Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen  have always been known for incorporating gothic horror influences into their designs. I came across this image recently, it is taken from McQueen’s Autumn/winter fashion show at London Fashion week.  I found this intruiging as it is not what springs to mind when you think of gothic fashions. However, I would definitely say this had gothic influences- I would describe it as a ‘dark romantic’ look. The use of lace and floral patterns is what makes it quite pretty and romantic, whereas the use of colour is what gives it the gothic feel. Black lace is very common in gothic fashion. What looks like a lace undergarment is actually attached to the rest of the dress. As this part of the dress looks like underwear, it automatically screams sex- sex and lust are common themes in gothic horror novels.

This is a very quick post, but I wanted to mention this McQueen number while it was fresh in my memory!! I just found the subtle references to gothic horror really inspiring. 

image- pinterest

Charlotte riley as Cathy

Charlotte riley as Cathy Earnshaw

I have looked at a long list of actresses that have played Cathy earnshaw, but I have chosen one of the more recent actresses, charlotte riley to research further. She starred as Cathy in the 2009 ITV mini series 'wuthering heights'. Her husband, Tom Hardy, played Heathcliff. I bought this two part drama on DVD to get a good idea of her portrayal of the character. I actually really liked the way she portrayed cathy, she played her as a very strong willed and headstrong young woman. She definitely was in control of heathcliff's feelings and their relationship, however it was also clear that she couldnt control her own. As much as she tried to convince herself that she loved edgar, her feelings for heathcliff were clear. I love the contrast between the strong willed cathy that wanted to marry edgar, and the weak, pleading cathy that cant help but love heathcliff. 

I mentioned in a previous post that the part of the book where heathcliff 'embraces' cathy's body really interested me. I really like the way the producers chose to represent this- they chose to show heathcliff physically digging up her grave. But, as his holds her, it flashes between the way he sees her, which is perfect (as if still alive) and the way anyone else would see her- a rotting skeleton/corpse. this scene helped to inspire my final ideas. I found it really interesting to see a producers/directors take on this section of the book. 

 Source : Wuthering heights mini series, ITV, 2009

picture- http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/tvmagazine/tvmagazinefeatures/4737148/World-Without-End-star-Charlotte-Riley-on-her-engagement-to-Tom-Hardy-and-starring-with-Sex-And-The-Citys-Cynthia-Nixon.html

Inspiration for Cathy- pinterest board.

When reading the novel, I quickly decided that I wanted my chosen chatacter to be cathy earnshaw. However, it did take me a while to decide on which stage of the book i wanted to portray. There was one part of the book that really intrigued me, as it is not quite clear what is going on. After Cathy's death, it is suggested that Heathcliff  'embraces' her body. It is not clear whether he literally digs up her grave and holds her, or whether this embrace is purely his imagination driving him crazy. He gets close to digging up her grave, but claims that he can feel her 'warm breath' on his neck and stops. Cathy's spirit haunts heathcliff as a desperation to be near to him. Although she is dead, Heathcliff still sees her corpse/spirit as though she is still alive. Beautiful, without a scratch. I wanted to create a look that portrayed a midway point between reality, and the way heathcliff saw her. 

Here is the mood board i created- I want to use the word 'decay' as a theme. Im thinking that i would like to use some dead flowers as they represent decaying beauty and can also being a representation of decaying relationships and the deterioration of mental state. Heathcliff's mental state  deteriorates as cathy's spirit torments him. I feel that dead flowers would be a good representation of their relationship. A painful struggle for both, always wanting, but never together. 

I want to create a sad, worn out looking character, like the images of the woman in the collage. For colours, i want to take inspiration from the setting of the novel, and cathy and heathcliff's secret meeting spot- the moors. I love the washes of pink and purple over the green moors. I want to create a dark romantic look. 

intitial ideas: dead roses. pinks and purples. hair half up half down. very pale/dead skin. dark romantic.

 images- pinterest

Why are we so obsessed with horror?

Personally, I have always been terrible with horror films/series. I could never understand why people would want to put themselves through it! The only time I have ever watched them is when I’ve been bullied into it by my friends. Although I am not a huge fan of horror, I do experience this bizarre thrill when watching it. A sort of mini adrenaline rush through scaring yourself. I’ve done a bit of research in the hope to understand why we do it to ourselves.

 I found an interesting article from ‘wisegeek.com’. The main argument here is that the films represent the decay pf society, which viewers find appealing. Another reason they give is that horror films enable viewers to be scared within a controlled environment. We love the thrill of feeling scared. These films get our heart rate going and give us the adrenaline rush without actually putting ourselves in danger.

The theory that I found to be the most interesting was a study done in 2007 by Eduardo Andrade and Joel B. Cohen. They argue that so many people enjoy horror as it allows them to experience negative and positive emotions at the same time. People experience a positive thrill or a rush, but aside from this they may be experiencing other positive emotions, especially if watching these films with friends etc. Some people become obsessed with horror because of the unique feeling of being in two ‘contrary states’.

Cathy and Heathcliffs relationship

Although there are several relationships in the book, cathy and Heathcliff’s deeply passionate relationship is the one people remember. They are not just lovers, they are soulmates. However, their relationship is not particularly healthy. They are drawn together by their mutual infatuation- Heathcliff constantly refers to cathy as his ‘soul’ and at one point, cathy screams ‘ I am Heathcliff’. I think the way C.Day Lewis describes Cathy and Heathcliff is perfect "represent the essential isolation of the soul, the agony of two souls–or rather, shall we say? two halves of a single soul–forever sundered and struggling to unite." In my opinion, this kind of love is not fortunate and will not result in happiness. It is as if neither lovers can give the other enough, they are so infatuated with each other that they are always wanting, never satisfied.

Although they are not together all the way through the novel, their on-going passion means that they always gravitate back to each other. Their love is an addiction.

‘Addiction; An addiction exists when a person's attachment to a sensation, an object, or another person is such as to lessen his appreciation of and ability to deal with other things in his environment, or in himself, so that he has become increasingly dependent on that experience as his only source of gratification.’ Someone who is emotionally unstable, or lacks in interests and direction is more likely to have an addiction. Cathy and Heathcliff’s childhood was pretty isolated, they were restricted to Wuthering heights and its surroundings. They were forced together from a young age. Perhaps this is an explanation for their passionate and explosive relationship. 

 picture quote-

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/wuthering/love.html

Character research- cathy Earnshaw

Character research- cathy Earnshaw

Cathy is known for being a  beautiful, wholesome  and free-spirited young girl. She is extremely loveable and is adored by everyone. However, there is definitely a spiteful side to her, which only see,s to be whitnessed by Heathcliff. Cathy and Heathcliff have a very bizarre and somewhat incestuous relationship. They grow up together like brother and sister, but as young adults, they are completely infatuated with each other. Despite their blatant love for each other, Cathy marries Edgar Linton, which completely breaks Heathcliffs’s heart and leaves him extremely bitter. She only married Edgar for his social status.

This action is a demonstration of Cathy’s darker side. This shows how selfish and spiteful she can be to those close to her. After putting Heathcliff through this agony and convincing him she is in love with edgar, she starts to meet Heathcliff in secret out on the moors. This is where they have a secret physical relationship. Again, this demonstrates cathy’s cruel side as she doesn’t show commitment to either lovers. However, it is clear that her true love is Heathcliff.

When she becomes ill, it is Heathcliff that she wants to be with in her last days. After her death, her ghost haunts Heathcliff and starts to drive him insane. Although, I feel that she haunted him while she was still alive.

Parents: Mr and Mrs Earnshaw

Birthplace: Wuthering heights

Date of birth: Summer 1975

Siblings: Hindley

Children: Catherine linton

Spouse: Edgar Linton

Death: 20^th march 1784

Place of death: Thrushcross garage

A quote that demonstrates her spiteful and childish side- (1780, aged 15) 'I didn’t touch you, you lying creature!' cried she, her fingers tingling to repeat the act, and her ears red with rage. She never had power to conceal her passion, it always set her whole complexion in a blaze.

'What’s that, then?' I retorted, showing a decided purple witness to refute her.

She stamped her foot, wavered a moment, and then, irresistibly impelled by the naughty spirit within her, slapped me on the cheek: a stinging blow that filled both eyes with water.

http://www.wuthering-heights.co.uk/characters/catherine.php

 Here are two actresses that have played Cathy Earnshaw. Top; Charlotte Riley with Tom Hardy as Heathcliff. Bottom; kaya scodelario.