can perceive a personality through the manipulation of appearance. As a film fan myself, I always love to consider the technical aspects behind any emotionally stimulating scene and the ways in which sound, lighting, cinematography and dialogue are used to manipulate our perceptions of onscreen events. Although I valued costume as an important factor in the formation of a character, the impact elicited by makeup was largely overlooked. Which, in theory, demonstrates the significance of its presence all the more; I never realised it was there.
Of course I don’t mean this in the way that I’ve always found characters such as the Joker or the Ood from Doctor Who to be normal, everyday people. Rather, the makeup/prosthetics matched up with the characters so seamlessly that there was no point in which I questioned what face lay beneath. For this reason, I can envision this subject impacting not only my perception of what makes a character but also the considerations I make regarding the ways in which I wish for the model to emote/ be portrayed during photoshoots.
When sucked into the world of a media product, whether that be the diegesis of a film or the narrative of a fashion show, regardless of how detached they are from the codes and conventions of society it is possible for them to be believable. We as the audience can even take aspects of these worlds and apply them to our lives both consciously and unconsciously. And it is for this reason that films have deferred from giving antagonists deformities, which were previously used to connote a sense of brokenness within the characters persona. Although the film industry is still far from inclusive in my opinion (though they will use it as a buzzword to describe predominantly young, white, traditionally attractive casts featuring two or more young, traditionally attractive people of colour) this choice is certainly a step in the right direction.
From what I’ve learned so far, makeup speaks for a character even when they aren’t talking, which constantly applies to models who typically reflect the personification of whatever product they’re selling without the use of dialogue. The way in which people are represented also hold a very important place in the world of makeup due to the huge impact it can leave on the way it teaches us to perceive people. This can therefore be manipulated for the better, and utilised to inform audiences against prejudices.