Style & Beauty in Film

What does style and beauty bring to our viewers in the world of film? To correctly dissect the true meaning of the effects brought to our audience based on style and beauty we must go back to the history of story-telling and the inertia generated through our history’s ever-changing view of vogue and allure. Here are our top 5 reasons of how style and beauty is forever attached to cinema.

1. Why we Love Wigs:

No-one has to defend themselves for wearing their toupee’s or colorful hair extensions. People wear wigs for multifarious reasons. Some happen to be rock-stars, others lose their locks due to genetics or stress and some still wear them discreetly due to hardships of their time. Did you know that in the 17-1800’s due to poor hygiene as well as diseases like syphilis which caused rashes, sores and baldness, many people opted to wearing wigs? Not only was it easier to care for in the event of warding off insects like lice, but it was kept clean and fragrant by various practices, which at the time proved to be easier, as running water and shampoo weren’t invented or present as yet.

It was said that King Louis XIV of France in 1655 was one of the first to hire wig-makers to save his reputation after he began losing his hair. Years later in neighboring countries, others began to do the same. It began to percolate to the upper-middle class and middle-class and it was associated to a higher-status if one could afford or own wigs. ‘Le Voyage Dans La Lune’ - ‘A Trip to the Moon’, the world’s first film written, directed and produced by French, Georges Méliès clearly reflects the use of cinematic fantasy, style and discovery and as a result there were many scenes depicting actors wearing wigs. 

Biopics to follow illustrate the use of wigs during that time, as well as the magnificent outcome and response given to characters with mermaid-flowing, spouting locks. No matter the color, length, or cut, movie-goers love seeing and feeling a thick head of hair, and its because of this film-makers continue to commemorate this sentiment of wig worship.

2. Beauty equals Pleasure:

The sensitivity of whatever one deems to be beautiful is a direct manifestation of satisfaction or pleasure. Beauty can inhabit human, creature, art, building or something more spiritual. It is evident from the first time we began telling stories that we presented a continual pattern that supported merit and triumph if one was ‘a thing of beauty’. Whether that meant beautiful in face, or beauty in virtues, success, attainment and realization came to those who possessed that quality of beauty. 

Through the ages in motion pictures we have steadily seen the blueprint of bliss told time and time again in different tales. ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Beauty Shop’, 200 Pounds Beauty’, ‘Sleeping Beauty’, and ‘American Beauty’ are all examples of screenwriters molding hope into the mind of all those gathered. If our main character doesn’t possess beauty, it’s okay if they work hard towards their goal, they will find that beauty in the end. As a result film-makers fabricate beauty in all senses of the word, from actors, wardrobe, and right down to the tiniest details.

3. Different Strokes for Different Folks:

Early story-tellers understood that every story wouldn’t appeal to every listener and so to become an expert and endeared minstrel they had to give specific changes at specific times to create definitive gratification. In the world of film, recognizable film styles and techniques were born and it created not only admirers but devotees to distinct strains of cinematic. 

We are complicated beings and in order  to reach the masses and share positively a message, emotion or vision, using different styles to appeal to different people is only a predictable solution. ‘French New-wave’, ‘German Expressionism’, Soviet Montage, ‘Italian Neorealism’, ‘Film Noir’, ‘Science-Fiction’, ‘Action’ and ‘Drama’ are all groups of styles that question, and communicate to the immensity of the earth. Sound, dialogue, attitudes, cinematography or the mise-en-scène, are elements used to move a film from just popular to cult-classic.

4. La Classe:

Fashion proves to be one of the most fundamental ingredients in making a movie stand above the others. It isn’t by any means mandatory, but if it is an integral piece, it demonstrates and warrants added rapture. Fashion doesn’t have to be complex; it can in some cases be as simplistic as a reflex of sensibility. Just as ‘beauty’, ‘style’ and ‘genre’ titillate our consciousness, so too can fashion. 

Be it heels, feathers, pastels, or Feng-shui; fashion helps promote an unfathomable understanding of behaviors and moving image. The history of the fashion of film is a well-talked about topic and some have even went as far as creating festivals for the celebration and homage of all the fads of film; a cultism in it’s own right!

5. Trendsetting:

The influence of style and fashion on film is unmistakable but we must not forget that film has mirror magnetism. From ‘Halloween Costumes’ to flat out ‘Wedding Gowns’; film has inspired fashion-designers and trends since the very beginning. If an outward appearance can make a person feel or behave in a different way; this is the same appeal that captivates a designers sketches or a person’s wardrobe after watching a film. From ‘Saturday Night Fever’, to ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ or ‘Sex-in-the-City’, it all goes to show that with the right story, emotion or sensitivity, a film can be much more than moving images on a screen. 

Capture the Beauty

**Film is capturing the beauty, the story…FOREVER… :))

White Jesus

So last night at Improv class I performed with a 'new' girl, and while up there in front of our peers, I was taken aback by her statement, caught it, and still managed to turn it into a positive scene. Unfortunately her statement bothered me more than I'd hoped for. What was wrong with me? Why could it not slide off my back, like water did on a duck? I'd been raised better than that, and have been all my life, working on being the master of my emotions. I obviously still have heaps more work to do. I don't necessarily blame the girl, at the end, she shook my hand and they were quivering and sweaty. But even if she said sorry and it was her first time at Improv, it didn't truly make me believe it was her first time making comments like that.

We worked with horses in our scene, and what she said was that her amazing horse was named White Jesus. I smiled with wide eyes and told her mine was named Knight Rider and she in turn took it to the next level by saying that it was 'funny' that she was white with a white horse, that was soft, white and good. Sigh** still not rolling off my back; and even more so my mind. I have definitely been saying I wish to write a book in regards to my feelings on race but haven't gotten around to it as yet. At the moment I'm more focused on publishing my collection of poetry as well as my flight attendant travel story book. But since visiting Nepal last year, and also dating a few guys that made insensitive statments; I've been itching to write my thoughts on how situations like this make me feel, and not just me, but how they make everyone without alabaster skin feel. I already have a name, I suppose all I need to do now is dedicate some time towards it.

No-one would guess it; like they don't care to know about individuals' heritage either, and instead only judge them by the colour of their skin. But like Barack Obama, Billie Holiday, Bob Marley, Halle Berry, Naomi Campbell, Lenny Kravitz, Tyson Beckford, Sade, and Rashida Jones; I too come from mixed ancestry. In fact, many people from the Caribbean and the majority of my friends growing up there, are multi-racial too. Mine specifically happen to be African, Chinese and the Caucasian race. Yes, my grandmothers are white, and I just happened to be very close to them. My family is diverse, beautiful and everyone is lovely in their own way. Being of mixed race and growing up with not only different races within my family but also with my childhood friends, allowed me to embrace the differences, respect it and take pleasure in its unique beauty. I suppose I'm just tired of 'white lies' being okay and 'black Friday', 'black sheep' and 'hell' being negative, dark and bad. I'm tired of these silly statments made and engrained in us all from the beginning of time. Jesus was not white! I mean how many white Jesus' do you see walking around Los Angeles? Not to mention the man himself from Bethlehem that Christians speak of as being white! If you'd rather argue that in fact Jesus, Buddha and Mohammed are white, that's fine, but I just want to know why everything bad has to be black or completely disregarded?

My acting coach enlightened me the other day that the cover of the Vanity Fair last week was interesting, and I had the pleasure of skimming through it while waiting to board a plane this week. He was right; all the young women that they said were 'up & coming' the shining stars of our acting future were indeed white. Names like Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Kristen Stewart, and Emma Roberts were exemplified, and showcased on the cover. But I wondered about Zoe Saldana, Gabourney Sidibe, Mo'Nique, America Ferrera, Jennifer Hudson, Michelle Rodriguez, Devon Aoki, and Jessica Alba? Why weren't they on the cover as well? And whatever happened to Gabriel Union and Kerry Washington? Aren't they in enough movies to be considered 'up & coming' as well? I know that in the old days when there was black & white film, people of colour were usually care-takers, servants or maids, with little words said, and if so, usually nothing of importance. I know that in the 60's, 70's and 80's, there still weren't many roles offered in Hollywood in respect to lead roles or serious roles of pertinence offered to non-whites, but even today, I find that there is still a great struggle to have them rise above their customary comedic, athletic and illicit roles. Thank Goodnes for Tyler Perry, Denzel Washington and Wil Smith for making steps forward and making films of substance as opposed to being seen always as the criminal or rapist. I certainly respect Mr. Perry as a filmmaker, but I personally think he has made it, a 'blacks mostly' deal. I long to see more mixing, Blacks alongside Whites, Hispanics alongside Chinese etcetera; and this is where Caribbean film comes in. Yes; you may not have heard about it, but it is slowly becoming known; and I hope to be one of its pioneers.

It is only a dream now, but is in the works of becoming a reality. White Jesus may be chaste, soft, good and accepted but Knight Rider is sleek, strong, beautiful, and slowly will become recognized as something good. I was born with the same feelings, blood, organs & I will be a winner! :))