What do you have
that pretty much every movie character ever has, whether they spend their screen
time below the ocean's surface or live on a planet across the galaxy or answer
to "your majesty"?
"Clothing" is the
answer, something all movie viewers have on, to varying degrees, when entering a
theater. It's our instant commonality with the beings on screen. With this in
mind costume exhibits, particularly wide-scale, deeply considered display, are
not only is a pretty thing to gaze upon. They're the audience's easy,
I-have-a-dress-on-too entry into a film.
Hollywood Costume,
which debuted in the May Co. building on Oct. 2, is such a display. The
Swarovski-backed exhibit, which debuted at London's Victoria and Albert Museum a
few years back and is presented in Los Angeles by the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences, boasts over 150 recognizable outfits from "Star Wars" and
"Blade Runner" and "Django Unchained" and "The Birds."
Wait,
"recognizable"? Surely we meant "iconic" there. A certain blue-and-white gingham
frock and a pair of ruby slippers hold court in the Miracle Mile exhibit, so
"iconic" is really only the half of it.
Deborah Nadoolman
Landis, below, is the curator, which fits like a hand in a carefully measured, hand-sewn
evening glove; she served as the costume designer for several major films,
including "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
Which also makes a
high-spirited costume cameo, complete with Dr. Jones's fedora and leather jacket
and snap! Literally -- Indy's whip is in the house, too.
The show, which
foretells of the Academy moving into the May Co., permanently, in 2017 -- that's
the projected year that the Academy Museum is set to debut -- has the feel of
stepping directly into a film. This comes courtesy of the sweeping soundtrackian
music scored just for the exhibit as well as the lowered lights. You may feel as
though you are indeed inside a cinema, with key beams on the characters and
costumes (many of which do glitter, making Swarovski the ideal
sponsor).
Other treats? A
whole section devoted to Meryl Streep, with an innovative twist: Her character
from each film "talks" from a screen above each outfit. Another area created
just for the crown-wearers of cinema is a show stand-out, as is the imposing
Darth Vader costume from "The Empire Strikes Back."
Truly, fictional
characters, even those who live on spaceships and moons, dress like us. Well,
with more capes and shoulder pads and boots and gigantic hats, sure, but clothes
matter to the larger picture. It's strong sartorial connection between viewer
and viewee, with clothing as the button between.
Hollywood Costume
is on view at the May Co. at Wilshire and Fairfax through March 2.
By Alysia Gray Painter
With thanks to NBCLosAngeles
From You Tube:
On
view October 2, 2014 through March 2, 2015 the exhibition brings together the
world's most iconic costumes from the Golden Age of cinema to the present.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences present the final showing of the groundbreaking multimedia exhibition Hollywood Costume in Los Angeles.
Hollywood costume explores the central role of costume design – from the glamorous to the very subtle – as an essential tool of cinematic storytelling and brings together the world's most iconic costumes from the Golden Age of cinema to the present.
The Academy is enhancing the V&A's exhibition and will include more than 150 costumes. The Academy's presentation will add more than 40 costumes to this landmark show, including Jared Leto's costume from Dallas Buyers Club (Kurt and Bart, 2013) – a recent acquisition from the Academy's Collection – as well as costumes from such recent releases including The Hunger Games (Judianna Makovsky, 2012), Django Unchained (Sharen Davis, 2012), Lee Daniels' The Butler (Ruth E. Carter, 2013), The Wolf of Wall Street (Sandy Powell, 2013), American Hustle (Michael Wilkinson, 2013), and The Great Gatsby (Catherine Martin, 2013).
In addition, Hollywood Costume will showcase the Academy's pair of the most famous shoes in the world – the original ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz (Adrian, 1939) shown with Dorothy's blue and white gingham pinafore dress.
Hollywood Costume is curated by Deborah Nadoolman Landis, Academy Award®–nominated costume designer and founding director of UCLA’s David C. Copley Center for the Study of Costume Design, whose credits include National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Coming to America (1988) and the music video for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (1983); with Sir Christopher Frayling (Professor Emeritus of Cultural History, Royal College of Art), and set and costume designer and V&A Assistant Curator Keith Lodwick.
Hollywood Costume will be accompanied by a full slate of exhibition-related programs including screenings, discussions with costume designers, and educational programs.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences present the final showing of the groundbreaking multimedia exhibition Hollywood Costume in Los Angeles.
Hollywood costume explores the central role of costume design – from the glamorous to the very subtle – as an essential tool of cinematic storytelling and brings together the world's most iconic costumes from the Golden Age of cinema to the present.
The Academy is enhancing the V&A's exhibition and will include more than 150 costumes. The Academy's presentation will add more than 40 costumes to this landmark show, including Jared Leto's costume from Dallas Buyers Club (Kurt and Bart, 2013) – a recent acquisition from the Academy's Collection – as well as costumes from such recent releases including The Hunger Games (Judianna Makovsky, 2012), Django Unchained (Sharen Davis, 2012), Lee Daniels' The Butler (Ruth E. Carter, 2013), The Wolf of Wall Street (Sandy Powell, 2013), American Hustle (Michael Wilkinson, 2013), and The Great Gatsby (Catherine Martin, 2013).
In addition, Hollywood Costume will showcase the Academy's pair of the most famous shoes in the world – the original ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz (Adrian, 1939) shown with Dorothy's blue and white gingham pinafore dress.
Hollywood Costume is curated by Deborah Nadoolman Landis, Academy Award®–nominated costume designer and founding director of UCLA’s David C. Copley Center for the Study of Costume Design, whose credits include National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Coming to America (1988) and the music video for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (1983); with Sir Christopher Frayling (Professor Emeritus of Cultural History, Royal College of Art), and set and costume designer and V&A Assistant Curator Keith Lodwick.
Hollywood Costume will be accompanied by a full slate of exhibition-related programs including screenings, discussions with costume designers, and educational programs.
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