Architecture and Costumes

27Mar10

As I move in the direction of creating a wearable, body-centric structure, the question arises, How does wearable, body-centric architecture differ from costumes?

Looking to the costumes from the Broadway version of The Lion King does not clarify anything.

From Disney’s Behind the Scenes:

The Lion King is unique in that we see how the magic works on stage. There’s no attempt to cover up the wheels and cogs that make it all happen. The human beings that control the puppets and wear the animal masks are fully seen. As an audience member at The Lion King you have an important job: With your imagination, you are invited to mix the “animal” with the human into a magical whole. As Julie Taymor says, “When the human spirit visibly animates an object, we experience a special, almost life-giving connection. We become engaged by both the method of storytelling as well as the story itself.”

Basically I’ve been nervous that my project will elicit reactions of, “That’s not architecture!” from final reviewers. Thankfully my adviser has no compunctions about this. So ahead I move with full knowledge that this may or may not be Architecture, but that it is design nonetheless.

All images from Christine L Jansen‘s blog, though from an uncited photographer.

Filed under: Musings   |  1 Comment
Tags: architecture, costume, critics, dance, fretting, performance