50 Shades of Grey by E.L James.

When analysing my chosen novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' By Oscar Wilde, I realised that the continuous theme of pleasure, desire, and greed throughout the novel reminded me a lot of the similar themes in the book '50 Shades of Grey' By E.L James.


What is '50 Shades of Grey' about?

The book '50 Shades of Grey' is an erotic romance novel, that has been created into a trilogy, written by E.L James. The main characters in this novel are a college graduate called Anastasia Steele and a young business billionaire, Christian Grey. The book became scandalous and popular, well known for its erotic scenes that explore BDSM (bondage, dominance, submission, mascohsim). 

The reason this film came to mind after reading my chosen novel was that It reminded me a lot of the references to sin, domination and power taking over Dorian Gray. I got even more reference from the film adaptation of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' also directed by Oliver Parker. In the film there is a lot of scenes where violence, pleasure and sex is mixed all into to one scene recreating the sin Dorian was committing and how he was also feeling. I feel that this theme could create a make-up look that focuses on the appeal of Dorian but making him look rugged dangerous and crazy as if he is enjoying his self destruction and obsession with sinning. 

Google Sourced Image of scene from 50 shades of Grey.

Google Sourced Image of scene from 50 shades of Grey.

References 
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pnj5DkQe8mU/hqdefault.jpg
https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-0siboe0NkygCSdMtMTG8wv06P0=/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3407758/50-shades-of-grey-official-trailer-01.0.jpg

Victorian Fashion For Men 1840- 1900.

After researching on Victorian women beauty Ideals and fashion, I wanted to take the time to research the same history for Victorian men also. My reasoning for this is because for my Victorian inspired character from my chosen novel, is going to be a man, (Dorian Gray) and I feel it is important for me to look at both genders so that I can show development within my ideas. I have used the online source http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/history-of-fashion-1840-1900/ which is the official website of the Victoria and Albert museum to find information on Victorian men's fashion and hairstyles. 

1840's Victorian Men

Inspired by Prince Albert, Victorian men commonly wore flared frock coats that created an hour glass shape. Also, tight fitting trousers and tailored waistcoats with high collars and neck ties. Victorian men wore their quite long in length but swept to the sides out of the face and commonly had a moustache or long side burns.

1841 Victorian Man.
Google Sourced Image.
http://www.victoriana.com/Mens-Clothing/images/1841-31.jpg
The above image best describes the typical appearance of an 1840's Victorian man.

1850's Victorian Men

Matching coats, waistcoats and trousers were very popular and so were heavily inspired Prince Albert hairstyles such as 'large mutton - chop- side - burns and moustaches. High fastened, tight fitting frock coats and high collars with large bows around the neck were also very popular. A new style of coat called the 'sack coat' was also introduced, which was a ' thigh-length, loosely fitted jacket" and this soon became popular also. Around the 1850's a new style of hat called the 'Bowler hat', this was associated with the working class a lot and became a common hat for working class men, where as upper class men preferred 'Top Hats'.

1850's Victorian Man.
Google Sourced Image of a traditional 1850's Victorian man.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/3c/17/d3/3c17d3e649a2798e6c63dbd5d18dd649.gif

Bowler Hat.
Google Sourced image.
http://www.photodetective.co.uk/jpegs/Bowler-A.jpg

1850's Top Hat.
Google Sourced Image.
http://www.victoriana.com/Mens-Clothing/images/mens_hats-14.jpg http://www.photodetective.co.uk/jpegs/Bowler-A.jpg

1860's Victorian Men 

Single-breasted, semi-fitted coats extending down to the mid thigh became very popular and a new fashion trend. Waistcoats were still worn and very much part of Victorian mens traditional clothing but, were often collarless and single-breasted. High starched collars were normally worn with cravats and neck-ties. Victorian hair for men in the 1860's was still styled in a centre parting away from the face, where as the styling of the moustache and  and beard became more particular, being called 'Dundreary whiskers' or 'Piccadilly weepers' this hairstyle consisted of long whiskers worn with a full beard and a defined drooping moustache. 

1860's Victorian Man
Google Sourced Image.
http://www.victoriana.com/Mens-Clothing/images/1863_Victorian_men_10.jpg

1870's Victorian Men

Mens jackets, coats and waistcoats were semi-fitted, thigh-length and buttoned high on the chest. Shirt collars were normally stiff and upstanding, with the tips turned down into wings. Mens hair was worn parted at the centre as normal with all types of facial hair which was acceptable. 

1870's Victorian Man.
Google sourced Image.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7d/11/36/7d113602b3e23aa78254170602156e94.jpg

1880's Victorian Men

In the 1880's slim-fitting longue suits were becoming very popular and were normally worn open or partially undone to reveal the high buttoning waist coat and watch-chain. Collars on shirts where still stiff and high standing.

1880's Victorian Man.
Google Sourced Image.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7d/11/36/7d113602b3e23aa78254170602156e94.jpg 

1890's Victorian Men

The 1890's introduced a new three piece lounge suit this became very popular and was regularly worn by 1890's men and onwards. Frock coats were still worn, but commonly by older or more conservative men in society. Collars were also still high and upstanding, although towards the end of the century collars were worn turned down and with the modern long, knotted tie style. Mens hair in the 1890's was worn cut short, and parted at the side. Heavy moustaches became popular and beards where still worn but usually by older men and many men began to wear clean shaven faces instead of having facial hair. 

1890's Victorian Man.
Google Sourced Image.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/fd/6b/df/fd6bdfd576ecef45a8a0adaaca33ac31.jpg

References 
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/history-of-fashion-1840-1900/
http://www.victoriana.com/Mens-Clothing/images/1841-31.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/3c/17/d3/3c17d3e649a2798e6c63dbd5d18dd649.gif
http://www.victoriana.com/Mens-Clothing/images/mens_hats-14.jpg
http://www.photodetective.co.uk/jpegs/Bowler-A.jpg
http://www.victoriana.com/Mens-Clothing/images/1863_Victorian_men_10.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7d/11/36/7d113602b3e23aa78254170602156e94.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7d/11/36/7d113602b3e23aa78254170602156e94.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/fd/6b/df/fd6bdfd576ecef45a8a0adaaca33ac31.jpg

Victorian Fashion for women.

To broaden my research on Victorian beauty ideals and trends, I have decided to look into women and mens fashion also, as when I am creating my character for make-up in motion I will have to consider the accessories, hairstyle and clothing I may want my model to wear to create the overall Victorian theme. 

Reading the book;

 'Victorian and Edwardian Fashions for Women 1840 to 1919'. By Kristina Harris, Copyright 1995.

Page 21 Chapter 3 '1840's Little women'.

An 1846 Fashion plate featuring a 'low corsage' dress.

The image above is taken from the book, and shows a 1840's Victorian woman wearing a 'Low corsage dress', which consists of the bell shaped hoop skirt and also the low corsage corset made from whalebone and wood. The traditional 1840's Victorian man wore, 'Tightly clinched waists, with rounded chests and flared frock-coats that gave them an hour glass figure inspired by Prince Albert. They also wore tight trousers and waistcoats, with high upstanding collars and neckties tied around them Hair was worn quite long, but sweet to the sides. Moustaches and sideburns were popular." - History of Fashion 1840- 1900 Victoria and Albert Museum, online source. 

Like Victorian women, men seemed to take pride in their appearance and clothing a lot and looked very smart and formal from day to day. Something similar between Victorian fashion for both men and women is that both outfits consist of a lot of little details and structuring to create the desired shaping of their clothes etc, waistcoats, corsets and hoop skirts. 

" The  stay extends not only over the bosom but also all over the abdomen and back down to the hips.;"The Handbook of the toilet informed its readers about the new 1841 style of corset. "Besides being garnished with Whalebone, to say nothing of an immense wooden, metal or whalebone busk... they have been growing in length... the gait of (women) is generally stiff and awkward..." 

This section from the book, explains that the new style of the 1841 corset, which consists of Whalebone and other hard man made materials that create the structure of the Victorian women's corset, was very uncomfortable and awkward to wear day to day. I feel that Victorian Women's fashion changed and developed in ways for the body of a woman to look more shapely, slim, curvy and appealing for men, but this of course was created in extreme ways. 

"Why women of the Forties thought shaping them-selves like bells made them more graceful and attractive is dubious. But in order to achieve the bell look, skirts were usually heavily lined, small bustles were often built into skirts, and dresses of heavy fabrics frequently had pads at the hip and derriere, sandwiched between the dress and its lining. By the end of the Forties, skirts grew so heavy and the extreme bell shape was so desired that skirts were often lined with stiff crinoline."

References.

'Victorian and Edwardian Fashions for Women 1840 to 1919'. By Kristina Harris, Copyright 1995.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/history-of-fashion-1840-1900/

Dorian Gray By Oliver Parker.

In response to collecting research on the novel 'The picture of Dorian Gray' By Oscar Wilde, I have decided to watch and analyse the film adaptation creating a small review. 

Compared to the novel I found the film version much more creatively and inspirationally interesting as everything from the London setting to the characters are much more modern.
At the beginning of the film you are introduced to the violent and dark theme of the storyline, as the scene is of Dorian Gray stabbing a body covered in blood, which you later find out to be Basil Hallward. The movie also portrays the 1890 setting well, as the characters, Dorian Gray and his house staff are all dressed in traditional Victorian clothing. In the beginning of the film there is also already a point of how desirable and popular Dorian Gray is by filming him chatting with a group of wealthy beautiful women, all flirting with him.

Basil Hallward is introduced to Dorian Gray by one of the woman surrounding him,and straight away Basil compliments his appearance and then shows him a quick portrait he drew of him whilst performing. The film is much more graphic when portraying the sins that Dorian commits at parties and private gentleman clubs, it also continuously shows drug use, smoking and excessive drinking everywhere Dorian goes. Dorian Gray even comes onto Basil as he is gay and tries to manipulate him also, knowing that Basil is attracted to him. Basil picks up on Dorian's new personality and obsessive search for pleasure and tries to stop him where as Henry embraces his behaviour and pushes it further. This creates tension between the three characters whenever together. 

The portrayal of Dorian Gray in this film is much more evil, manipulative and sly which is more fitting for the storyline but it makes you dislike him much more, where in the book he doesn't come across as so evil. Although some of the scenes in the movie are very graphic and scary to look at sometimes, it is not necessarily a horror style film but instead disturbing as it is made to look realistic. 

These are two quotes that stood out to me in the film and made me think of ways to incorporate it in a make-up look.
'Be searching always for new sensations'
'there are no limits'

The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde; Presentation Day.

I recently just presented my mood board inspired by my chosen novel in front of Kat and my group. I had made sure to prepare for the presentation and even made some small notes to guide myself when talking. I was first to present and naturally felt quite nervous to start off the group, I began to explain my ideas whilst showing the class my mood board and felt less nervous as I carried on.

Throughout my presentation I tended to talk a lot more about the film adaptation I had seen more then the novel By Oscar Wilde, I feel that I only did this because I got more from the film adaptation, creatively and inspirationally and struggled slightly with the language in the original novel. I feel this came across as If, I hadn't read the book in my presentation as the constructive comments given to me as feedback at the end and during the middle of my presentation from Kat, was for me to refer back the novel and the online spark notes of the novel. Also after finishing my presentation I felt disappointed whilst watching my peers presentations after as most of their created presentations were digital and mainly image based, where as I had created mine by hand and only featured images from the film adaptation.

Although I featured important information from the novel and characters on my mood board I feel that I didn't do enough in regards of showing my ideas I had thought of in response to the novel in the form of imagery, colour, meaning etc.. To improve my mood board in the future, I will read over the brief on my course again and also create a digital board, featuring any important idea no matter how big or small that will capture the overall themes and ideas I felt in response to reading the novel. 

My mood board.

My Gothic Horror Character; Dorian Gray.

For the new brief I have chosen to read 'The picture of Dorian Gray' By Oscar Wilde. I chose to read and develop ideas on this novel as I had previously seen the film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel and was interested in reading the orignal book and reading the original storyline. 

Storyline Breakdown of Dorian Gray.

'The picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde is set and written in 1890 London, which is the late Victorian century. The point of view throughout the novel is third person, which I found a little confusing to keep up with but also enjoyed as it was interesting being introduced to the three main characters from that point of view, making you feel as if you were in the same room as the characters watching their every move. 

The three main characters in this novel are; 'Dorian Gray' who is the main character, 'Basil Hallward' the artist of Dorian Grays beloved portrait of himself and lastly 'Lord Henry Wotton' who is a good friend of Dorian Gray but throughout the novel, influences Dorian to behave more badly. In the beginning of the novel we are introduced to these three main characters in the story and the two friends of Dorian Gray witness Dorian promising his soul in return of eternal youth, what I found very interesting in this part of the novel was the different reactions from Basil and Henry. Throughout the book I feel that Basil and Henry almost influence Dorian as if they are his own Jekyll and Hyde, although Dorian persists to live the scandalous and sinful lifestyle. 

Throughout the novel, Dorian Gray commits sinful acts daily, and every time he does so, his actions begin to show on his beautiful portrait of himself. His portrait begins to decay, rot and bleed evil and ugliness, I feel that this symbolises Dorian conscience that he once had and now doesn't care about as all he searches for in life is pleasure. Dorian Gray did have a first love in the Novel who was the beautiful actress 'Sibyl Vane'. Sibyl Vane was deeply in love with Dorian and dedicated her life to their relationship, Dorian Gray fell in love with Sibyl because of her beauty and ability to act and this began to change when Sibyl decided to end her career because she felt she could no longer act as if she was in love, when she deeply, truly was in real life with Dorian. This leads to Sibyl committing suicide from a broken heart as in the novel Dorian's feelings and love for Sybil change and diminish. 

After Dorian ends his relationship with Sibyl, his obsessive actions to find pleasure from sinful acts increase immensely. In an attempt to be a good friend and help Dorian Gray, his friend Basil Hallward confronts Dorian Gray and expresses that he is worried about Dorian Gray and his change of person, this leads to Dorian Gray murdering Basil Hallward and feeding his monster even more. Towards the end of the novel Dorian Gray attempts to confide in Lord Henry Wotton, telling his about his feelings and what he has become, leading Dorian to stab his own portrait, killing himself. 

Conclusion of the novel and my character. 

I found the novel overall very interesting and held a dramatic and creepy theme throughout the story of Dorian's sins. Throughout the novel, you follow Dorian on his path to self destruction and begin to observe the monster he is becoming, as evertytime a sin is made it is reflected on his portrait not effecting Dorian whatsoever only encouraging his monster more. I feel that the novel explores the fine line between temptation and morals and how the promise of eternal youth caused Dorian Gray to become this evil person. 

Throughout the novel I feel that Dorian Gray is portrayed as first a handsome, innocent, adonis who is loved in society and lives a very good life, but as the story develops Dorian Gray is portrayed as a heartless, obsessive narcissist who only cares about his appearance and his personal desires and fantasies. I have chosen to create my character on Dorian Gray, as he inspired me the most throughout the novel creatively, I really like the idea of creating a character that becomes more insane and ugly every time they feed the monster inside of them, as it symbolises how powerful greed and pleasure is. As a make-up look I first plan to experiment with some designs and create a look that makes Dorian appear still as handsome and perfect but there is something not quite right about him, similar to how women felt about Dorian in the book because he never aged. 


References. 
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/doriangray/facts.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/doriangray/characters.html