This is a general notice to my message boards to let everyone know that
I have quit UAF in order to provide caregiver services to a member of
my family in California. I will be working half time at Diablo Valley
College as a costume design technologist beginning tomorrow. I want to
once again tell folks that my old UAF job is open, now permanently, and
to ask that interested parties go to the UAF HR site to learn more
about applying for this job.
https://www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=61061 Right now
all that is listed is the spring semester job, but it is likely that
the application process will be similar once the full time job is
posted at https://www.uakjobs.com I wish to stress that the UAF Theatre
faculty are a highly supportive and cohesive group that respects a
costume designer's role, works well together, and shares space and
resources well. The working space is good, and only the outside
weather really sucks

http://www.angryalien.com/0506/casabunca.asp

I thought all of you would get a kick out of this.  The host site
http://www.angryalien.com/  has many other 30 second movies, a couple
that we watched in class this semester.  I was amused. ^_^

~Melissa

While I knew the song quite well, I never knew what 'Singin' in the
Rain' was about.  I loved how such a big fuss was made over movie stars
even in the silent age.  And the parodies of the silent age was
wonderful.  I didn't feel like the plot was too cheesey, but I still
can't swallow the big 'modern' song and dance numbers.  They don't
pertain to the plot at all and for me feels like a big waste of time.

Other than my problem with the 'modern' numbers in the middle of the
film, this movie was very funny.  A great popcorn flick!

~Melissa Nelson

While I can't say I can pick a favorite out of the movies we have
watched so far (I love them all) I think I have enjoyed MASH the most.
I really enjoy movies that are based in war times but don't focus so
much on the battles, but how people cope with being in such a high
stress situation.

I appreciated the randomness of this movie, jumping from the OR in the
main camp to another camp in Japan to a football game (where'd they get
that nice field in Korea?).  At times this movie had a sense of
absurdity (akin to Airplane! since that is the only thing that comes to
mind right now), but didn't feel too slap stick.  I still felt like
this whole plot was actually plausable.

Now I am excited to go and watch the sitcom.  I had seen an episode or
two before and was surprised to find that the theme had lyrics in the
movie and written by a 14 year old kid no less!

Okay this is being posted very late, but I still remember the movie (I
think). I loved the manager, his ability to bring order to the chaos
and immediately see the value in people. He was able to see the worth
in the composer and that the dancer was as capable as she was. His
devotion, he called it his religion, to ballet was more then a bit
unbelievable but served fine for the movie. As for the two main
characters, they served their purpose but didn't do anything for me. I
also really enjoyed the beginning where we see just how crazy a
production is. Overall a good movie, a classic, but was overshadowed
in my mind by other movies we have watched.

Okay this is being posted very late, but I still remember the movie (I
think). I loved the manager, his ability to bring order to the chaos
and  immediately see the value in people. He was able to see the worth
in the composer and that the dancer was as capable as she was. His
devotion, he called it his religion, to ballet was more then a bit
unbelievable but served fine for the movie. As for the two main
characters, they served their purpose but didn't do anything for me. I
also really enjoyed the beginning where we see just how crazy a
production is. Overall a good movie, a classic, but was overshadowed
in my mind by other movies we have watched.

Joe Gillis was representative more of the average person. He wasn't
valiant, only helping out the aging Gloria when she offered huge sums
of money, wasn't incredibly smart, he admittedly described himself as
  "a hack writer", but in the end was able to break away from his vices
as we all wish we could (it did cause his death however). As for Max,
I think he loved her not as a human, but as the actress he made her to
be. He could let her fall, even if the world wanted her to. So instead
he locked her away inside the house and in her own delusions. Finally,
"believable" is redefine not what this movie is. It is an obviously
fictitious story with overblown character, but the thoughts and
feelings of them are what we relate to and what makes the film so
effective.

--- In thr334movies@yahoogroups.com, "Melissa" <MelissaDaleWW@...> wrote:
>
> I was totally creeped out by this movie.  Gloria Swanson did a
> wonderful job of giving Norma that crazy eyed gaze that makes me want
> to shudder and shrink away.  I didn't connect that much with Joe
> Gillis, he seemed kind of flat to me and very dumb for sticking around
> as long as he did.
>
> Also I didn't find it believable that Max would stick around playing
> butler to Norma when he basically made her career.  Sure he loved her,
> but in reality would he really just sit around and watch as the woman
> he loved toyed around with other young men.
>
> While watching this film, I kept wondering if this was Stephen King's
> inspiration for writing Misery.  The whole idea of keeping someone
> under lock and key to write you the story of your dreams is a very
> chilling idea.
>

I was totally creeped out by this movie.  Gloria Swanson did a
wonderful job of giving Norma that crazy eyed gaze that makes me want
to shudder and shrink away.  I didn't connect that much with Joe
Gillis, he seemed kind of flat to me and very dumb for sticking around
as long as he did.

Also I didn't find it believable that Max would stick around playing
butler to Norma when he basically made her career.  Sure he loved her,
but in reality would he really just sit around and watch as the woman
he loved toyed around with other young men.

While watching this film, I kept wondering if this was Stephen King's
inspiration for writing Misery.  The whole idea of keeping someone
under lock and key to write you the story of your dreams is a very
chilling idea.

Open Enrollment for online Costume History class now.

News: UAF now has open enrollment for my Spring 2005 THR 355 History
of Fashion and Dress class, which will run from January 20th to May
11th.  For More info on the class go to
http://www.costumes.org/classes/fashiondress/thr355main.htm
tou learn about how to sign up for the class for UAF credit see
http://www.costumes.org/classes/fashiondress/how_do_i_enroll.htm

What is The History of Fashion and Dress?

This course is an upper division, undergraduate, University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Theatre Department class in the history of costume.
Designed to provide theatrical costumers with a basic understanding of
major periods in Western clothing history, and a working ability to
research clothing of any culture or era, it is also geared to appeal
to the broader social and historical interests of students involved in
history, women's studies, sociology and psychology.

This course is publicly accessible by non students wishing to use the
text, discussion boards, or images for personal study.  Anyone may
view the class lectures, take part in class discussions, and do
assignments for their own personal entertainment or education.

However, in order to receive UAF credit, and regular feedback on your
work from the instructor, Tara Maginnis, you must pay UAF tuition, and
sign up for the class when it is next offered. (January 2005).

Hello! This is Cassandra Johnson, and I am posting some belated
disccusion to the movie Coming to America.
Hmmm, probably the hardest thing about costume analysis for this
movie (as well as Superfly) for me was the period dress factor. That
is, when I want to make a comment about a paticular outfit, I'm not
sure if I can identify it as "african-american" style or just a
generic style of the 70's and 80s. My knowledge in that area is
somewhat limited.
In any case, my favorite part of the movie is Zamunda itself. The
kingdom is an amusing alagam of several differnt cultures including
(but not limited to) Islamic, Byzantine, romanesque, British/French
colonialism, medival europe, and of course, African.
Hmmm what else...its hard to discuss when there is no jumping point.
the film was very much like a typical fairytale, only Africanized.
That is the bulk of the formula is very western, but decorated with
a confused array of "african" trinkets. There is the loud, colorful
fabrics with geometric patterns, african animals running around
nonchalantly, and a monarchy (tribal structure in a  grander sense?)
There is also the expensive yet crude jewlery. Large, clunky, and
with little craftmanship. Hopefully this is adquate. If it isn't i
can expand.....
I guess thats it. i have other thoughts but I don't want to get
redundent since they're in my paper.

Whoops, sorry! I forgot my name isn't on here. SO yes, it is I,
Cassandra!


--- In thr334movies@yahoogroups.com, Tara Maginnis
<thecostumersmanifesto@y...> wrote:
> Dear Pyro, what is your name?  Would you be Cassandra?
>
> --- pyroinblack <pyroinblack@y...> wrote:
>
> >
> > Hello, just here to share my thoughts on the film
> > since an untimely
> > illness prevented such participation in class.
>
> =====
> --
> ----Tara Maginnis, Ph.D., Costume Designer & Associate Professor
> of the Theatre Department of the University of Alaska Fairbanks
> Website: "The Costumer's Manifesto" at http://costumes.org
> Theatre Department Web Site: http://www.uaf.edu/theatre

Dear Pyro, what is your name?  Would you be Cassandra?

--- pyroinblack <pyroinblack@...> wrote:

>
> Hello, just here to share my thoughts on the film
> since an untimely
> illness prevented such participation in class.

=====
--
----Tara Maginnis, Ph.D., Costume Designer & Associate Professor
of the Theatre Department of the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Website: "The Costumer's Manifesto" at http://costumes.org
Theatre Department Web Site: http://www.uaf.edu/theatre

Hello, just here to share my thoughts on the film since an untimely
illness prevented such participation in class. On a side note, it
was near immpossible to track this movie down. Movie gallery didn't
have it and both Blockbusters has their copies checked out. Luckily,
someone returned the library's copy this weekend. My discussion
somewhat follows the essay question presented in the syllabus, so if
i choose that one I may end up repeating some of what I say here,
however it was what i was thinking about while I was watching. I
hope you won't mind the redundancy.

   Anyways, it was hard to think citically about this movie since it
was so aestically pleasing I would forget about thinking and just
gawk. Luckily, the symbolism was pretty blantant. There was a lot of
emphasis on light and dark and color to convey mood and Elizabeth's
transformation (and state of mind).
   In the beginning of the film her clothes, hair, and demeanor was
much more free and loose. These elements become more restrained and
tighter as the movie progresses reflecting her maturation into the
role of Queen. Her clothes were also more earth toned intially, with
greens, browns, and oranges. As she progressed, the colors were the
inbetween shades of gold and light blue and greens. After a time,
she alternates between bright white, red, and black. Red is usually
worn during times of turmoil or action, such as when her lady in
waiting dies and when she is forced to make a desicion about the
war. White is used to make her stand out in certain scenes and
reenforce her dominance, such as when she is passing out judgement
to the traitors. Black and dark red are most notablly used during
turning points in the film when she increases her indenpendence,
such as when she rejects all suitors (including Robert) and after
the excutions have been made. Once again this makes her stand out
from the rest of the characters to further illustrate her growing
power and isolation. Black is also used for more foreboding
characters such as the assassin priest and the spanish ambassador,(
a traditionally "evil" color).
   Since the movie is about Elizabeth's transformation into the
virgin queen, the film relects this progression through her clothes.
I mentioned this before, but returning to that point, when Elizabeth
is unsure and passionate, this is reflected in her clothes and also,
almost more importantly, her hair. During the first half of the film
her hair is usually down, long, flowing and wild. Her clothing also
share these attributes. (In fact, although her clothing becomes more
restrained and monochromatic, there is one scene where her clothing
is reminscent of early times. the scene where she is in the boat
with Robert, falunting their relationship and a very un-queen like
manner.)Her hair becomes tighter and tighter until the pivotal
scenes where she hacks it off. The camera lingers on the shorn hair
over hands, parallel to blood or sin on her hands. She then sweeps
it off and becomes the statue-like virgin queen. In fact, I think
the scene with her before the virgin mary statue was extremely
important for establishing this link. She becomes the statue, not
only throught the use of white make-up, but through the stoic manner
in which she presented. Also, although her garb was becoming
increasingly more simplistic until this point, we see a much more
elaborate dress at the end of the film. And although this is becasue
she is famous for the elaborate dresses worn in her portrait, I
think it also illusrated how much more grander and untouchable she
becomes by the end of the film.