ITALIA
COURSEWORK 2 Fashion portfolio (individual) 50% QM Valentina Carreño Bazurto BA Fashion marketing & communication, Level 6 2017-2018 6FAMK003C Visual Arts CWK2 Chiara Legittimo, Gina Ripoll, Anna Mary Rowe.
ORLANDO AN INTROSPECTIVE JOURNEY By:Valentina Carreño
An Introspective journey
Orlando
The objective of the following project is to create a visual portfolio based on the film Orlando. After having developed an analysis of the film and the book, it was chosen the concept “introspective Journey”. It is directly inspired by the protagonist of the film, Orlando directed by Sally Potter which is an adaptation of the novel written by the feminist Virginia Woolf. The film shows a real work of introspection on the part of the protagonist who begins, a young noble of 20 years in the service of his majesty Queen Elizabeth I, who will offer him the power to stay young all his life. Later, Orlando is present in four different centuries, changing time, culture, style, thoughts and even sex. Each stage of his life is displayed in a very theatrical way, forming several chapters that reflect the cycle of life and the stages of a self-study. In each era, Orlando will face the harsh rules of a dictatorial society, of good conscience and will. At each step, learn more about him and the world around him. Through this endless journey, Orlando discovers little by little for the end, in the twentieth century, becomes a woman of 36 years found a feeling of inner peace. Orlando is a film with a clear message: “no matter what our sex, religion, ethnicity, age, our ideals, we are all equal”(Carreño/2018). The subject that is most emphasized throughout the film is well on gender equality. In every age, Virginia Woolf coldly shows the sad reality of the treatment of women through her struggle for equality. Orlando is staging a character filled with questions about him and what surrounds him, it is also what drives him in this introspection which is a complex inner adventure, full of ambiguity, between dark and clarity, melancholy and love, depression, and gaiety.
This character is a fantasy created by Virginia Woolf around her impossible love, Vita Sackville West with whom she had a passionate relationship that would have pushed her to suicide. For the cast, Sally Potter turned to Tilda Swinton. Indeed the physical of the actress represents perfectly the image of androgen. In addition, Sally Potter shows a lot of problematic situation, depression, worry, and for that, she needed the personality of Tilda Swinton who always keeps a cold air, without emotions and neutral. in addition for the director was essential to display the metamorphosis and the transformation of the character from a man to a woman without showing any kind of empathy
“Same person no difference at all just a different sex”
“Same person no difference at all just a different sex” (Orlando, 1994) is the most important sentence of the film, it describes exactly what Orlando feels. The change of sex is the greatest change imaginable, and yet, even after living it, Orlando exposes through the film that he feels Neither a psychological or moral change, only a physical change of his sex. Moreover, the staging is essential due to this sentence is said by Orlando, facing the camera, directly to the viewer, it is possible to observe the fascination to transmit the message.
To stage this concept it was chosen to do it in the Library of the Castle of Dragons in Barcelona. This place fits perfectly with the project due to its ancient architecture combined with the modern clothes worn by the model, allowing to highlight a subtle mix between the Elizabethan era and the present day. The choice of a library also allowed to represent Virginia Woolf´s importance to the literature for (her introspective work) allowing her to exteriorize her inner struggles and conflicts. Moreover, the writings have always crossed the ages transmitting belief and knowledge, just like Orlando. To say more about the clothes and the styling worn by the model, modern clothes and sober were chosen at the same time; such as black pants, blazer, coats, moccasins with black, white, brown and gold colors, etc. Also, by adding collars and accessories of the time Elizabethan as one is found throughout the film. The clothes themselves have been selected directly in the wardrobe of young modern women to offer natural modernity. Accessories and collars recalling the Elizabethan era were custom-made by a seamstress, especially for the project.
The magazine VOGUE was chosen to present the editorial because it perfectly reflects the modernity of the woman. In addition, the magazine has always supported feminist movements for several decades. VOGUE is the perfect choice because their image perfectly matches the ideas put forward by Orlando. It is through their magazine that the editorial is most likely to reach people affected by this fight. We must also know that throughout the film we are transported to the high societies of each era whose characteristics are similar to those of the magazine because when we think of VOGUE we think immediately; elegance, class, prestige.
Regarding the model chosen for the shooting, the decision was based on the same requirements of Sally Potter; a young woman with a face with neutral features, a woman at once simple and complete, able to pose soberly without showing her emotions. To support this neutrality, makeup was used ingeniously and without excess. A foundation to naturalize the face in order not to let appear signs of emotion. (Redness of the cheeks, dimples, etc ...) eyeshadows were also used to simply bring out the eyes of the model, thus highlighting her strong personality, to recall that of Tilda Swinton. To finish a white powder served to make her face pale, again to press its neutrality. On a technical and logistical level,it was proceeded to privatize the castle of the dragons. For the shoot, a young model starting her career and a professional photographer with a CANON EOS Mark IV camera were used. Strict instructions were given to the photographer in order to obtain shots offering an atmosphere similar to that of Orlando; the model in the center of the lens, a dominant color panel, simple environment, no added decoration, natural place.
To conclude, Orlando was chosen for this project since the film has a deep intense message and an undeniable lesson in life. in the film, the issues that affect the life of Orlando are still relevant. And this has been essential at the moment of creating the editorial proposal for the project. The main objective is to give a modern interpretation of the film highlighting elements such as emotions, the duality between man and woman and objects that convey deep thoughts. Everything together tells a story to the viewer and creates a visual harmony fundamental for the development of the following visual portfolio.
ORLANDO AN INTROSPECTIVE JOURNEY Photo by: Eloi Garcia Model :Herenia Marin Stylism: Valentina Carreño Directed by:Valentina Carreño
Kimono on velvet from Rosario Blouse and black pants from Massimo Dutti Boots from Prada
“Same person no difference at all just a different sex”(Orlando, 1994) Photo by: Eloi Garcia Model :Herenia Marin Stylism: Valentina Carreño Sailor hat and pants from Zara Blazer from Sandro Paris Princetown leather slipper Gucci
“Orlando naturally loved solitary places, vast views, and to feel himself for ever and ever and ever alone.” (Woolf, 1928) Photo by: Eloi Garcia Model :Herenia Marin Stylism: Valentina Carreño Blazer on velvet from The Kooples Blouse from Massimo Dutti Pants from Zara,Shoes from Rosario
“As long as she thinks of a man, nobody objects to a woman thinking.”(Woolf, 1928) Photo by: Eloi Garcia Model :Herenia Marin Stylism: Valentina Carreño Brown coat by Massimo Dutti Blouse and pants from Zara Princetown leather slipper Gucci
“Love, the poet said, is woman’s whole existence.” (Woolf, 1928) Photo by: Eloi Garcia Model :Herenia Marin Stylism: Valentina Carreño Kimono from Uterqüe Pants from Zara Leather slipper from Gucci
“All extremes of feeling are allied with madness.” (Woolf, 1928) Photo by: Eloi Garcia Model :Herenia Marin Stylism: Valentina Carreño Directed by:Valentina Carreño
REFERENCES Carreño, V. (2018). COURSEWORK 1 Fashion culture essay (individual) 50%. 1st ed. Barcelona. Geli, C. (2015). El conte dels Tres Dragons. [online] EL PAÍS. Available at: https://cat.elpais.com/cat/2015/04/29/ cultura/1430340350_124225.html [Accessed 19 Jan. 2019]. Goodreads.com. (n.d.). Orlando Quotes by Virginia Woolf(page 2 of 9). [online] Available at: https://www. goodreads.com/work/quotes/6057225-orlando?page=2 [Accessed 20 Jan. 2019]. IMDb. (2019). Orlando (1992). [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107756/ [Accessed 20 Jan. 2019]. Kohn, E. (2017). Sally Potter’s ‘Orlando’ Is a Gender-Defying Saga That Still Holds Up. [online] IndieWire. Available at: https://www.indiewire.com/2010/07/review-gender-division-looking-back-at-sally-potters-orlando-54899/ [Accessed 20 Jan. 2019]. Misspandora.fr. (n.d.). Orlando | Miss Pandora - Louise Ebel. [online] Available at: http://www.misspandora. fr/miss-pandora-louise-ebel/orlando/ [Accessed 19 Jan. 2019]. Notjustalabel.com. (n.d.). Fashion & Literature | NOT JUST A LABEL. [online] Available at: https://www.notjustalabel.com/editorial/fashion-literature [Accessed 20 Jan. 2019]. Orlando. (1994). [DVD] Directed by S. Potter. Pikram.com. (2019). Hollylouisechapman @hollylouisechapman Instagram Profile | Pikram.com. [online] Available at: https://pikram.com/hollylouisechapman [Accessed 21 Jan. 2019]. Thinkswap.com. (n.d.). Analysis of Sally Potter's Film Orlando | OTED2108 - English Critical Analysis | Thinkswap. [online] Available at: https://www.thinkswap.com/au/rmit/oted2108-english-critical-analysis/ analysis-sally-potters-film-orlando [Accessed 20 Jan. 2019]. Vogue Italia. (n.d.). Vogue Italia: fashion, beauty, news. [online] Available at: https://www.vogue.it [Accessed 20 Jan. 2019]. Woolf, V. (1928). Orlando.
Special thanks to the people who made this project possible Chiara Legittimo, Gina Ripoll, Anna Mary Rowe. Emma Asensio (Documentation Center Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona). Eloi Garcia (@photoeloi). Herenia Marin Victoria Tortolero Alexandre Louis Isabel Moreno Clarissa Larrain