“Come up to the lab and see what´s on the slab.”
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW NATHALIE LARSSON Fashion in Cinema and Movie
BA Fashion marketing & communication Level 6, 2018-2019 Module title: 6FAMK003C Visual Arts Subject Coursework: CWK1 Teacher/s Maya McCarthy Word Count: 3758
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. ESSAY 2. RESEARCH BOOK INTRODUCTION 3. MEET THE ACTORS 4. PERSONAL SYNOPSIS 5. THIS IS THE ROCKY HORROR: KEY SCENES 6. MOVIE POSTERS ANALYSIS 7. THE DIRECTOR´S BACKGROUND 8. SHARMAN’S MOVIES 9. AN DIRECTOR´S EYE 10. COSTUME DESIGNER AND STYLING 11. FILM LOCATION 12. THE SOUNDTRACK 13. THE 70´S 14. THE ROCKY HORROR FAN CLUB 15. WORKSHOP 7 KEY WORDS WITH IMAGE 16. CINEMATIC STYLE 17. SHOTS AND ANGLES 18. SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS 19. REFERENCES TO AMERICAN GOTHIC 20. INFLUENCES FROM TODAY 21. KEY PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES 22.
REFERENCES .
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The Essay
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HOW THE ROCKY FANCLUB CHANGED THE WORLD
The creation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a bold move. At a time where sodomy was illegal in lots of states and even frowned upon in the more progressive ones the movie sure was a statement. Nothing like it had ever been seen on screen before, especially when it came to sexual liberation and gender roles. The 70’s was a transition time to what would become a more open society and the end of the strive of “the perfect American family”. The youth at the time was tired of the strict moral values and all of societies rules. Therefore, even though the movie was a risky bet it was in a certain way still released with perfect timing. Due to the sexual oppression and the strictness rocky horror became more than just a film. It became part of a movement that changed a lot of people’s lives which still lives on to this day. Overlooking the boldness and sexuality of the movie the reach of cult status also came due to the participation of the audience. As stated above, Rocky Horror became more than a film, it became a movement. No one can with certainty say how the audience participation started but one of the first persons to interact was Angie Bowie when she screamed “No! No! Don’t do it!” when Frank.N.Furter was about to be killed at the end. All though her screaming was more of an impulse, it’s as far as we with certainty can trace back the first interaction. After a short while of screening the film at various movie theatres, the movement was born. People from different backgrounds and life experiences all came together to enjoy the intoxicating music and cheekiness that Rocky Horror had to offer. They would come in different costumes related
to the film as a tribute to its greatness. As time went by, more and more interactions were added such as a “host” presenting the film, a script with words to scream out at practically every scene, dance moves to the songs and even props for throwing. When the people who lived through Rocky Horror and the 70´s are asked about this, some say that the film was so big that it felt like it was played every day. The movement got so huge that it still echoes into the 21st century and you can still find screenings worldwide where the theatre itself promotes the audience interactions. Today the majority of the youth would probably just find the movie weird and old more than reacting to the crossdressing and men wearing makeup due to the normalization of LGBT persons and their rights. They would probably not get how big of a deal the movie was at that time and how they dared to play with gender roles and sexuality at a time when it was considered taboo at the best. Without the Rocky Horror fan clubs efforts to create a participation program and huge gatherings that spread worldwide the world as we see it today might look very different. The fan club made dressing up normal and fun which probably lead to more awareness but most of all tolerance for the gay community. For a movie to have such a great of an impact is incredible and should without a doubt be upheld as a tradition. Hopefully the fan club can live on as it already has done to this day and the screenings of this masterpiece will continue around the world. Because besides the witty songs and great acting the movie brings people together and celebrate people’s differences, which after all is what makes life fun.
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REFERENCES Mortal Journey, Rocky Horror Picture Show Audience Participation Script (2011) [online] Available at: http://www.mortaljourney.com/2011/04/additional-doc/rocky-horror-picture-show-audience-participation-script?fbclid=IwAR1BUGGQRi5lUj0C6Fo1_yPCkldEHwO7oI_CUoTZKg2c_ cylsoWA8-hUo2c People, Let´s do the time warp! The rocky horror picture show Turns 40 (2015) [online] Available at: https://people.com/movies/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-rocky-horror-picture-show/ Rottentomatoes, Rocky Horror (2015) [online] Available at: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rocky_horror_picture_show/ The Artifice, The rocky Horror picture show: A cult classic that challenged sexual mores, (2017) [online] Available at: https://the-artifice.com/the-rocky-horror-picture-show-cult-classic-sexual-mores/ Vulture, Why the rocky horror picture show still matters 40 years later, (2015) [online] Available at: https://www.vulture.com/2015/10/why-the-rocky-horror-picture-show-still-matters.html
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The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Reaserch book
FIGURE 1: Black and white lips, (pintrest, 2018)
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10 FIGURE 2: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, (pintrest, 2016)
INTRODUCTION The year is 1973 and Jim Sharman is the director behind the musical Rocky Horror show at the British theaters. Only two years later, 1975, the movie version was shown on the big screen in the United States and it directly became a hit that later attained a cult status and spread worldwide. People gathered outside the cinema dressed up like the cast in what can be described as a partaking and a new way of experiencing movies. Although this success was not apparent from the beginning, the theater was seen as a flop and some critics straight up hated the story. In this essay we will go in depth with what makes Rocky Horror such a classic, when it from the beginning was seen by the public as a disaster. Please join us and discover what truly makes this film a different “set of jaws�.
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MEET THE ACTORS IN ROCKY HORROR MAIN CHARACTERS
Frank N. Furter - Tim Curry The mad scientist, that is the leader of the planet Transexual in the galaxy Transylvania. He lives on the pleasure and excitement of seducing and charming.
FIGURE 3: Dr. Frank N. Furter (fanpop.com, 2006)
Riff Raff - Richard O´Brien The butler to Dr. Frank-N-Furter also from planet Transexual in the galaxy Transylvania. Richard O´Brien is not only playing the role of Riff Raff, he is the man that wrote the musical stage show and co-wrote the screenplay of the film.
FIGURE 4: The Buttler Riff Raff (pinterest.it, 2018)
Magenta - Patricia Quinn The crazy maid of the castle and servant of Frank-NFurter, she is sister of the servant Riff-Raff.
FIGURE 5: Magenta the cleaning lady (pinterest.it, 2017)
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Brad Majors - Barry Bostwick The charming and romantic Texas good ol´boy. Newly engaged with his girlfriend Janet. They represent a stereotype of “the perfect American couple.”
FIGURE 6: Brad Majors (rockyhorrorwiki.org, 2001)
Janet Weiss - Susan Sarandon The virgin sweetheart longing after the everlasting love, but is about to explore on a sexual liberating journey.
FIGURE 7: Janet Weiss (angelfire.com, 2006)
Rocky Horror - Peter Hinwood Created by the scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter for thesole pleasure of pleasure.
FIGURE 8: Rocky (pinterest.it, 2014)
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S Before the story begins a pair of big red lips appears singing about science fiction while the opening credits are rolling by in a blood red color over a black background to give the audience the feeling of a horror movie. The story begins outside a romantic wedding, with a proper young couple named Brad and Janet who attended the wedding as the best man and made of honor. While Brad is talking to the groom his girlfriend Janet catches the bouquet at the traditional bouquet toss. The groom then tells Brad that it looks like he might be next, before heading away with his bride. As the guest’s scatter, Brad and Janet stay outside the little church where the wedding took place talking before bursting in to dance and song that includes a love declaration and a proposal. As soon as the love song finish, the scene ends, and we are transferred into a room where an older man wearing a suit, smoking a cigarette on a stick. He then starts to talk about the journey the young couple are about to embark on and becomes the storyteller of the movie. He paints a picture of a dark and rainy night which will become a night Brad and Janet won’t forget in a long time.Even though it’s raining, the sky is dark and full of thunder the happy and newly engaged couple still decides to drive to their former teacher Dr. Scott, to tell him the good news since they both met in his class in a small town in Ohio. Their trip suddenly ends on a lonely and
foggy road when the car breaks down and the couple decides to seek shelter from the rain in a towering castle nearby. The soaking wet couple knocks on the large door and with a squeaky noise it slowly opens. A creepy looking man with a hunchback that appears to be the servant of the house invites them in. The castle, that appears to be very old, full of antiques and stuffed dead animals belongs to Frank.N.Furter. If one observes the situation, this is the beginning of a terrifying horror movie but when the couple enters its evident a weird party is being held with a significant number of guest dancing and singing in wicked colorful clothing. While Brad and Janet are considering whether or not they should flee the weird convention, Frank.N.Furter enters behind them, a tall dark man dressed as a seductive woman with his red lipstick and high stockings. Frank.N.Furter invites them into his laboratory where he unfold his latest creation, the golden muscle man, Rocky Horror that has been designed in order to pleasure his master. Frank.N.Furter, who seems to be a lovely and charming host reveals later on to be a manipulating maniac. He commits murder and cannibalism, with an easily jealous mind and an uncontrolled homicidal rage with a purpose of disintegrate all that is “pure”. Unknowingly caring out his vicious deeds, the servants had grown tired of his selfish and decadent lifestyle. What Frank.N.Furter didn’t know was that this would be the leading cause for them to end his life by obliviating him with laser guns. With Frank.N. Furter dead, Brad and Janet are finally free to leave. Although the couple will never be the same as when they entered the castle.
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Y P
S
O
YN PSIS
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THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
KEY SCENES
“damn it, Janet. I Love you” -Brad
FIGURE 9: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
“Oh Brad Im mad” -Janet
FIGURE 10: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
“Mabye they have a phone I can use?” -Brad
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“Brad, let´s go back. Im cold and Im frightened” -Janet
FIGURE 12: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
“I think, perhaps, you better both come inside.” -Riff-Raff
FIGURE 13: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
“I remember, Doing the time warp, drinking, those moments when the blackness would hit me ” -Riff-Raff
FIGURE 14: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
“Im just a sweet transvestite , from Transsexual Tranylvania ” -Frank.N.Furter
18 FIGURE 15: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
“So come upto the lab, and see what´s on the slab” -Frank.N.Furter
FIGURE 16: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
“I will entertain our guests” -Frank.N.Furter
FIGURE 17: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
“It took a small accident to make it happen! ” -Frank.N.Furter
FIGURE 18: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
“Dont dream it, become it” -Frank.N.Furter
19 FIGURE 19: The rocky horror picture show 1975, (imdb, 2017)
FIGURE 20: The rocky horror picture show Movie Poster 1978, (pintrest.com, 2017)
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POSTER ANALISYS
OVIE
he most significant ways of communicating the right message of a movie is through the movie poster. One of the most iconic posters of Rocky Horror has been the black one showing big red lips. If one observes the text on the poster, its written “a different set of jaws”. One key aspect why they chose this slogan, can have been that the scary cult movie Jaws, was released just before Rocky Horror. This can be connected with the shark mouth might “eat” you in a different kind of way. Another aspect can be Jim Sharman´s way of creating jokes with his audience and actors, it´s likely to draw the parallel that he might have chosen the model for the lips, Lorelei Shark due to her last name and related it to the movie Jaws. Another fun fact to mention about the red lips, is that the once appearing in the movie belongs Patricia Quinn (that plays Magenta) and not Lorelei Shark.
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THE DIRECTOR
JAMES DAVID SHARMAN
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he time is 1964 and it’s the time of change, the Rolling stone´s release their first LP, Elizabeth Taylor marries Richard Burton and it’s the begging of the pop art Andy Warhol´s The American Supermarket. In Sydney the Australian director James David Sharman is at the age of nineteen, he takes his first steps into the world of movies by starting a production course at the National Institute of the Dramatic Arts. As a little boy Sharman spent his early days at the circus, where his father and grandfather ran a boxing sideshow on a travelling foot. This could be where his natural interest and engagement for rock´n´roll and theater started, sitting on the side watching the dramatic act of boxing. He developed a dream about becoming the man behind the ideas for theater and the stories behind the movie. When Sharman graduated he launched a company, “The Group Theatre” staging a “Taste of Honey” at Sydney´s Cell Block theatre, a beginning of reaching his dream. The cast was a comic mother/daughter drama that brought the attention of various theater com-
panies, do to the way Sharman displayed some sort of emotional quality and visual distinction to the cast. The first time Sharman actually got payed to direct, was a show 5 years later, directing the drama cast named “Chips with everything”. 1972 was the same year the Academy award winning movie “The Godfather” was realized. Sherman was working with the local production of Jesus Christ Superstar when Tim Rice caught the eye of his potential and brought him to London where he got the opportunity to direct the stage production “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. At this time there were no “film schools” so the only place to learn was to be a part of the movie making itself. “RHPS” is an entertaining musical that became a film version, world known and more of a movement than a film. This became one of his most significant works of all times. Sharman is the man behind many genius movies such as Sock Treatment, The night the Prowler and Summer of Secrets. Nowadays Jim Sharman lives a quiet life and the movie making has been put on the shelf.
FIGURE 21: Jim Sharman directing Rocky Horror (rockymusic.org, 1970) 22
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D
THE
DIRECTOR James David Sharman
FIGURE 22: Shadows (pintrest.com, 2015)
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DIRECTOR
FIGURE 22: Circus tent, 1960 (pintrest.com, 2018)
FIGURE 24: Circus Makeup 1960´s (pintrest.com, 2018)
FIGURE 23: Boxing since young (pintrest.com, 2014)
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FIGURE 25: I have a dream (pintrest.com, 2018)
JIM SHARMAN
FIGURE 26: The Rolling Stones first LP (pintrest. com, 2013)
FIGURE 28: Director(pintrest.com, 2016)
FIGURE 27: Elizabeth Talor wedding (pintrest. com, 2018)
25FIGURE 27: Back Door (pintrest.com, 2015)
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SHARMAN´S MOVIES
1981
1978
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1976
27 FIGURE 28: Rocky Horror (pintrest.com, 2017)
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SHARMAN PLAYING PRANKS ON THE ACTORS As O’Brien recalled to The Guardian: “Jim [Sharman], directing, played pranks on us throughout filming. When Eddie’s corpse was revealed under the dining table, it came as a real shock: None of us had been aware that it was there apart from Tim Curry because he was the one who had to whip the tablecloth off. Jim wanted a natural reaction.” (people.com, 2015)
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THE DIRECTOR´S EYE
FIGURE 29: Eye lash (pintrest.com, 2018)
Jim Sharman´s view of movie making, from the podcast Filmink (Sharman, soundcloud.com, 2017) Observing Sharman’s many works its evident that his movies have a red thread through all his works. Something to do with wicked satire, provoking the audience and awakening the thoughts of the surreal. Sharman himself states that “My main interest in genre is in re-inventing it, mixing popular and arthouse conventions.” (jimsharman.com) ” I’m also influenced by silent movies and they often had a theatrical side – especially German silent movies, which I admire.” (jimsharman.com)
“The films changed my life” Sharman (2017)
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Well, let´s just say the character isn´t complete without the right outfit.
say punk was hers” (westendextra. com,2017). However, the designer herself states in the book (sex, drugs, rock & roll, and musicals, 2011) that she would never dream about taking credit for the movement. After all Rocky Horror was defiantly apart of the built-up of Punk. Lots of punk attributes can be observed such as fishnet-stockings, colorful hair, tights and glitter. Rocky Horror was also the first with braking boundaries of gender. No one thought women of the 70´s would consider a man in heels and corset to be sexy. Maybe it was the times, or the attraction of the forbidden. However, Rocky Horror influenced the society with its many characteristics and its new aspects of sexuality.
Sue Blane, the costume designer of the film was very meticulous when it came to the designs and many people called her “the women behind punk”. Among the public eye, Vivienne Westwood and Malcom McLaren, has been the pioneers behind the punk movement, but were they truly first? According to some, Rocky Horror helped fertilize the movement of punk and it´s easy to observe that the sound, directness and honesty of the songs/designs shares a lot whit punk today. The actress Patricia Quinn, that played Magenta, states “Sue invented punk, I always Figure 30: Glitter make up (pintrest, 2017)
COSTUME DESIGNER AND IDENTITY
SUE BLANE 30
” k n u p f o t r a t s he
“T
Figure 31: Ziggy Stardust look (sportingz.com, 2017)
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” he makeup looks were created by none other than Pierre La Roche, David Bowie’s own makeup artist who created the iconic Ziggy Stardust look.” (sportingz.com, 2017) Figure 33: Make up look Rocky Horror (Pintrest.com, 2018) Figure 32: Sue Blane design drawings (sportingz.com, 2017)
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FILM LOCATION
AND SETTING
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Figure 34: The swim Rocky Horror (Pintrest.com, 2018)
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he movie was shot in the towering castle Oakley Court that is located in the United Kingdom at Bray studios. This is one of the most celebrated British cinematic locations of all times due to the beautiful Victorian architecture and mysterious atmosphere. It was perfect for Rocky Horror due to its cinematic setting and iconic dark grace. The Oakley Court has been the host of many famous movies across the years, such as Frankenstein´s Monster, Dracula and Henry Baskerville. However, the church in one of the first scenes of the movie was “fake” it was actually only a facade created due to the team´s small budget when filming. Another way for the team to reduce costs was the scenes when Eddie enters on a motorcycle, this was created as a stunt double, “and the close-ups were simply Meatloaf being pushed in a wheelchair.” (sportingz.com, 2017) There was neither no heating on the set, so it´s easy to imagen how cold it must have been for the actors filming the pool scene. Nowadays the mansion Oakley Court has been transformed into a luxury hotel, where many film fanatics travels worldwide to stay in. Figure 35: Young Jim Sharman directing Rocky Horror (Pintrest.com, 2018)
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THE SOUNDTRACK
Figure 36: Piano shadows (Pintrest.com, 2015)
THE SOUNDTRACK 34
T WO ICON IC T R ACK S THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW “Science Fiction Double Feature”
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ome describe that they still can feel the thrill´s when the big red lips start signing the opening song “Science Fiction Double Feature” (denofgeek.com, 2018). The reason for this is not only that it´s the only non-rock-and-roll tune of the movie. The song actually mentions every movie that the cast writer got his inspiration from, for example King Kong, Fay Wray, Doctor X and over 20 other different movies. Another fact about the iconic lips, they belongs to the character Magenta although they are actually performed by Richard O’Brien’s voice.
FIGURE 37: Magenta/ Patricia Quinn (pintrest, 2016)
“Hot patootie (bless my soul)”
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orried that Meatloaf might struggle with his song, Hot Patootie – Bless my Soul, Richard said, “It’s okay to flub a few lines. No one in the London cast has ever sung the whole thing correctly anyway.” Meatloaf looked at it, and replied “What’s the problem?”, and sang it perfectly, the first time.” Stated by (sportingz.com, 2017) Although when recording the scene with Meatloaf on the motorcycle, several injuries occurred. The stuntman suffered many serious damages and Meatloaf got a deep cut on his head however, they finally manage to get the perfect scene.
FIGURE 38: Eddie/ Meatloaf (imdb.com, 2016)
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70 FIGURE 39: Love not war (pinterest.se, 2018)
1970 1977
70 CHANGE
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movies These are the films that has changed the cinema forever with their epic stories, grown braking special effects, sweeping presentations has laid the foundation of today’s big budget movies and media franchises.
THE GODFATHER 1972
STAR WARS 1977
JAWS 1975
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SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER 1975
Social Movements 1970 RISE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT
1971-75 PENTAGON PAPERS AND THE FALL OF SAIGON
The first Earth Day and the environmental movement 1970 April 22. Millions gathered in central park to hear speakers raise awareness of the issues facing mother nature
USA was haunted by Vietnam, president Nixon claimed to be reducing American involvement although he secretly approved sending troupes to fight the undercover war. However, this was revealed by the New York Times in 71. Due to the political pressure Saigon fell to north Vietnam in 1975.
FIGURE 40: The first Earth Day was observed on April 22, 1970
FIGURE 41: Vietnam Vets protesting the war occupy the Statue of
(Pintrest.com, 2018)
Liberty. 1971. (Pintrest.com, 2018)
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1973 LEGALIZED ABORTIONS
1975-1976 COMPUTER REVOLUTION
Before this women’s abortions was completely illegal and strictly forbidden, the awareness was raised due to the Roe v. Wade case and the government was pushed to do something.
Founding of Apple and Microsoft two of Americas most innovative and popular tech-companies.
FIGURE 42: Vietnam We Are Already Closer to the End of Legal
FIGURE 43: Steve Jobs 1985 (pintrest.com, 2018)
Abortion Than We Think (broadly.vice.com, 2018)
1973 HOMOSEXUALITY DECLASSIFIED AS A MENTAL DISORDER
1977 DISCO AT STUDIO 54
FIGURE 44: New York City 1970 (Pintrest.com, 2006)
FIGURE 45: New York City 1970 (Pintrest.com, 2006)
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FASHION The 70´s have been many things, but boring wasn’t one of them. Some of the grooviest disco jumpsuits was worn in the early 70´s. Both men and women dressed up in glitter flared pants and platformed shoes. A decade with legends like David Bowie, Mickael Jackson, Abba and Diana Ross.
PANTS BECAME MORE MAINSTREAM FOR WOMEN in materials as denim and polyester
THE DISCO SCENE WAS GOING STRONG In 1977 with the opening of Studio 54 in New York and the movie Saturday night fever. A few years earlier in the late 60´s, Disco was more of a underground gay movement in New York.
FIGURE 46: Two girls at their high school lockers, 1970s (Pintrest.
FIGURE 48: Let´s Disco, Studio 54 1975 (Pintrest.com, 2016)
com, 2018)
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THE SEXY TRANSPARENT GARMENTS
THE PLATFORM SHOES
The miniskirt was old news comparing it with the transparent clothing movement, a transparent dress with no undergarment was defiantly a clear and confident statement.
The platform shoes, most iconic piece of footwear of the decade, this glam rock footwear created gender politics due to both men and women chose to wear the shoes.
FIGURE 49: YSL, Shot by David Bailey, 1971 (Pintrest.com, 2018)
FIGURE 50: Platform disco boots, 1970s (Pintrest.com, 2016)
1977 PUNK MOVEMENT
FLUFFY HAIR AND BANGS
FIGURE 51: siouxsie drinking a soda 70s(broadly.vice.com, 2018)
FIGURE 52: Farrah Fawcett brushes her famous feathered mane on the set of Charlie’s Angels, 1976 (pintrest.com, 2018)
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FASHION ICONS FARRAH FAWCETT
SIOUXSIE SIOUX
FIGURE 53: Classic Farrah Fawcett in darkwash denim to all those who aspire to the perfect feather flip. (Pintrest.com, 2018)
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FIGURE 54: siouxsie sioux late 70´s (Pintrest.com, 2018)
DIANA ROSS AND MICHAEL JACKSON
SEX PISTOL´S
FIGURE 56: Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols (Pintrest.com, 2018)
FIGURE 57: Diana Ross and Michael Jackson 70´s (Pintrest.com, 2018)
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! ASS HOLE
d) (For Bra S LUT!
(For J anet)
ne Sce E g in IC e dd UR R W The OW YO R -TH
TE FAVORI R U O Y S WHAT´ genta) (For Ma
COLOR?
S KIS
! ASS
. Scott! PAPER T E L Great I OW TO - THR
EDDIE EDD IE! (for Edd ie)
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b u l c fan THE ROCKY HORROR
T
he Rocky horror has become such a unique cult movie due to its allowance of the audience participation. According to the audience the best place to be seated at was the back row, no matter what you were hiding everyone was looking the other way. (mortaljourney.com, 2016) People came to the cinemas all dressed out as the characters, they even brought their own participation script. “I couldn’t take it anymore and troweled makeup on, ripped up some fishnet stockings and took to a stage myself. Figured I was a natch, had the same hair as Tim Curry and did his voice” stated by (Tony Sokol, denofgeek.com, 2018) According to (people.com, 2015) David Bowie´s wife was the first one starting the trend talking back to the film. “I remember when Bowie came and he brought this huge entourage, and she was with him, and when Richard O’Brien was about to kill me, she shouted ‘No! No! Don’t do it!’ So I guess she was one of the first people to do that.” -Angie Bowie. Another fun fact about the movie is the “hidden Easter eggs” an inside expression within the movie industry of hidden things waiting to be noticed by the sharped-eyed fans. Although these eggs are not fiscal. Althogh Rocky Horror has actual colored eggs hidden around the set.
FIGURE 58: The audience in a German cinema (sportingz.com, 2017)
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FIGURE 59: Hidden easter eggs (reddit.com, 2017)
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WORK IN PROGRESS WORKSHOP - MIND MAP
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WORKSHOP KEY WORDS
Musical Stereotypes Love Transexual Si-Fi Romantic/Horror/Drama Flamboyant FIGURE 60: Tim Curry as the preist (pinterest.se, 2012)
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WORKSHOP KEY WORDS
FIGURE 61: 90´s super heroes (pinterest.se, 2015)
Si-Fi
FIGURE 62: the “perfect” Family (pinterest.se, 2018)
Stereotype
FIGURE 63: Pink light (pinterest.se, 2017)
Flamboyant
Romantic/Horror/Drama
FIGURE 64: 70´s (pinterest.se, 2012)
Love - 70´s
FIGURE 65: Pride movment 2008 (pinterest.se, 2018)
Transexual
FIGURE 66: Rocky Horror lips (pinterest.se, 2017)
Musical
C The Rocky Horror has become a classic due to its many reasons, one is the cinematic style of their film production. The movie has many hidden signs and meanings behind it and provides us an aesthetic that defiantly was unique at the time. At the 70´s, when the new hit movies focused on creating special effects yet striving to make them look authentic such as Star Wars and Jaws. Rocky Horror went the opposite direction, by producing the movie the old-fashioned way. Creating unique settings, absurd make up and overly saturated colors. The movie has a distinct feeling of horror due to its angles its shoted. For instance, the opening scene that presents a pair of big red lips, filmed in an “extreme close up� as many other horror movies. In order to create a tense interaction between the audience and the character. Several other examples of a horror cinematic style is given on the following page.
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INEMATIC STYLE
Understanding Film Innovation
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15. 08 LONG
SHOT
LONG SHOT, In order to establish horror and gives a perspective how deserted the location is.
18.07 OVER
THE SHOULDER SHOT
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT, One of the best shots to build tension and thriller. FIGURES 67-69: Screenshot´s of The Rocky Horror Picture Show movie (gostream.site, 2017)
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45.16 LOW
ANGLE SHOT
LOW ANGLES SHOT, A powerful way to emphasize how scary and intimidating the character is.
45.19 CLOSE
UP SHOT
CLOSE UP, used to see the reactions on the actress face and connect emotionally with the audience
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SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS
“The red triangle on Frank-N-Furters medical gown is a symbol that Nazi’s used to mark gay men in concentration camps. The red triangle today symbolises gay rights, giving the film early links to the LGBTQ movements” (arthousehotelliverpool.co, 2017)
“If you look closely, you’ll see that Rocky hasn’t got an actual belly button. The theory being that he would not need one as he was created, not born and so the makeup department created a plug to hide it.” (sportingz.com, 2016) 54
FIGURES 70-73: Screenshot´s of The Rocky Horror Picture Show movie (gostream.site, 2017)
Analyzing the colors of Frank.N.Furter´s outfit, the pink gloves is the official meaning of grisliness and sweetness. “Pink is the sweet side of the color red. While the color red stirs up passion, aggression, and action” (bourncreative.com, 2010)
Undressing is a way of placing someone out of their comfort zone, when Frank undresses Brad and Janet, a semiotic parallel can be that he treats them like playthings, such as a decode meaning of Barbie and Ken in his Barbie world. 55
REFERENCES TO AMERICAN GOTHIC The American Gotic painted by Grant Wood 1930, portraited the proper married couple, perhaps not a very happy one. In one´s opinion the man and woman are somewhat cold and miserable, and you can almost see in the man’s eyes how he wants to escape his spartan life. Rocky Horror has the “iceberg” concept of semiotics, by showing references to this painting in several occasions. For the untrained eye you may perhaps only notice the painting, if one takes a closer look might, a deeper meaning will be discovered. The sadness in the painting can be reflected to Riff Raff and Magenta´s relationship to Frank.N.Furter. From the first moment we´re introduced to Riff Raff, singing the song “there´s a light” it’s easy to discover his unhappiness. As the movie ends he kills his oppressor with a ray gun that has the same esthetic of the pitchfork in the painting and he finally becomes free.
FIGURE 74: Grant Wood’s American Gothic (sportingz.com, 2017)
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FIGURE 75- 77: Screenshot´s of The Rocky Horror Picture Show movie (gostream.site, 2017)
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INFLUENCES FROM TODAY THE BEGINNING OF SEXUAL LIBERATION Transgender and sexual liberation has never been as free as it is today, although there’s still a long way to go. Formerly world-famous reality television star and Olympian, Bruce Jenner recently went out in public reveling his transformation into a woman by covering the magazine, Vanity Fair in a tight exposing corset. Consider the impact the movie Rocky Horror had during the mid 70´s giving hope of a society with sexual liberation without no judgments, today this happening of transgender acceptance is revolutionary. Quoting the former president of United States, Obama “It’s a new way of excepting people for who they truly are” (video.vanityfair.com, 2015)
FASHION REFERENCES
FIGURE 78: Beyonce, Super Bowl (Pintrest. com, 2016)
FIGURE 79: You better work b, Britney Spears (youtube.com, 2013)
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59 FIGURE 80 : Vanity Fair (vanityfair.com,2015)
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PHOTOGRAPHIC
IMAGES
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FIGURE 81 : fashion editorial in cinema (pintrest.com, 2017)
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FIGURE 88 : Jake Hicks (amateurphotographer.co.uk, 2018) 62
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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES Bourn Creative, Meaning of The Color Pink (2010) [online]Available at: https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-pink/ Cinetology, Interview with Jim Sharman, director of Andy X and The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Cinetology (2012) [online] Available at: https://blogs.crikey.com.au/cinetology/2012/03/01/interview-with-jim-sharman-director-ofandy-x-and-the-rocky-horror-picture-show/ Den of Geek, Rocky Horror Picture Show: The Movie and References Behind Sience Fiction Double Feature (2018) [online] Available at: https://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/the-rocky-horror-picture-show/223858/rocky-horror-picture-show-the-movies-and-references-behind-science-fiction-double-feature Empire, Jim Sharman (2008) [online] Available at: https://www.empireonline.com/people/jim-sharman/ The Films That Changed My Life: Jim Sharman, FilmInk (2017) [online] Available at: https://www.filmink.com.au/the-films-that-changed-my-life-jim-sharman/ Go stream, The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 (2018) [online] Available at: https://gostream.site/the-rocky-horror-picture-show/ Jim Sharman | Movie Q&A, Jim Sharman (2017) [online] Available at: http://www.jimsharman.com.au/screen/movie-qa/ IMDB, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), (2016) [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073629/characters/nm0000960 IMDB, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), (2016) [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073629/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl#synopsis INDIE Magazine A Look Back at the Rocky Horror Picture Show (2018) [online] Available at: https://indie-mag.com/2018/08/rocky-horror-picture-show-2018/ Legomenon, American Gothic Meaning: Grant Wood Painting Interpretation & Analysis (2014) [online] Available at: http://legomenon.com/american-gothic-meaning-grant-wood-painting.html
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Mortal Journey, Rocky Horror Picture Show Audience Participation Script (2011) [online] Available at: http://www.mortaljourney.com/2011/04/additional-doc/rocky-horror-picture-show-audience-participation-script?fbclid=IwAR1BUGGQRi5lUj0C6Fo1_yPCkldEHwO7oI_CUoTZKg2c_cylsoWA8-hUo2c Ozrockyhorror, Jim Sharman Bio, (2013) [online] Available at: http://www.ozrockyhorror.com/Jim%20Sharman.html People, Let´s do the time warp! The rocky horror picture show Turns 40 (2015) [online] Available at: https://people.com/movies/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-rocky-horror-picture-show/ Rottentomatoes, Rocky Horror (2015) [online] Available at: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rocky_horror_picture_show/ Shmoop, Fruit of the loin, (2018) [online] Available at: https://www.shmoop.com/rocky-horror-picture-show/underwear-symbol.html Screenrant, 20 crezy details behind the making of the rocky horror picture show (2018) [online] Available at: https://screenrant.com/rocky-horror-picture-show-behind-scenes-details-making-trivia/ Sportingz, Secrets you didn´t know about the rocky horror picture show, (2017) [online] Available at: http://www.sportingz.com/opinions/secrets-didnt-know-rocky-horror-picture-show/28/ The Artifice, The rocky Horror picture show: A cult classic that challenged sexual mores, (2017) [online] Available at: https://the-artifice.com/the-rocky-horror-picture-show-cult-classic-sexual-mores/ Vulture, Why the rocky horror picture show still matters 40 years later, (2015) [online] Available at: https://www.vulture.com/2015/10/why-the-rocky-horror-picture-show-still-matters.html Vanityfair, Channing Tatum Poses in the Rain for Annie Leibovitz, (2015) [online] Available at: https://video.vanityfair.com/watch/channing-tatum-poses-in-the-rain-for-annie-leibovitz Westendextra, Rocky Horror star reveals who really invented punk (2015) [online] Available at: http://westendextra.com/article/rocky-horror-star-reveals-who-really-invented-punk
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