The first question once i finished watching the movie, Frankenstein 1931, was ‘Why is this a horror movie?’ even though the film is known for a horror movie.
The monster was created by Dr. frankenstein regardless of his intention and he repeatedly says ‘i need a friend’ while Dr.Frankentstein and mob try to lock him up and kill him. the way of the narrative in this film portrayed the monster, loneliness by rejecting in society, reminded me of the sexual desire which is human nature suppressed and considered ‘taboo’ in society. The main topic i will present is suppressed sexual desire, furthermore, the sadness of outcasts. Frankenstein would be the way to communicate with viewers by visualizing this conceptual idea.
The topic of this project will be proceed based on a reinterpretation of the movie with my own definition. Therefore, as the idea is conceptual rather than direct visual images, it requires a study of these overall ideas. The idea between Frankenstein and sexual desire might seem not have connection for readers. it requires a rigorous study but also i need to clearly present the process of work to convince readers.
First, Frankenstein is world famous novel as well as movie. hence, there would be a lot of cultural histories and background knowledge behind the film. i will visit UAL libraries for research and gather interesting resources i might use as many as i can.
Secondly, the sexual desire i want to talk about in this project is related to libido, which is one of ideas of a psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud. Therefore, i will visit the Freud museum in London for primary research.
Lastly, the work Hans Bellmer, i used the images of his work for mood board, has an aesthetic that somehow evoke sexual mood. i will search about his work online to get details and look for related artists who have explored ‘suppression of sex’.
My design is for people who is willing to pay money for the idea, ethos, and story behind garment, not simply for wearing it. This project is about ‘repression of outcast in society’. In this sense of suppressed sexuality, there is homosexuals in these days. Otherwise, people in subculture considered as an outlier would be target customers either. For these reasons, my ideal customers are people who are dreamers living in a fantasy and pursuing, and expressing their own rights in their own way. Therefore, the outcome will not have boundaries on gender. In other words, the outcome is for nonbinary. There would be few tailoring based garment such as coat and jacket unlike term 2. the outcome would be wearable even if it would not be worn in daily life as i am applying to menswear.
In term2, i presented the final outcome in order of the narrative based on my imagination. As the topic of this project is the repression of sexual desire i want to speak that it should be freer as an ultimate message of the project. Therefore, the order of outfits will reflect the hardship of repression and this eventually be free from society in a figurative way by using the narrative of the movie, Frankenstein.
The final outcome of the term2 was fully digital work. A tutor pointed out that it seems cartoon. The final illustration of this term will be hand drawing and painting which I learnt in term 1 that studied the sculpture of Rodin.
Reference list:
Edwards, C. (2021) This is the real science that ‘inspired’ the gruesome story of Frankenstein’s monster. Available at: https://nypost.com/2021/11/01/this-is-the-real-science-that-inspired-the-gruesome-story-of-frankensteins-monster/ (Accessed 23rd Mar 2022)
Imbd (no date) Photo Gallery. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026138/mediaindex?page=3&ref_=ttmi_mi_sm (Accessed 31st Mar 2022)
Klein, C. (2018) Innovative Cosmetic Surgery Restored WWI Vets’ Ravaged Faces—And Lives. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/world-war-i-plastic-surgery-innovations-gillies (Accessed 12nd Apr 2022)
Musikka, M. (2014) Boris Karloff ~~ Frankenstein ~~ colourised. Available at: https://www.deviantart.com/maria-musikka/art/Boris-Karloff-Frankenstein-colourised-483869543 (Accessed 29th Mar 2022)
Mr. Knappy-Head (2010) Frankenstein. Available at: http://knappy-head.com/2010/05/31/frankenstein/ (Accessed 31st Mar 2022)
Pajaczkowska, C. ed. (2008) Shame and sexuality, Hove. Routledge
Saporito, J. (no date) Why Is “Bride Of Frankenstein” Often Analyzed As A Gay Parable? Available at: https://the-take.com/read/why-is-abride-of-frankensteina-often-analyzed-as-a-gay-parable (Accessed 28th Mar 2022)
Svehla, S. (1997) We belong dead book, (no place). Midnight Marquee
UniversalMonsters (2020) Crying The Monster GIF. Available at: https://tenor.com/view/crying-the-monster-frankensteins-monster-bride-of-frankenstein-teary-eyed-gif-18796567 (Accessed 19th May 2022)
Wikimedia Commons (no date) File:Muybridge; human figure in motion, sport games Wellcome L0018488.jpg. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muybridge;_human_figure_in_motion,_sport_games_Wellcome_L0018488.jpg (Accessed 17th Apr 2022)
