DISSECTED by Jazeela Basheer
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project would not have been possible without the help and support of many. Firstly I would like to thank the National Institute of Design for this wonderful opportunity, Mayank Loonkar, Mrinalini Aggarwal, Sachin Sachar, Frank and Jerry Eisterhold for their feed back and support. My sincerest thanks to my family, Lakshmi KV, Ann Alex and Aman Mahuvkar for being there for me in my time of need.
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PREFACE ‘Gone With The Wind’ is a project that looks at bringing the experience of reading into a tangible output, using space as a medium of communication. The inspiration for this project comes from different places. It comes from the old, yellowing pages of familiar books. It comes from the taste of freedom in a free flowing space. It comes from people and places. There have been many who have ventured into this field. To name one, would be Oat Mondien, an illustrator with a very signature art style. His illustrations stand on borderline dream and reality and are mostly ghostly portraits of boys and young men. He grew up lost in the world of books and mysterious stories. Today, he derives inspirations from the books he read when he was a volunteer librarian to make his artwork. And today, I derive inspiration from people like him. This exhibition is both an expression and experiment. It talks about things that are close to my heart as a person and it tries to bring together what I love and what I do.
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INDEX PROLOGUE
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Design Brief
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Research
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Narrative Structure
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Design Concept
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Final Narrative Structure
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Inspirations
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Space Planning
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Visualizations
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Conclusion
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PROLOGUE ‘Gone with the Wind’ written by Margaret Mitchell is an American historical romance set in the background of the civil war and reconstruction of the South. The story revolves around the journey and life of Scarlett O’ Hara and her quest for love that is never returned. Scarlett is not just another typical heroin in an American story. She is spoilt and selfish, lures men with her charm, irrespective of their age and status. The story starts with Scarlett’s revelation of the fact that Ashley Wilkes, a man who she believes she loves is to be married to another woman. From then on, starts her quest of trying to win Ashely. In her pursuit for love, she makes impulsive decisions and acts in irrational ways. She is shallow and inconsiderate of other people’s feelings. In her blind chase for Ashley, she grows stronger as a woman, as a person. She openly defies the unspoken rules of how a woman should behave in society at that time. The disgust and irritation with Scarlett, however, slowly melts away and becomes respect and admiration for her boldness and courage. Rhett Butler is introduced in the very beginning of the story. He is unlike Ashley Wilkes in every way . While Ashley is conventionally handsome with his light hair and skin, Rhett has dark hair and an overall ‘nasty’ aura around him. He is not afraid to question ideas and people, nor is he bothered by what society thinks of him. Rhett is obviously in love with Scarlett from the very first time he set his eyes on her. He is stubborn and finds ways to make Scarlett his, successfully managing to even marry her. However, Scarlett is blind to Rhett’s love. She does not see the happiness Rhett has to offer her and is oblivious to the fact that, it is him who she loves,
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and not Ashley. Like a five year old, she is always trying to reach for a candy she can never have, Ashley. Throughout the book, one is tempted to reach out into the book and slap her across her face. At the end of the book, Rhett gives up trying make Scarlett understands his love for her and leaves her. Upon Rhett’s departure, she realizes that it was him that she loved truly. Her parents are dead, she has lost the love of her life and much more. The only thing she has in the end, is Tara, her plantation house land, the only thing worth fighting and dying for. She realizes that the love she started out with, is the only love she has in the end of life after all. And in th end, one cant but pity Scarlett and weep for everything she has lost. In life, we are all Scarlett at some point. Consistently on a quest for something we cant have, but we feel we must possess, to achieve complete happiness in life. And that is what is beautiful about this book, the poignant way in which it talks about life, people and love, in the most truest of ways. As a book, I honestly believe it has not gotten the credit and glory it deserves to have. As a person, it has moved me in ways more than many other books I have read. And that is why I chose this particular text to convert into an experience in space.
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CHAPTER 1
DESIGN BRIEF
The brief of this project was to design a commemorative space for the subject of personal interest. The subject I chose to work with was the book, “ Gone With The Wind “. The project was placed in a hypothetical situation where Macmillan Publishers decide to bring back American Classics. They decide to put up exhibitions throughout English Speaking countries on selected books. The idea is to encourage people to read classics and create a market that would be a source of profit.
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CHAPTER 2
RESEARCH
The content and subject of the exhibition is a personal interpretation of the story of ‘Gone With The Wind.’ It was important to cater to two kinds of audience group. One group, who have not read the book and the other, who have read the book. While it should encourage the former group to read the book, it must also encourage the latter group to read the book again. The research in this project lay in critically analyzing and reviewing the book ‘ Gone With The Wind ‘ again. An extensive book that spreads over four parts and 1500 pages, in its core is about simpler things in life. The critical analysis of the book was aimed at identifying what those elements were. Reading and enjoying a book is always a personal interpretation. To different people, the book represents different things. Personally, the book is all about emotions. It is a whirlwind of emotions that change in fleeting second, turmoil in matters of the heart and an endless haze. The protagonist, Scarlett o Hara, is on a roller coaster ride of feelings that she is always attempting to understand. Once the emotions were identified, they had to be associated and interpreted into symbols that could create the equivalent tangible experience.
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NURSING SOLDIERS
INTERACTION WITH RHETT
VISIT TO ATLANTA
CHILDBIRTH
CHARLES’S DEATH
WAR
MARRIAGE TO CHARLES
ENCOUNTER WITH RHETT
PROPOSING ASHLEY
NEWS OF ASHLEY’S ENGAGEMENT
HATRED
DISGUST
ANGER
JEALOUSY
FEAR
COURAGE
DESPERATION
REGRET
SURPRISE
HAPPINESS
GRIEF
PITY
LOVE
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TARA
RHETT’S DEPARTURE
MELANIE'S DEATH
ENCOUNTER WITH ASHLEY
MARRIED LIFE WITH RHETT
FRANK’S DEATH
FATHER’S DEATH
MARRIAGE TO FRANK
RESPONSIBILITY OF TARA
MOTHER’S DEATH
MELANIE’S SICKNESS
OUTBREAK OF WAR
PERSONAL FEELINGS
SCARLETT’S FEELINGS
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After plotting the emotions, it was interesting to notice how the emotions of the reader and the protagonist overlapped at the beginning and the end, though it was stark opposite throughout the book. To frame a possible narrative, the emotions were then, mapped in more detail, looking at each chapter of the book. The cause of the various reactions and significant events that happened were also attempted to plot.
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LOVE LUST LONGING DESIRE PASSION CARING JOY PRIDE RELIEF OPTIMISM TRIUMPH THRILL HOPE SATISFACTION EAGERNESS EXCITEMENT COURAGE SURPRISE
ANGER BITTER OUTRAGE FURY DISGUST EXASPERATION ENVY DISMAY INSECURITY REJECTION LONELINESS GUILT REGRET SHAME GRIEF DESPAIR AGONY SADNESS ANXIETY TERROR DREAD DISTRESS SHOCK NERVOUSNESS FEAR
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HERSELF ASHLEY RHETT FAMILY TARA
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The second graph has emotions plotted along the y axis. The emotions above the 0 coordinate indicate positive emotions and below indicate negative emotions, in increasing intensity ( as per classification of emotions ). Along the X axis, one can see the different emotions of Scarlett and the related subject. It is very evident how there is a shift towards more positive emotions towards the end, and how her priorities in life changes as the story ends. From loving Ashley and herself, she grows to love Rhett and Tara. 16
CHAPTER 3 NARRATIVE STRUCTURE The target audience of the museum was split two ways. It was about enticing the curiosity of people who have never read this book before at the same time providing something substantial for people who have read the book to think about. The narrative structure of the museum was built around keeping these two audience in mind. The central idea of emotions, while applicable to both the parties, lacked strength. To build up on it, a more extensive study of Scarlett’s emotions were done. Interestingly, the house, Tara, plays a key role in shaping Scarlett and making her the woman she is at the end of the book. It is also a metaphor for safety, stability and security. Zooming in, each room of the house, is also a metaphor for a particular emotions. The narrative of the story was then woven into each room of the house.
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TARA
RHETT FAMILY ASHLEY HERSELF
The space looks at Scarlett’s feelings towards Tara, Rhett, her family, Ashley and herself. As the graph indicates, there is a reversal of feelings, towards the end. The narrative of the museum or gallery is a journey of how her feelings as well the visitors feelings towards Scarlett changes as one proceeds.
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CHAPTER 4
DESIGN CONCEPT One of the strongest advantage of a book is the freedom it gives the reader to imagine and visualize the events of the book. As opposed to a movie, where one is forced to process the images on screen. While the initial idea was to recreate the house as it was, that would make the visitor start to think of the rooms as the actual rooms of Scarlett O’Haras house. Hence, in each room, is an element deliberately misplaced or mismatched so that it creates a sense of absurdity. The exhibition is also an expression of the designers understanding and interpretation of the book. The elements of the room were also carefully designed and expressed to match the message. The content has been dealt in layers. There is an overall theme that everyone understands in each room. But the remaining layers of meanings is something that is deciphered after another visit or a after careful thought. The design challenge was to create an environment, that would obviously look mismatched but not come across as objects randomly placed. Yet, it should also hold the visitors attention and evoke a sense of curiosity that would bring them back to the museum. The design concept, was literally to show a deconstructed house.
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CHAPTER 5 FINAL NARRATIVE Based on the design concept and the existing inferences, a revised narrative structure was made.
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There are four galleries in the museum. They are laid out in a particular order. The Dining Room : This is the first gallery, the room where the visitor enters into. Over here, the visitors are given an introduction to Scarlett as a person and the family background she comes from.
The Living Room. : Over here, Scarlett is depicted a selfish, spoilt girl and one cant help but be disgusted and mock at her childish behavior.
The Study : The study shows how Scarlett’s grows into a responsible woman, whose priorities change in life. Suddenly, you are filled with a certain sense of respect and admiration for her.
The Bedroom : The room of secrets, where one is privy to Scarlett’s most intimate and private thoughts. A new sense of empathy for Scarlett is borne, a realization, that we are all, in our own ways, a Scarlett.
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CHAPTER 6 INSPIRATIONS
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To develop the visualizations, it was necessary to look at the semiotics of the whole book and its visual vocabulary to understand what has been done before and what could be done.
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CHAPTER 7 SPACE PLANNING Indicative bubble for spaces were drawn to get an idea of how the spaces would be connected and the order and hierarchy of each gallery.
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DINING ROOM
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LIVING ROOM
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STUDY
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BED ROOM
The bubble diagram technique was used to plan the hierarchy of each space and the order in which the room were to be placed. For example, from the diagram, we can understand that the Living Room is the biggest space.
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CHAPTER 8 VISUALIZATIONS Below are visualizations of how the space would look and feel like as well a mood board, text and supporting elements that would go into each room.
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This is the room the visitor enters into. The dining room introduces the visitor to Scarlett and her family. The room is set in high contrast, to show how different Scarlett is from the rest of the family. It talks about how she considers her mother holy and how Scarlett feels about other women. There is background voiceover and panels that quote excerpts taken from the book
DINING ROOM
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To her, all women, including her two sisters, were natural enemies in pursuit of the same prey--man. All women with the one exception of her mother. Ellen O’Hara was different, and Scarlett regarded her as something holy and apart from all the rest of humankind. When Scarlett was a child, she had confused her mother with the Virgin Mary, and now that she was older she saw no reason for changing her opinion. To her, Ellen represented the utter security that only Heaven or a mother can give. She knew that her mother was the embodiment of justice, truth, loving tenderness and profound wisdom--a great lady. Scarlett wanted very much to be like her mother. The only difficulty was that by being just and truthful and tender and unselfish, one missed most of the joys of life, and certainly many beaux. And life was too short to miss such pleasant things. Some day when she was married to Ashley and old, some day when she had time for it, she intended to be like Ellen. But, until then .
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The first thing that catches the visitors eye is the orange wall and oversize portrait of Virgin Mary. Then, the mismatched chair comes into notice. It symbolizes, Scarlett, who is different from not just her family, from the society at that time. The bright orange wall, represents her mother, who is warm and nourishing and someone who Scarlett wishes to be while she grows up.
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The living room brings about Scarlett as the selfish spoilt girl, hardly a woman. Her world revolves around her happiness and well being and she is incapable of thinking of anyone else other than Ashely or herself. The war brings entertainment to her life and while people are mourning over the loss of loved ones, she see it as an opportunity for gaiety and fun.
LIVING ROOM
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But to Scarlett, newly emerged from the chrysalis of widowhood, all the war meant was a time of gaiety and excitement she to be in the world again. Every day dawned as an exciting adventure, a day in which she would meet new men who would ask to call on her, tell her how pretty she was, and how it was a privilege to fight and, perhaps, to die for her. She could and did love Ashley with the last breath in her body, but that did not prevent her from inveigling other men into asking to marry her. This informality made the war a lot of fun for Scarlett. Except for the messy business of nursing and the bore of bandage rolling, she did not care if the war lasted forever. In fact, she could endure the hospital with equanimity now because it was a perfect happy hunting ground. The helpless wounded succumbed to her charms without a struggle. Renew their bandages, wash their faces, pat up their pillows and fan them, and they fell in love. Oh, it was Heaven after the last dreary year.
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This is again a jux juxtaposition. One sees lush curtains and sofa, but the floor is covered in bandages. There are blood stains. There is a hospital bed on end. The wall is filled with framed photos of telegrams conveying deaths and news articles about the war. Its surprising how Scarlett can find joy even at a time like this.
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A sample of how the wall would look. .
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While the entire world looks at Scarlett as a cold, ruthless businesswoman, only the reader is aware of the hardships and the difficulties she is going through. One cant help, but admire her courage and smartness and respect her for how she feeds and looks after the whole family. She breaks gender stereotypes and in todays world, she would have been a symbol of feminism.
STUDY
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Oh, yes! What most people don’t seem to realize is that there is just as much money to be made out of the wreckage of a civilization as from the up building of one. Taxes aren’t a woman’s job anyway. Pa Ought to look after such things, but Pa-- I won’t think of Pa now. The Confederacy can whistle for its taxes. What we need now is something to eat. These are the most beautiful hands I know, he said and kissed each palm lightly. “They are beautiful because they are strong and every callus is a medal, Scarlett, every blister an award for bravery and unselfishness. They’ve been roughened for all of us, your father, the girls, Melanie, the baby, the Negroes and for me.
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The study is darkly lit corridor. There are power saws on the floor, cutting through the boards. The table at the end is scattered with money and a gun. An immensely private, gentle room like the study, is transformed into something that is gruesome and disturbing.
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The bed room is all about secrets. It is about the pain the Scarlett went through, emotional and physical that she bore with without telling anyone. It is here that the visitor forms a kinship with Scarlett, understands what it is like to lose the people you love and empathize with her.
BEDROOM
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Scarlett had thrown herself on the bed and was sobbing at the top of her voice, sobbing for her lost youth and the pleasures of youth that were denied her, sobbing with the indignation and despair of a child who once could get anything she wanted by sobbing and now knows that sobbing can no longer help her. She burrowed her head in the pillow and cried and kicked her feet at the tufted counterpane. Ellen had hinted before the wedding that marriage was something women must bear with dignity and fortitude, and the whispered comments of other matrons since her widowhood had confirmed this. Scarlett was glad to be done with passion and marriage. She was done with marriage but not with love, for her love for Ashley was something different, having nothing to do with passion or marriage, something sacred and breathtakingly beautiful, an emotion that grew stealthily through the long days of her enforced silence, feeding on oft-thumbed memories and hopes.
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The elements in the bedroom are a row cupboards that have sensors. When someone comes close, they can hear whispers coming from the locked cupboard. The other wall is filled with mirrors. The mirrors represent the idea of looking at your self, introspection. The train track the surrounds the bed, is broken, shows Scarlett as a mother, who never gave her children any attention. And last, is the luxurious bed, which has a mattress made of concrete. It shows how, no matter all the luxuries you have, money cant buy you a good night worth of sleep. 51
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CONCLUSION This project remains merely a start of the many possibilities that can be explored when it comes to making a museum. It is just four galleries in space which could be expanded exponentially. Working on this project, something that is very close to my heart was immense fun. It taught me how to look at things objectively and about understanding thing beyond what is on the surface. This book was the product of extensive refining and with every iteration, I see how some things could have been done better. And with time, I hope that the project will mature even more.
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