American Horror Story ♰

There are two types of people in the world. Those who love scary movies or Tv shows and those who would much rather change the channel. This show was like a bomb in the Television industry. 

What is it about this TV show that makes it so popular... so likeable and so... different? The cast, the outfits, the mood, the story, the idea? For me it's simply everything. It is a mixture that when put together creates fear, assumptions and excitement. There is four series and each of them are different. The first one was set in a haunted house. Involved ghosts...spooky. How incredible is this intro!

It gives you a feel about the show... It scares you enough to not want to watch it. But then again it makes you intrigued... Do I or do I not. Yes... I do. The music gives off this addictive vibe that you just can't get enough of! 

This is the intro to the second season which is about an asylum. Mental home owned by mental people... I would say. What I find really interesting about all these intros is that they are almost separate from the episodes yet they are still an element of them. They give you that idea of all the emotions you might feel while watching the show... This programme is very psychological and that is represented in these intros, which are also very controversial. For a reason. 

This one must be one of my favourites... and definitely is an inspiration for this project. The setting is perfect, and I also really like how the visuals suit the music. This intro is really making you prepared for the episode, which is what it is meant to do... Also, this season is a lot about evil. The supreme witch wears black all the time which is meant to represent how bad of a person she is, whereas her daughter most of the time wears white.

These series also face racial issues. This is not a topic that I expected to come up on this show, and was quite surprised how big of a part of the show it was. However, the issue is not very obvious and you really have to follow all the clues included in the episodes, which I think was a very clever thing to do from the Director's point of view. Some people think it's all just a one, massive mess though.

"It's easy to see why American Horror is freaking people out. The ultraviolent hallucinations never pause long enough to make sense. In terms of coherence, it makes your average David Lynch movie look like Burn Notice. Murphy knows most of the viewers are only tuning in because it's got his name on it. And he wants them to notice how nobody at the network has the muscle to veto any of his craziest ideas. ("Gosh, Ryan, you're a genius! Tami Taylor fucking the gimp? But of course! Rubber suit, leather mask, can't lose!")"

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/american-horror-story-will-restore-your-faith-in-ryan-murphys-dark-side-20111027#ixzz3Prdo0zKd

Great Expectations (2012) - Review ♰

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I feel like this film rushes through the events included in the book, without providing sufficient reasons for action of some of the characters, therefore it makes it hard for the audience to identify with the characters.

When it comes to the cast, I think both actors and actresses did a great job. Even though the film was set in a different era, they all managed to make it seem like it was the present while watching the film.

I definitely enjoyed the visual aspect of this film- cinematography added to the writing version of this novel rather than just simply providing us with visuals that could go with it. An example of this would be when we see Pip at home and there is a lot of wide camera shots with bright lightening which makes him as a character look like his 'world' looks endless and very welcoming. However, as soon as he becomes a gentleman, we see a lot of close-up camera shots, darkness and rooms with no windows. This creates a very cold and not welcoming atmosphere.

Overall, this film is very short and misses quite a few scenes that were included in the book. However, the way this novel has been brought to life by Mike Newell, once again, in my opinion deserves some praise, simply because of the cast in this film. Everyone played a significant part in this film and contributed to the story very well. Each character has a visible on the screen 'soul' that made this adaptation different to all the others. 

Victorian Hairstyles ♰

Early Victorian Hairstyles (1830-1860)

Popular during the early Victorian years hairstyles included

sausage curls which were framing the face...

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On the right we can see a modern adaptation of this hairstyle in a more contemporary version on Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. 

The hair looks very girly but classy and elegant as well.

The thing that makes the hairstyle more modern is the fact that the curls are a lot more lose. 

Personally, I am a massive fun of Kate's hair here, I think it looks classy and even though messy- still goes with the make up, outfit and Kate herself!

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On the right we see a portrait of Annie Gambart (1835-1870), who was the third wife of Ernest Gambart, the great Victorian art dealer and publisher.

Her hairstyle was quite typical at that time- very fashionable centre parting and the sides of hair pulled back or twisted to cover the ears.

Her hair is also very shiny, to do that the Victorians often used for example- lard. 

There is quite a few contemporary versions of this hairstyle that I found quite interesting :

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Now I think these sort of hairstyles suit a lot of different occasions- for instance, weddings, red carpet or when you are going to a business meeting. 

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*Hairstyles typically

included a part in the middle and the hair pulled

back into a bun, braids or curls.

Women also used a 'snood' to cover the back of their heads.

Towards the late 1870's the bustles became tighter and so did the hairstyles (picture on the right).

It was very popular to wear the hair up. Women started doing more therefore they wanted to feel comfortable...

Pictures with out reference & facts come from: 

http://bartoscollection.com/vehairstylesbyera.html

Towards the 1860's, bigger hairstyles became more fashionable ... Also, the use of hair fillers (e.g. rats) and other hair pieces became more popular. 

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This is a Victorian hair style for a young lady. The hair is slightly waved, and brushed to the back of the head, where it is caught up in short curls, bound in with a very heavy plait of hair.

I think this hairstyle was very comfortable therefore it was popular amongst the younger girls. That trend still exist as we see younger girls with plaits and pony tails all the time.

It looks quite simple and quick to do, which probably was another factor that affected who wore it. 

The Marguerite headdress is for full evening wear. The long plaits falling under the chin may be of velvet.

This particular hairstyle looks very elegant,tidy and classy.

To me it looks very well thought through, as every section of the hair had to be fairly even when it comes to the curls as well as the plaits.

Symmetry in this case is key and I think that is what makes this hairstyle look very tidy and elegant. 

Victorian hairstyle for a ball. The back of the head is covered with short curls, and a row of short curls fall over the forehead. A broad plait of scarlet velvet is twisted round the head and falls over the shoulder.

In this hairstyle, every bit of the hair has been either curled or plaited. I think it used to show that women were able to take care of themselves and had the time to do that, which means it represented quite a lot!

Source: http://www.victoriana.com/Victorian-Fashion/victorianhairstyles-1867.html

I feel like with time the hair started to be more out of the face. The bun trend disappeared and what replaced it was the hair got a lot longer. Women also started to have fringes, which they would curl. There was also a lot of hair pieces used, including flowers to make the hairstyle look prettier. This also signified class as it showed that women were able to spend time on their hair instead of having to go out and work. 

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Re-Creating Early Victorian Hairstyles...

These are some of the early Victorian hairstyles I have re-created. I found them quite quick, easy and simple to do, which makes them very practical. 

Re-creating Mid-Late Victorian Hairstyles ....

This is a mid- late Victorian hairstyle that I have practised. It involved a curled ponytail pinned down to give the impression of a curly bun which is not supposed to look like a bun. Confusing, I know...

Then the front part of the hair is supposed to be curled and pinned on both sides, giving a wavy effect on both sides of the head, still keeping the sleeked look on the bottom of the sides of the head.

Step By Step:

1) Section a horseshoe section of hair at the top
2) Make it into a ponytail
3) Curl the ends of the ponytail and pin the down so they look like a bun but not a neat one
4) Curl the rest of the hair at the bottom of the head
5) From pieces of hair divide into 2 sections then curl and brush together
6) Bottom section of the hair at the front pin back making it look sleek
7) Top section of the hair pin on the side of the head leaving it a bit wavy

Victorian Beauty Ideals & Current Understanding ♰

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When I found out Gothic horror was our next project, I wanted to find out what it means... what it was and also about the history of the Victorian era. I find this kind of information very useful as I feel it helps to understand the future of make up/hair & fashion as it gives us real visions and ideas for different types of looks. For example, make-up was not a very popular thing to do... The natural look was desired by many women, which I could compare to the whole 'naked look' hype which is quite admired now.

"In 1882 Britain was in the later stages of acquiring the largest empire the world had ever seen. By the end of Victoria's reign, the British empire extended over about one-fifth of the earth's surface and almost a quarter of the world's population at least theoretically owed allegiance to the 'queen empress'. ""Victoria came to the throne during the early, frenetic phase of the world's first industrial revolution. Industrialisation brought with it new markets, a consumer boom and greater prosperity for most of the propertied classes.

"It also brought rapid, and sometimes chaotic change as towns and cities expanded at a pace which precluded orderly growth. Desperately poor housing conditions, long working hours, the ravages of infectious disease and premature death were the inevitable consequence."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/overview_victorians_01.shtml

I have found this video on YouTube and thought 'I have to put this on my blog'! It includes so much useful information about all the products (or most of them) that women in the Victorian era have used. I must admit- some of them I have quite fascinated by... For example the mini razor. Very convenient yet not very popular anymore. The video also mentions a book called "History of Compacts and Cosmetics" by Madeleine Marsh. I have read the book and picked out a few bits from it that I found very interesting...

This quote shocked me... How times (and views) have changed. Nowadays make up is looked at like it is a part of our usual, very often seen as a boring "morning routine". 

"FASHION BECAME A PRISON" it states...

The period ideal of fragile femininity was absolutely demolished by new developments in underwear. With the invention of metal eyelets in the 1820s stays could be laced tighter then ever before, squeezing the waist with steel and whalebone. 

A tiny waist was set off by an enormous skirt, initially supported by heavy layers of petticoats. Then from the 1850s by the crinoline- a literal cage of steel hoops that could give a woman a six-foot circumference. This trend I think is still being kept fresh by the gypsies and the kind of wedding dresses they wear. 

Image source: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/31/article-2094172-11864763000005DC-587_964x632.jpg 

Image source: http://www.giantdesign.us/wp-content/uploads//gypsy-wedding-dresses-pink-noste2r6.jpg 

From her toes scrunched up in a pointy buttoned boots to the tips of her fingers squeezed in tight kid gloves- the Victorian lady was expected to sacrifice comfort for constraint. Even though the fashionable silhouette of a Victorian lady was rampantly artificial, no artifice was allowed on the face. 

The classic image of Victorian beauty was:

• A peaches & cream complexion 
• Cherry ripe lips 
• A pair of sparkling eyes, fringed by soft, fluttering eyelashes 

This was seen as natural and sometimes called a 'Gift from God'. 

I have also looked at another book called  

Exisiting portrayals of Miss Havisham ♰

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In Great Expectations (2012) Miss Havisham is portrayed as a very moody, not nice character who refuses to take off her decaying wedding dress as her Fiancé abandoned her on their wedding day. Then she decided to take revenge on every male she meets... To do this she decides to adopt a girl named Estella and uses her to break men's hearts. Her first victim was a boy called Pip who is one of the main characters in the film. 

When it comes to the physical aspect of Miss Havisham in the film, she looks different to when you for example want to compare it to other productions. Her hair is long and very curly.. She also has a veil which she doesn't in some of the other productions. This I think makes her look more distant to the world in this film, more isolated. 

In my opinion she is certainly one of the most memorable characters in the film, not only because of the visual side but because of the mood she creates... It's different in many ways. However, I think Miss Havisham has been buried a little because of Helena Bonham Carter who played her. We see more of the actress then Miss Havisham. While watching this film I thought Helena was too much of a symbol of herself and not enough of this lonely, heartbroken rich woman who is very lost and...sometimes quite evil. 

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The book gives us a very clear view of Miss Havisham's character, beginning in chapter 8. Charles Dickens uses very interesting Gothic techniques to create this evil impression of this character. She does not leave her house, but at the same time it feels abandoned because of her Fiancé. She has been wearing this wedding dress for so many years- it is more grey then white... This makes her not exactly a believable and relatable character. Her house very well represents an element of Gothic literature in this book. It is not clean, it never has any visitors and is always very dark and miserable. There is no happiness... Just darkness and sadness. 

“...Had a great many bars to it. Some of the windows had been walled up...all the lower were rustily barred”.

I feel like Dickens used Miss Havisham's character as a comparison when it comes to upper and lower working class. The book very often mentions how Miss Havisham and Estella insult Pip and call him a 'common labouring boy'.

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The BBC series from 2011, were my favourite adaptation of the Great Expectations and Miss Havisham played by Gillian Anderson. I feel like her character was so realistic and felt very relatable. The way I would imagine Miss Havisham to look like- was the way she has been show in these series. Thin, pale, messy hair although some part of it still remained curly making it look like she did do her hair but a long time ago... Giving us more understanding and a better feel of the story. She also has a nervous tic... She cannot stop scratching her arm. This shows how much of an anxious and socially isolated person she is as it gets worse when she is around people. Another thing that I have noticed is her posture... Throughout the whole series her body is tilted a little bit forward which might suggest eating problems. These often occur after traumatising experiences or when a person is facing some mental problems. This helps us get a clear view of this character as there is so many things that help us to understand why she is behaving this way.