Oh yes:
I'm really over the argument of whether costumes should be 100% 'accurate' or not--can you tell me what accurate really means? But I do feel like designers, art directors, etc, should take responsibility for correct representation of their subject....whatever that means for each film, episode, play.
This extends to their actors as well: every actor who has ever put on a 'period' costume (including Joel Spira on Gomorron Sverige here (Swedish)) will tell you that it was the final or most important key to 'becoming' that person or existing in that past world.
One of the hosts on Gomorron Sverige noted to the actors that the costumes can become the whole story--should the audience 'ignore' them? Yes! Said the actors. Although they were kidding, I think it's a great idea: the costume designers should be trying to create a natural world, normalizing these objects within the run of the show and hopefully familiarizing its audience with 1790s suits and hairstyles. The actors should be as comfortable as historically possible, even when wearing something new like a corset or wig.
Or what do you think? Is the spectacle of these historic houses, costumes, chandeliers, etc. necessary? It feels like the difference between novels from history and historical novels: does it sound natural, or have you heard more than enough about powdered wigs (or zoot suits, or 'flapper dresses', or bustles, or, or, or)? Of course, it depends on the story being told; this one sounds like a good ol' murder mystery that just happens to be set more than 200 years ago, which would make striving for realism appropriate.
But I think the real question is: this is at least ten hours' worth of costuming...how do they produce so much while staying period-appropriate?
I'm excited to watch it! Here's hoping there's undertextning...
I'm really over the argument of whether costumes should be 100% 'accurate' or not--can you tell me what accurate really means? But I do feel like designers, art directors, etc, should take responsibility for correct representation of their subject....whatever that means for each film, episode, play.
This extends to their actors as well: every actor who has ever put on a 'period' costume (including Joel Spira on Gomorron Sverige here (Swedish)) will tell you that it was the final or most important key to 'becoming' that person or existing in that past world.
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| Magdalena Wahlstedt. Look how little makeup! Yes. From here. |
Or what do you think? Is the spectacle of these historic houses, costumes, chandeliers, etc. necessary? It feels like the difference between novels from history and historical novels: does it sound natural, or have you heard more than enough about powdered wigs (or zoot suits, or 'flapper dresses', or bustles, or, or, or)? Of course, it depends on the story being told; this one sounds like a good ol' murder mystery that just happens to be set more than 200 years ago, which would make striving for realism appropriate.
But I think the real question is: this is at least ten hours' worth of costuming...how do they produce so much while staying period-appropriate?
I'm excited to watch it! Here's hoping there's undertextning...