BroadwayWorld: When audiences watch a performance, they often notice a costume without thinking about why it feels right. A jacket, a dress, or even the way a garment fits can quietly shape the first impression of a character before a single line of dialogue is spoken. While actors bring characters to life through performance, costume designers help audiences understand who those characters are long before the story unfolds.
3 comments:
Art takes people. We all know it, that's why we’re here, as people who make art. It’s really cool to me how Teng talks about the decision making process as an associate, how he works on the actual fabrication of the designers concepts. It echoes something Dick talked about in our drafting class, about how, as a designer he usually doesn't really care how the shop builds his designs as long as they preserve the look he wants to achieve. That discussion usually parallels a discussion with Kevin later in the day about how designers don't care what you build with as long as you make it correctly. It’s really interesting to me how these concepts escape the world of scenery that Dick and Kevin exist in, and cross over into costuming, something that often seems like a polar opposite but in reality share so many commonalities. It's all making stuff at the end of the day.
When it comes to introducing a character to the stage there are many things we notice when we first meet them but a big factor that influences our impression of the character is the costume they wear. Put someone in something dark and dramatic. We think of them as dramatic or evil. Put them in something bright or floral. They have a more kind and fun atmosphere to them. The impression we get for a character and connect to their costume is almost entirely a subconscious decision we do not actually think about. Colors and styles of clothing have a stereotypical connection to personalities and seeing a costume designer manipulate and exploit those factors to introduce a character is very interesting to me. It is also interesting to see the difference in authority in what decisions are made between a lead costume designer and an associate costume designer.
Whether we like it or not, humans make judgments quickly after meeting someone. This is why costumes are so important in theater. They provide the initial information about a character even before a line is spoken. I like that Teng takes this fact and weaves it into his process. The article also provided interesting information about differences in the Costume Designer and Associate Costume Designer roles. I enjoyed that I was able to learn about the distinctions between the two roles and identify the different responsibilities that come with being the head designer vs the associate. I relate to Teng's idea that "artistic roles require patience." It can take years to get a foot in the door in the creative industry, so patience and perseverance are extremely important characteristics for a person to have. Art takes time, and that is what makes it so beautiful and speak to so many people.
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