European Folklore
European Folklore: Unveiling Culture and Interpreting Stories By Rebecca Perla
Remember when our parents would tuck us into bed and recite our favorite bedtime story. Well, mine was no ordinary story; it was a creepy and convoluted folktale about a lazy boy who journeys off to visit fairyland to be-friend the king and earn the trust of all the fairies. There’s humor, adventure, manipulation, and a world of imagination. Some may relate, some might have no idea what I’m talking about, and some might think I’m referencing fairytales. But no. I’m referring to antiquated European folklore tales, stories that may be sugar-coated but not necessarily sweet. Folklore folktales consist of traditional oral narratives, including legends, proverbs, and stories that belong to a particular culture or social group. Folklore is an outlet for people to study histories and cultures, model positive character traits, and discover a love for original storytelling. Folklore doesn’t take the easy way out; instead, it has folktales narrate deeper truths and reveal vital life lessons through dark and convoluted messages. It’s a culture interested in the mystical and unpleasant twists and turns in life. By folklore presenting a plethora of cultures and histories, they foster a world of imagination and creative narratives, encouraging unique craftsmanship and original storytelling. At its core, folklore invites interpretation. Part of folklore culture, and folktales, is giving stories livelihood and advancing the characters’ personalities. Add a little flair. Go offscript. Be dramatic. The stories should expand and alter, not remain rigid or fixed. And thus, we have our European Folklore project. Each makeup artist delves into his/her/ their child-like self, morphing and embellishing on a personal folktale. From “Norway Trolls” to “Death’s Messenger,” each look represents a tale filled with adventure, exploration, and creativity, diving into each member’s folklore heritage to showcase how even the most antiquated and treacherous stories foster fascination and imagination. Unleashing one’s inner dark-side isn’t the only source to draw on, as each artist goes beyond the written words and moral lessons to interpret their tale how they see fit. And even though these majestic personified looks go beyond magical trappings, at heart, they remain intriguing and timeless folktales. As you explore the diverse looks included in our European Folklore collection, please remember that these timeless stories share a common thread: they have been shared with the hope that each generation will expand on them and provide numerous interpretations.
The Banshee By Casey O’Connor
The Banshee is one of the most well known spirits in Ireland. She is known for being an omen of death, letting out high pitched wails when she predicts someone’s death. She is believed to only appear to certain families and although the list can vary, the main Irish families mentioned are the O’Neills, O’Connors, O’Briens, O’Gradys, and Kavanaghs. My last name being O’Connor, this means that the banshee would predict my death. Banshees come in three different forms, an old hag, a beautiful young woman, or a stately matron. Most stories talk about how the banshee was a beautiful, joyful woman during life, but had been overcome with sorrow and became an old hag. This is where my inspiration for my look comes from. Banshees are usually depicted as terrifying and violent women even though they are known to be relatively harmless. Instead of doing a violent banshee look I want to represent the sorrow. I want to depict the banshee as a melancholy spirit to show how the sorrow is what forms the banshee into the spirit that she is.
Norway Trolls By Gabby Ledesma
Trolls are unlike the trolls you see in movies like Trolls and Frozen. They are not beings that will take the time to help humans. The legend of the trolls in Norway show them as big, stupid, and eating humans. Trolls often turn to stone in the sun, they’re large and stocky, strong and brutish with prominent noses and heavy brows. If you watched Barbie and saw those trolls, they were shown as accurate trolls to be honest. I am not sure how the legend began, but I’m here to represent the real trolls.
Death’s Messenger By Kennedy Fitzgerald
Death’s messenger is a German folktale that tells the story of Death, who appears as a person, getting beat down by a giant and then tended to by a kind human. In return for his kindness, Death tells the man that while he can’t spare his life, he can give him signs before he dies. The man grew old and ill and was plagued by a number of ailments before he died. When he finally does pass, he asks death why he did not send him a sign. Death tells him he did, he sent him old age and sickness. My inspiration is to create a personification of Death, replicated on myself. I want to create a perception that I am in fact human, but that something is a little off putting that would suggest that I am not quite of this world. I want to convey that Death is always among us, always imminent, but never fully predictable. I want to depict death in a way that is less evil and tragic, and more as a process of life, and in the case of the very old and sick can even be a welcome relief. I want it to be much more neutral than good or bad.
Greek Mythology By Sophie Lasenna
I chose to focus on Greek Mythology through statues, since that is one of the ways we have been able to piece together stories from the past and ancient beliefs. I’m modelling my look after the goddess Aphrodite, specifically the statue where she has no arms. I found this one mysterious because people have many theories as to what her arms were originally doing - she was “responsible� in Greek Mythology for so many things; the goddess of love, war, desire and more. I thought it was interesting that women in Greek Mythology are worshipped widely and believed to be cunning, smart and meddling in the lives of mortal men but often it is in the name of good for the community/civilization. I appreciate that women in these ancient stories were not only objects of desire or overseers of love, but that they influenced great wars and social conflicts--changing the course of history and using their beauty and charm to make change in these cities.
Changeling By Rowan Arwood
This look was inspired by the folklore of “Changelings,” a fae baby that is put in the place of a human child in the act of revenge against a human who wronged the faeries. I wanted to do a lighter approach to this rather than dark because it isn’t the child fae’s choice to be switched out and interprets them as she grows up not fitting in, seemingly shifting.