Great costume design can change the entire perception of how a character is received. Read below to learn more about the skilled costume designers who work to help bring banned book characters to life at the Bell Library's Open House.
Macy Brown. Growing up, Macy had always gravitated to makeup. She was an “edgy” teen who tried way too hard to be dark and brooding, saying she hated the color pink and rejected anything that was popular or trendy. However, even in her dark ages Macy would watch makeup tutorials on YouTube and teach herself the looks she was trying to emulate. Around Halloween in 2016, a friend of hers had mentioned in passing that they needed someone to do stage makeup for a rendition of Rocky Horror Picture Show and she jumped on it. Macy had that cliché career epiphany moment that night and changed her major the next day. She has since gone on to design the makeup for two TAMUCC mainstage productions, Good for Otto and The Heathers, and has been involved in countless other student directed performances. Post college, Macy intends to base herself in Boulder, Colorado to pursue a career as a designer.
How did you approach this assignment?
After being given this assignment I was extremely excited to get to work. I immediately reread 1984 and watched the film. When approaching a character design, the first thing to do is always read, and then reread, the material. You have to read the work making sure to keep an eye out for some sort of physical description like hair color, age, weight, and environmental influences, like is the character underfed? Do they smoke and drink? Do they get enough sleep? Luckily, George Orwell is very forthcoming with his description of the main character, Winston Smith.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
I gathered all of the info I would need for the costume before I started piecing together the design. Like I had said previously, Orwell was pretty straightforward with what Winston Smith looked like in his novel. Even though it’s clearly stated that he has a small body frame and wears coveralls, you can still look for other environmental tip-offs. For example, the book states that people in that world often use the same coveralls and boots for years at a time, so the coveralls would have to be washed out and dingy and the boots would be well worn. It’s things like that that really bring the character to life.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
It’s always really interesting to collaborate with other people and understand their vision. My partner, Julia, and I met to discuss our ideas for the character, and it was super cool to see what she had in mind for Winston. It’s crazy how different people interpret the same text.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
Reading through the book while keeping an eye out for clues about the character has to have been the most challenging part of the assignment. I actually enjoy reading dystopian novels, and I kept finding myself just enjoying the book and not actually keeping track of what I was reading.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
I seriously enjoy the satisfaction of seeing the design come together. After reading the material, taking all the notes, and sketching it up, it’s an awesome feeling knowing that your design will bring a character to life for others to enjoy.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
Books and the ideas contained within them are frequently shunned out of fear or ignorance and is usually accompanied by the phrase “I don’t want my child reading that.” It’s often the case that by exposing ourselves to this difficult or offensive material that we grow and move forward as individuals. Regardless of whether a book is received positively or negatively by the public, I believe that censorship has no place in the year 2017, or in any year moving forward.
Joshua Cady is a junior Theatre major with a focus on design tech here at TAMUCC. He enjoys carpentry and costuming is difficult but likes a challenge and is willing to step outside the box. He looks forward to his reamaining time here at TAMUCC and the obstacles he will face.
How did you approach this assignment?
I approached this assignment like most other designs that I’ve done in the past so I started with research. I have read Lord of the Flies once but needed a refresher on the characters to be able to understand the troubles that they went through as well as the environment, and the personality of each character. After doing research and finding some pictures I worked closely with my partner to agree on a final concept and moved on to a rough sketch of each character to better show our ideas, then pulled each costume closest to our designs.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
I gathered as much character background information before working on the costume and this is because it helps me as a designer know what types of hardships, environments, and conflicts that each character has had. It is useful to do as much research before working on the costume to know what types of clothes for them to be wearing and what condition each piece should be in, you don’t want to put someone in a perfect white suit when they’ve been in the jungle for ten weeks it doesn’t make sense.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
One thing that I learned in the process of this assignment that I found most fascinating is the reasons why this book was banned. It’s the eighth most banned book and it usually gets banned of the fact that it show cases violence, profanity, racism, and is and indictment of adult society and this is why people found it frightening and banned it.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging part of this assignment isn’t the research but more of the drawing of the figures and trying to figure out how to pick the right clothing for each character and how to distress each piece to make the character feel like they part of our world.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part of this assignment was being able to collaborate with my partner and see how we could come together and make and produce the best costume we could make. Just seeing all the different concepts and ideas that each person has is defiantly the best part of this assignment
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I do not believe that we as people should have the right to ban or censor someone else’s work, just because you didn’t like it. If you as a person doesn’t like it then don’t read it but why sensor some’s message or view point on something it's not right.
Kaylynn Coral is a second year Theatre major with a focus in Acting/Directing. She has most recently been on stage as Martha in Heathers the Musical, and is so happy she has had the opportunity to take costume design this semester where she is able to be involved with projects like banned books. She has enjoyed working on this assignment and is so amazed at just how much work it takes to bring such beloved characters to life.
How did you approach this assignment?
My partner and I turned to the movies as well as the books for inspiration on the costumes, hair and makeup.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
My partner and I looked at the character descriptions from the books and looked at images of the characters from the movies.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
There is a lot more detail that goes into remaking such an iconic look for a character that is very well known.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging aspect would probably have to be how quick the turn around was. Especially with the event being so close to the start of school, trying to give enough attention to this assignment as well as balance my hectic schedule was tough challenge.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part of the assignment has been trying to come up with how to take these actors we have been given and transform them into believable characters that we all know from page and screen.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
While I understand the reasons behind why each of the books are banned, I am glad that we are still able to read and enjoy them in the public setting and bring these characters to life to kind of show how ridiculous it is that they are banned.
Dakota is a senior Theatre Major here at TAMUCC. Her emphasis is in Design/Tech and she is obtaining her teacher certification. Dakota is from Katy, Texas originally and plans to move to the Houston area after she graduates to teach high school.
How did you approach this assignment?
The first step in any design process is to read or watch the script/book/movie to whatever it is you are designing for. In this case, I am designing for Alice In Wonderland, therefore I read the book and watched the movie a few times. Then, My partner and I decided that we wanted to keep it as close to the original Alice and White Rabbit as possible.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
As much as possible. I find this key in designing anything because your background decides who you are now.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
I learned that there have been many versions of Alice and the White Rabbit but the originals from Disney are the best and most widely known.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
Honestly, trying to make the designs our own. These characters are so well known that if we do something drastically different the audience wont recognize them and will defeat the purpose of what we are doing.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
I absolutely LOVE Alice in Wonderland. It has been one of my favorite books since I was a little child and I fell in love with it when I saw the movie.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
Words have so much power and we will not be censored.
Ambar Garza is a twenty-year-old student that was born in a city in Mexico called Monterrey, N.L. Moved to McAllen, Texas at the age of four with younger brother and single mother. Ambar’s mom always put her brother’s and her education ahead of anything to avoid seeing them both struggle like she did raising two kids by herself. Ambar now attends Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi double majoring in Theater with an emphasis in Technical Design and Communication with an emphasis in Media Production. While her brother is currently attending University of Texas at San Antonio obtaining a Bachelor in Architecture.
How did you approach this assignment?
Before reading the book Fahrenheit 451, I first researched the background information of the book and the author. Among the research there was information on why Fahrenheit 451 was a banned book in schools around the United States and other countries. After reading the book comes the image research that represents the books concept and the characters in the book. Fahrenheit 451 takes place in a futuristic world where books are banned. Bradbury does not set Fahrenheit 451 in a specific time period but does give information that bases in the future. Most of the research done dealt with futuristic clothing and places. The costumes of the characters must depict the feeling of being set in a time far from today.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
While working on a costume design a great amount of character background is necessary. The character background helps understand the world the Fahrenheit 451 is set in. The costume contributes to the information needed to understand the time and setting of the story. As a designer, it is important to gather as much character background as possible before working in the costume.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
The most fascinating thing I learned while working this assignment was the reasons why Fahrenheit 451 was banned. Fahrenheit 451 was banned because the author uses words such as “hell”, “damn”, and “abortion” causing the book to be censored.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging aspect of the assignment was trying to make the costumes give a futuristic look to them.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part of the assignment was getting the opportunity to design the costumes for Fahrenheit 451.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
Books should not be banned or censorship because it interferes with the message the author is trying to communicate with the reader. It should be up to the reader to want to read a book for its content and not by an institution who decides that the book is “too vulgar”. Fahrenheit 451 was banned for the use of the world “abortion” but abortion is something that occurs around us whether we acknowledge it or not. Books bring to light the reality of the situations around the world.
Eden Goodwin is a 20 year old Junior Theatre Major with a Design Tech Emphasis at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She is a part of the class of 2019. She was born in Kissimmee, Florida and raised in Bangor, Maine, and she moved to McAllen, Texas when she was 12. She was raised and has been supported by both of her parents through her college career. She has worked on wardrobe crew for productions at Texas A&M University Theatre Department of Rent, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Cloud Nine. She also was Assistant Costume Designer for Heathers: The Musical.
How did you approach this assignment?
How I approached this assignment was with careful research about the book and the history on why it was banned originally. My partner and I worked together and discussed on what we needed to do for each costume piece, and continued to collaborate on what needed to be added and be done.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
I gathered as much information as I could about the two characters I was given from my banned book The Wizard of Oz. The Wizard of Oz is such a timeless, classic, and ironic movie that everyone grew up on. We decided to incorporate the film and book to gather costume ideas.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
What I found fascinating about this assignment was having the privilege to help design the costume for The Wizard of Oz. I am a huge fan of The Wizard of Oz, so making the costume design for banned books has been exciting.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging aspect of this assignment is learning the difference between the book and movie, and that some costume aspects from the two are different. My partner and I have been communicating well on what needs to be present for the final piece and to incorporate makeup with it.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part of this assignment was designing one of my favorite stories. The Wizard of Oz is timeless, and iconic book and movie that everyone enjoys.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
Reading the reasons why some books were banned was interesting to find out. I never knew some books were banned to begin with, and having this opportunity to learn about it was exciting to learn about.
Abigail Harris, a Houston Texas native, is excited to be a part of TAMUCC’s Theatre Department’s partnership with our Library in honor of Banned Books week as a Costume designer. She is a senior pursuing her BA in theatre and a minor in Studio Art. Her other technical credits include Scenic Designer for Mother Hicks, Animals out of Paper, God of Carnage, and Dogfight, and Costume Properties Designer for Spring Awakening. Upon graduation she is excited to enter into a career in the world of professional theatre as a scenic designer and actress.
How did you approach this assignment?
I started by revisiting the classic novel and some still research from the film.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
Being relatively familiar with the story I was able to focus on specific aspects of Scarlet’s
character.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
That research can and attention to detail can unlock new discoveries about a design.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
Working around the schedules of our actors.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
Being able to work on a book that I love with an amazing partner.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
Banning books happily often has the converse effect intended.
Coral Harris, a TAMUCC Theatre Major with an Acting/Directing focus, was excited to work with John-Michael Sadleir on this Banned Books assignment. She has been involved in a few school productions at TAMUCC such as, "Fugue", "Taisetsu Na Hito", "A Different Moon", and "Anna in the Tropics". She is very appreciative of John-Michael because without him this process would not have been possible.
How did you approach this assignment?
When approaching this assignment, my partner, John-Michael, and I approached it with care and creativity. When we picked To Kill A Mockingbird as our banned book, we did not want to just have Scout in overalls and a t-shirt. We believe that the essence of Scout Finch could not be this simple despite how young she may be. Scout is a very unique character, and so we wanted to be able to portray her spirit into our work.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
In order to dress a character, one must know the character. It is every costume designer's duty to know each and every one of the character's they design for. John-Michael and I did an intensive character analysis of Scout because, as mentioned above, she is very unique and she has quite the amount of spirit. As we analyzed Scout, we wrote down our wide array of options for how we could make this little girl come to life before our eyes. We wanted to be sure that our depiction was as accurate to the time period and the book's description as possible.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
Something that I found fascinating during this project is just how difficult it can be to make a costume that is extremely out of the norms. In the book, Scout goes to a Halloween pageant and the ham costume that she wears protects her from the stabbing that occurs. This ham costume is very symbolic of her innocence. John-Michael and I enjoyed making this costume immensely, and it was very time consuming, but we are extremely proud of how it came out.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging aspect of this assignment was getting the materials for the costume. John-Michael and I spent lots of time deciding how to make the images we had sketched out on paper come to life. We wanted to remain accurate with our materials, but we also wanted to ensure that the actress portraying Scout would be comfortable. In the end we decided that chicken wire, paper machè, and paint would be our best bet.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
I believe that the best part of this assignment was being able to create something from scratch with one of my best friends. I really appreciated being able to go through the process of creating a costume. Through this process we were able to connect with this playful, energetic, 5-year-old girl in a way that I did not know was possible. I feel as though I know Scout on a personal level now. Being able to build a ham was a dream come true for both John-Michael and I. It was something that I did not know I needed in my life until this assignment was presented to me.
Monica Jimenez is a senior acting/directing major in Texas A&M University’s Department of Theatre and Dance. This is her third year at the university having transferred from San Antonio where she appeared in productions. She been involved in productions in the department such as Argonautika, The Heidi Chronicles, and assistant directed a studio project, Love/Sick. She has also been a participant in the forty-minute play schedule, ten-minute play festival, and is working on her Senior Capstone directing project which will be executed in December. She is currently the assistant stage manager for the mainstage show, William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus and. She plans to become a high school theatre teacher after graduation, hopefully going back to the San Antonio area. After teaching for a substantial amount of time she will to graduate school and pursue a Maters of Fine Arts degree in directing.
How did you approach this assignment?
Catcher in the Rye was a book I’d always had a fascination with since first reading it in high school. Upon learning of the Banned Books project, it was the first novel I had my eye on and became excited to re-read it. It’s difficult to create a design with such a realistic character that not as many people are familiar with, but it’s an exciting challenge to take on. I had to be open minded and willing to try out different sketches until I was able to find one best suited to the descriptions in the novel.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
I did a brief character analysis on Holden Caulfield to better understand his choices, thus discovering how such a person would dress. The novel itself describes pieces of his wardrobe but I wanted to make sure that with makeup and the design itself, the audience will be able to capture his essence. There was also research done on the time period and why the novel was banned.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
This has been one of my first opportunities to design costumes that were meant to be used, not just on paper. I have found the process to be quite exciting, as I get a perspective on an area of theatre I do not specialize in.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
Designing for a well-known but not necessarily well liked novel has been a challenge, especially with a character such as Holden Caulfield. The book was banned due to its adult themes, language, and a plot that is said to be communist. It was imperative I was meticulous with the author’s language in describing the character’s physicality. The book, like any other novel is open to interpretation and I chose to dress Holden how I see him, a troubled, misguided mind who too focused on his thoughts.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
I get to collaborative with a partner on this assignment and that means joining too minds with different perspectives and ideas to create a finished product. We have been able to discuss how we view the character and what aspects of the novel we will incorporate into the novel. I always end with mixed feeling on Holden, seeing him as a puzzle piece I cannot solve and that’s how we want the audience to seem him.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I personally do not believe there should be a thing such as “banned” books, literature is how we learn about an immense amount about various topics, It’s someone’s mind speaking and creating, which people should be able to acknowledge. Sure, some content is not suitable for all ages, but students should be able to have a choice.
Anika Martinez is a senior here at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Theatre in Technical Design, a minor in Communications as well as receiving a Dance certificate. She recently completed her second internship with the Walt Disney World Company in Orlando Florida, where she had several opportunities to network and speak to many people from within their entertainment department. Her main focus within the design area is stage management and had the privilege of being able to speak with many stage managers while networking. Her goal is to apply for a professional internship with their company and hopefully land a job. She is currently working on a production this semester titled "Hand to God." She has always had a huge passion for theatre and is eager to graduate to begin her career out in the theatrical world!
How did you approach this assignment?
When I first approached this assignment my first instinct was to research why the book was banned.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
I gathered as much character background as I could such as their age, personality, economical status and much more.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
One thing that I found the most interesting was the reason why the book was banned in the first place.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging part was the research part and trying to come up with costume ideas so that people would recognize who the actors were trying to portray.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part of this assignment was being able to work with my peers and being able to design a costume.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
In doing this project I think that more people should be aware of why books are being banned. I love the fact that our library has banned book week because this is one of the many ways to let people learn about it.
Missy Moreno is a Senior at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. She is a Design Tech major with an emphasis in Stage Management. During her first year she worked on mainstage the shows, Peter and the Starcatcher and Heathers as well as the Senior capstone, Doubt A Parable and a forty-minute production of Shakespeare in Hollywood. She also worked for San Antonio College as a Theater Technician and work outside of the community college with the local theaters.
How did you approach this assignment?
I did research over the book. I knew it was based off Joseph Stalin and his views on society so I did some period research as well and compared research with my co-designer.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
We did quite a bit of research individually and together. We looked through news articles, book research, documentary clips and clips of the movie.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
I thought it was interesting and scary how what happens in the book is slightly similar to our current state. We let things happen just because someone with power decides it should.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging aspect for me was that neither my partner nor I had ever read the book before this assignment and we were worried that our peers would not get our representation. Finding the perfect balance between the animal’s physicality and the characters personality.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
I really enjoyed watching some of the documentaries that I found. I also really liked collaborating my ideas with my partner.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I think that it is unfortunate that we ban books and censor so much of our free expression and education. This assignment educates and honors those we have been silenced and for that I am grateful.
Ashley is a Junior at TAMUCC. She is a Theatre major with an emphasis in Acting/Directing and a Minor in Communication. She graduated from Industrial high school in Vanderbilt, Texas, and gained a true love for music and theatre there. She has always enjoyed working with costumes, from building them to running quick changes. That is why she decided to try her hand at designing. Ashley has been head of the wardrobe crew for several of the TAMUCC Department of Theatre & Dance main stage shows, including HEATHERS and Peter and the Starcatcher. She has enjoyed her two years at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and is looking forward to what the next few years have to offer.
How did you approach this assignment?
The first thing I did when I found out that I would design two costumes for George Orwell’s Animal Farm, was do some research. I had never read the book, so I looked up a short summary of the book and read a few character descriptions so I would understand the characters. My partner and I were very interested in exploring color schemes and looking into George Orwell’s concept and inspiration as well.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
I gathered quite a bit of character background by looking into George Orwell’s book and even watching scenes from an animated film based on the novel. I definitely tried to pull most of my inspiration from research on the time period and ideas that would be easily recognizable by a crowd of college students.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
I was very fascinated with this process because it is my first design project, and I had the opportunity to look at designs for the same project from years past, and figure out ways to change them and make them my own, while still utilizing the material that we have access to. I also enjoyed learning about George Orwell’s novel, since I had never read it. The concept behind the book is very interesting to me.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
This assignment was challenging because of the short amount of time and experience I have. However, that has definitely made it more fun and a great first design experience, especially since I have been working with a partner.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part of the assignment has been talking with my partner about our costume ideas. We both brought fun plans to the table and talking through them helped me envision the designs and feel more confident in our final product.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I believe that many of the characters we are displaying for this banned books project did not deserve to be taken out of libraries. Just because some material in the books may be a little taboo, does not mean the books should be thrown out completely. Children can learn a lot from these books, and they should have the opportunity to experience these magical tales.
Victoria Puentes. Twenty years old. Currently a junior at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Theatre major with an emphasis in Tech Design with a teacher certification. Born in McAllen and raised in San Juan, a small town in Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Some of the productions a part of include Rent the Musical, Peter and the Star Catcher, Heathers the Musical, Love/Sick, TAMUCC Theatre 10 minute play festival, TAMUCC Theatre 40 minute play festival, and Islander Dance Demo. Roles performed include Follow Spot Operator, Master Electrician, Light Board Operator, and stage management. Some of the aspects of design trained in include, lighting design, set design, costume design, Hair and Makeup, and stage management. She plans to graduate spring of two thousand and nineteen. After graduation she plans on teaching technical theatre to children for a few years then pursuing a job in professional theatre.
How did you approach this assignment?
I started out with a little refresher on Catcher in the Rye and started a further in depth character analysis. I also did a little bit of research to get a better understanding of the time period, setting, and plot.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
The initial character background I had was in about fourth grade when I first read Catcher in the Rye and I didn’t really analyze the character backgrounds back then but now I have the chance to dig into the characters further which helped me understand and appreciate the book a lot more.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
I think the most fascinating thing I found during this process was the time period (late 1950’s). I have never had the chance to really research this specific time period so it fun to finally be able to dig into it more.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
I think the most challenging has been trying to give the most accurate vision of the character as possible. There were so many ways I could interpret the character through his clothing and it was difficult to find one look that portrayed him the whole story.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part about this assignment was being able to revisit this classic story that I had recently started to put in the back of my mind and it was fun to see what different views and opinions I had on the story as to when I read it as a child.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I believe that classic books such as Catcher in the Rye along with many other, should not be banned. These classic books made a huge impact in my generation’s lives and for some, these books were the first novels we ever read. These stories linger in our minds for a long time and those memories wouldn’t be the same if they were censored or banned. I think it’s important for young children to realize that the real world is not all fun and games and these books give a great introduction to that lesson. Authors wrote these book the way they did for a reason so their books should not be censored or second guessed when it comes to allowing children to read them.
John-Michael Sadleir, a TAMUCC Theatre Major focusing on Acting/Directing with a Teacher's Certification, was very fortunate to work on Banned Books with his partner, Coral Harris. He has been involved with a few productions within the Department, namely "Smooch Music", "Peter Pan", and "Leading Ladies". Much love and gratitude is sent towards his partner, Coral. Thank you.
How did you approach this assignment?
After Coral and I were given the opportunity to recreate the character of Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird, we could not wait to bring alive this playful, little girl! While closely relating her to her origin story, I believe Coral and I have created a fun and reinspired version of a classic character.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
Initially, Coral and I pulled from the two main sources that show or describe Scout in all her glory: the book and its motion picture. As we continued to develop an idea of what our Scout could look in person, we pulled more resources from the book's portrayal of Scout Finch. We continue to revisit her story even now in order to ensure we are representing the words of Harper Lee as accurately as possible.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
The in-depth analysis of Scout's ever-changing world view impacted several designs Coral and I originally drew. It was very interesting how each of us interpreted the physical form of Scout Finch, but through careful decision making, I hope our Scout encompasses all of the unique individuality for which she is known.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
Building the entire outer shell of the Ham proved to be a bit more troublesome than the designs of Scout's clothing. Coral and I really wanted to bring to life the Ham Scout wears to a Halloween pageant. This Maycomb Agricultural product not only represents the innocence of Scout Finch, but also serves as a symbol of her life force.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
Working with Coral has been a blast! I have been extremely fortunate to work with my dear friend on this beautiful project. We combined our efforts to present this beloved work of art.
Macee Sampson has worked with special effects makeup for five years, and was self-taught prior to her attending Texas A&M in Corpus Christi. She is a senior with a Theatre Design-Tech emphasis and an Art minor, wherein her specialty is painting using either watercolor or oil media. She is working on the Banned Books event as part of a Costume Design class, and has also worked on several university productions as a Hair and Makeup Designer, as well as a crew member. Some of her favorite design production experiences include The Heidi Chronicles, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Cloud 9. This Fall 2017 show season, she will be designing the Theatre Department’s production of Titus Andronicus, directed by Alison Frost and opening November 14th. She will graduate in the spring, and after graduation she plans on pursuing a career in makeup design while she continues to practice as a visual artist.
How did you approach this assignment?
I am a theatre design student, so I approached this as I would the costume design work for a character in a production. I started with the source material, in my case this was Gone with the Wind for the characters of Rhett and Scarlett. Then I did period research for what types of materials and silhouettes were popular in the time period of the source material. After that, my partner and I did some initial design sketches, followed by revised versions complete with hair and makeup detailing. Once we were able to pull costume pieces for the actors cast as the roles of Rhett and Scarlett, we made any necessary alterations to the fit of the pieces pulled, then after hair and makeup they were ready to participate in Banned Books!
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
There was quite a bit of character background research. We started with the book itself, and chose the scenes we wanted to pull from as to what the characters were wearing. Then, we did period-specific research, followed by look-specific research, which concerned the fabrics, the silhouettes, and the overall style of the characters we were bringing to life needed to capture the spirit of the characters in the book.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
The most fascinating part of this assignment to me was the premise that my and my partner’s book, as well as any of these books, were banned in the first place. Once you start looking into why some of these books were banned it gets pretty outlandish quite quickly, and the whole perspective of it all is very strange to me.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging aspect of this assignment was definitely acquiring the actual costumes. We ended up pulling some pieces from offsite stock and making the necessary adjustments to ensure that they fit the actors, but otherwise finding historically accurate costume pieces for this particular book would have been very difficult!
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part of this assignment has certainly been bringing these iconic characters of literature to life! I read Gone with the Wind as a young teenager, and it was one of my favorites, so having the opportunity to work with the characters of this particular book has been so much fun, and definitely something a younger version of myself would find incredible.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I would most likely continue on about views on censorship indefinitely if given the opportunity, but the distilled version is that censorship of literary materials, particularly in a school environment where education is meant to be the point of attendance, is primarily unjustified in its concerns that it will give students the “wrong idea” about things. In an educational environment, discussion of ideas is what fuels the experience, whether they be objectively right or wrong, and honest education would be vastly more beneficial than teaching a censored version of subjects.
Allison Smith is a junior Theatre major with a Studio Art minor. She realized her passion for theatre in high school and chose to further her education in theatre by pursuing a Design/Tech focus with an emphasis in Costume Design. After completing her BA in Theatre & Dance, Allie plans to attend grad school in hopes to complete her MFA in Costume Design.
How did you approach this assignment?
I approached this assignment as I would any other design project. I was already familiar with The Wizard of Oz so I immediately went to researching both the book and the movie. The movie provided a lot of visuals that captured the whimsical style of this story. My partner and I, Eden Goodwin, pulled pieces for the costume together during class based on what we had found and what we thought would fit best for the character and on the actor/actress.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
The Wizard of Oz has always been one of my favorite books; I also love the movie and the play. I was the Student Technical Director of my high school’s production in 2013. This project required a different sort of research however, and I definitely needed to get a more in depth idea of each of the characters and analyze what I already knew about them.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
I was researching why the book itself was banned and I found it fascinating that the main reason was that people were unhappy that there was a strong female lead that was the focus of the story. It was considered “ungodly” to have a woman be portrayed as powerful. People were especially opposed to the idea that there were “good” witches, as it was in their belief system that all witches and witchcraft were bad and not to be seen as anything but ungodly.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging aspect was probably working with what we had. We had to pull everything from stock and off-site stock and we had a small budget to purchase things that weren’t available otherwise. I think it was a good challenge to practice being resourceful because professionally, you won’t always have a big budget (or very much of a budget at all) and being able to make anything work is an important skill.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The assignment in its entirety was great. Costume design is my focus, so I’m going to enjoy every part of it honestly. I had a ton of fun working on this and I think it’s going to be a fun event.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I believe censorship is an enemy of the artist. I use the term artist as an all-encompassing term for fine artists, performers, authors, playwrights, etc. Anyone who creates something for people to see, read, hear - makes it to prove a point or to communicate an idea, especially nowadays where political tension is at an all time high and artists feed off of currents events. If our work is somehow hindered from reaching our audience by the government or other regulators, it impedes the communication of the certain idea or message that we were attempting to share. This is usually because the product promotes ideas that are in opposition with those that are in charge. There are other countries that censor everything so much that their entire population is basically brainwashed. In the US, we claim to promote freedom of speech as well as just a general idea that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, political or otherwise. This is why censorship, even in a small scale, is the enemy and is almost dangerous - in a country where freedom is the basis of everything we believe in, restricting what can and cannot be attained by the public is in fact the opposite idea and if we allow censorship then who is to say what else could be happening in front of us that could lead the entire country in the wrong direction? Art has the power to change people and how they think and live. If we limit that, then we limit the growth and progress of this ever-evolving country and society.
Savannah Stirling was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she lived for the first 8 years of her life. She moved to Corpus Christi when she was 9 and has been here since. She began working in a theatre in Port Aransas at the age of 9 and has been working there since. She is a junior at TAMUCC as a theatre major with a design tech emphasis and a teacher certification attached. She is hoping to teach technical theatre in a high school once she graduates. Throughout high school and middle school she was not only heavily involved in the theatre but she also played almost every sport offered and competed in academic competitions. She directed her first show at the age of 16 and since then has designed and directed multiple more.
How did you approach this assignment?
Approaching this assignment began with reading the book Alice in Wonderland. While I read I jotted down the basic descriptions of the characters that I would be costuming. I had a basic idea of what the costumes should look like because I have recently designed costumes for this show. The biggest challenge was making sure the costumes were based off of the book characters and not the characters from the play.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
The research for this came mostly from the text. After the specifics were taken from the text I researched the clothing from the time period in which the book takes place. I then tried to combine the specifics from the book with the fashion from that time period.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
The most fascinating part of the project was combining my partner and I’s different styles of design.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging part of this project was making sure that the costumes was created through the reference sin the text and not through the countless renditions in movies created. There are many different movies and plays out that the costumes do not follow the specifics from the book. We had to be sure that we kept the characters true to the book but recognizable to the audience.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part of this project was getting to design not only for a book that I very much enjoy, but a book that I grew up on. This has always been one of my favorite books, movies, and plays.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I think that the censorship that takes place on a lot of the art in the world is uncalled for. Art is a type of expression and I believe that it shouldn’t be censored as it is. Many of these books that have been banned have an important message that would be delivered to whoever reads it but many children are missing out on these books and the lessons they show.
Keagan Styes is a Junior Theatre Major with a focus in Costume Design. Keagan has been the Assistant Costumer Designer here at TAMUCC for shows such as The Heidi Chronicles, Peter and the Starcatcher, and most recently Cloud 9. Keagan has recently returned from her second summer working in the costume department for the Tony award winning, Utah Shakespeare Festival. Keagan is happy to have returned to the Island University, and is looking forward to being the Assistant Costume Designer for Titus Andronicus premiering this November.
How did you approach this assignment?
I approached this project with an open outlook on why my banned book was actually banned. This book was banned people claim because of its sexual descriptions, and vulgar content. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margret Atwood is classified as dystopian literature, with a lot of commentary on today’s society. Considering there we don’t necessarily know what the future is going to look like there is a lack of primary research. But that doesn’t mean that research couldn’t be done. I referenced the book and the recent television series on Hulu. The book also refers to the Christian bible frequently, so I researched the bible verses that were used in the television series.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
It’s extremely important for a designer to do character analysis prior to dressing someone. The way a character dresses is characteristic of who they are as a person. I gathered a lot of the character background from the television series as opposed to the book because the Television show gave more of visual representation of Offred rather than the book. As an audience member, I gathered that Offred is quiet but she is extremely aware of her surroundings. At first glance, it grabbed my attention that her name is “Offred”, which to me was a nod to the fact that all the handmaids are forced to wear red cloaks in order to be identified. The character Offred is the protagonist, and the part of her name “off” told me as an audience member that Offred was different than her fellow handmaids. In the book, it explains that the term “Offred” means “Of Fred”, her master, I still thought coincidence was worth notating.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
In this process, I learned that someone characters are more specific when it comes to how they’re dressed compared to others. Certain books have characters where there is more room for interpretation on how the characters are dressed, but it is specified in The Handmaid’s Tale that the women are wearing loose, long red dresses. With that description, there is limited space for interpretation on what the character is wearing. I found it interesting that I had to be specific with my choices and creation because the text was so specific.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
The most challenging aspect of this assignment was making sure that everything about the costume looked clean and crisp. Again, the book is very specific on the handmaid’s outfits because it sets them apart from everyone else in that world.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
The best part of this assignment is that a project I worked on will be given life and be recognized by people who are not just within the department. I have such a passion for costume design and to see those designs become a reality is so meaningful. The actors wearing the costumes really bring the costume pieces to life. It is also rewarding to educate others on literature that not everyone was allowed access to primarily.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
The Banned Books project is very important to our campus because the event shows that at one time our culture was opposed to ideas that were “weird” when those ideas were just different. It’s difficult for people to understand something that is different so the common reaction is to ignore the things that cannot be understood. Literature is important in the sense that it opens people’s minds and it gives people a new perspective on how the world is seen. Literature paves the way, not only for, free thought to be had, but also so people don’t conform to one way of thinking. Books being banned because of their content prohibits people from understanding perspective on a wider scale.
Madeline Umhoefer is getting her Bachelor of Arts from TAMUCC. Her focus is in stage-management. She has successfully completed two internships with the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida. She is currently working on the show De Donde? in the theatre department here at TAMUCC. In the past she has worked on Heathers the Musical as an Assistant Stage-manager, and the Ten Minute Festival as the Production Manager. Her plans after graduation takes her back to the Walt Disney Company to pursue her dream as a stage-manager for one of the larger productions put on at Walt Disney World.
How did you approach this assignment?
First I started to research this book on why it was banned in the first place. Then I went back to book one and looked at how each character was described. Then I went to watch the movies so that I had many options to work with.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
I didn’t have to do too much background work because I am a Harry Potter fan already! I did though go back and look at the time period that the book was set in and looked at clothes children that age would have worn in London. I also looked at what the uniforms for each house looked like just to get a good grasp on it all.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
How much work goes into each costume. It’s not just what it says their wearing, it’s how they are wearing it. Like how Hermione slowly becomes more beautiful as the books go on. In our own imagination we get to pick what she wears. We don’t just have to go off what the movie makes her to be.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
Trying not to just pull things from the movies. When we all think of Harry Potter we think of the actors that play them. So I really had to sit down and re-read the books and look at them in a different aspect. That was the hardest part for me.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
Being able to create something that I have always wanted to do. Who wouldn’t want to dress Harry and Hermione?
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I think that the people who banned these books thought they were making the right decisions at that time. An example would be my mother not letting me read the Harry Potter series until I was old enough to realize that Hogwarts wasn’t a real place. Now in this time and age Harry Potter is a classic read for young children.
Katelynn Vaughan is a sophomore at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi pursuing a degree in Theatre Arts with a focus in Design and Technical Theatre. Katelynn appreciates all sections of theatre, but her favorite is designing and constructing costumes, she plans to become a costume designer. Katelynn was eager to costume Lord of the Flies. She read it in high school and did not know that the book had been banned. She was excited to do research over the book, the characters, and sketch for the characters. Katelynn believes that Lord of the Flies portrays that savagery can be created in every human being, and how it can emerge given the proper scenario.
How did you approach this assignment?
I approached this assignment with an open mind to characters, setting, time period, and interpretation of the book. I did research over this book, and the banning of it.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
I gathered the characters background prior to working on this assignment because I read this book in high school. The difference between high school and now is that I did more research and analysis about the book and the characters inside of it. I had to look at this book from the perspective of, “Why was this banned?” and truly emphasize these items to my audience.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
The amount of savagery that is in this book, and that it provides a glimpse into the way that people can be. I also found the painting of the faces for hunters and savages to be unsettling and discriminatory, but another person’s interpretation is that it is a mask that gives them the ability to do things that their moral consciousness will not allow them to do.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
Making sure my actors were clothed a sufficient amount to not be deemed inappropriate in the library, while simultaneously trying to portray the lifestyle that these boys lived in the jungle. The book Lord of the Flies describes that the boys wore minimal clothing. Upon the boys’ arrival to the island, they stripped their clothes and developed the animalistic and savage lifestyle.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
My favorite part of the assignment is looking for clothes that match the image I have in my head, and some of my sketches. I am excited to do the makeup for this project as well.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
I believe that writing is a form of art and expression, and to censor or ban someone’s art is hurtful. You do not have to agree with an artist or writer, but you should still have a sense of respect for their work and try to find something in it that you can admire.
Julia Wohlfarth is a junior theatre major with a focus in Technical Theatre at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Julia is from Austin, Texas, but decided to make the move to Corpus Christi for college due to the exceptional theatre program the university has to offer. She has been practicing theatre for over 8 years, and has always had a special love for the technical elements of theatre. She hopes to continue practicing theatre at a professional level after she graduates college. Her main focus within technical theatre is stage management; she enjoys learning and appreciates the importance of all elements, including costume design. Julia was excited to design for the novel 1984 by George Orwell because it's a book she enjoyed reading, and she thinks it’s very important to literary history. She is glad to see this novel included in the books being presented at the library’s banned books event.
How did you approach this assignment?
I approached this assignment by first gathering information about the book, as well as the specific character from the book that is to be represented. I then collaborated with a partner to come up with a design that we both found satisfactory and thought represented the character well. The design process involves a great deal of analysis, followed by rough ideas that eventually get fine-tuned into the final result. This assignment was no exception to that process.
How much character background did you gather before or while working on the costume?
Going into this process I had already read the novel 1984, so to begin I went back over the novel to pick out any important details in the text that highlighted the character’s clothing, or general look. Fortunately, this novel also has a movie adaptation for further reference. I looked thorough images and clips from the movie in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the character could be physically represented.
What did you learn in the process of this assignment that you found most fascinating?
The thought of banning a book based on its content has always been strange to me. It was fascinating for me to think about the fact that my assigned novel was George Orwell’s 1984, a book that I was assigned to read while in high school. According to TIME magazine 1984 is one of the most censored books of all time. Personally I believe that this book is extremely important to literary history and should be read more frequently, as opposed to banned and censored.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this assignment?
To me the biggest challenge was representing the character in a way that was similar to the information that could be found in the novel, but in a way that was also easily recognizable. One of the most fun parts of the Banned Books activity is being able to recognize some of your favorite characters being represented in real life. Therefore, one of my goals was to try to make him as recognizable as possible.
What has been the best part of this assignment?
I have always thoroughly enjoyed reading, ever since I was a child. That being said it has been a lot of fun to get to make a great character come to life, as well as watch as my peers do the same for so many other beloved characters from great novels. Being a theatre major I always love to see characters come to life in front of my eyes, and it’s been a pleasure to be able to help make that happen.
Would you like to make any comments about banned books or censorship?
Personally, I have a lot of mixed feelings on censorship and the idea of banning books. I do not think that books should be so heavily banned or censored. In a way books are considered a form of art and expression, which I don’t think should ever be banned or censored. I think that it’s extremely important for people, specifically young people, to be exposed to all types of ideas, regardless of whether or not they agree with them, it’s exceptionally important to understand differing views, experiences, and opinions. Simply banning books that have thoughts or ideas that someone disagrees with is unfair to those who won’t get to experience those books.