Key Takeaways
- Costume design uses subconscious language to shape audience perception of characters.
- Clothing creates parallel narratives, conveying emotional arcs and societal biases.
- Paul Tazewell's work challenges hero/villain stereotypes in productions like "Wicked."
- Design is never neutral, actively shaping perception, and can be intentionally redesigned.
Deep Dive
- Paul Tazewell discusses how clothing subconsciously influences audience judgments about characters.
- His design approach utilizes silhouette, color, and texture to shape perception before a character speaks.
- Costumes create a parallel narrative, conveying emotional arcs and reflecting conflict through their evolution.
- Tazewell utilized 18th-century silhouettes with neutral tones to emphasize the modern presence of performers.
- King George III's elaborate costume provided a visual contrast to the other characters.
- Color choices, such as those between Jefferson and Burr, served as specific commentary within the narrative.
- Designed distinct costumes for the Jets (blue-collar toughness) and Sharks (vibrant Latin textiles, aspiration) to avoid stereotypes.
- Aimed to impart dignity and complexity to both rival groups.
- Color blending in the gym scene symbolized cultural mixing despite underlying conflict.
- Costumes highlighted systemic forces, rather than gang differences, as the primary antagonist.
- Paul Tazewell emphasizes that design, including costumes, is never neutral.
- Design actively shapes our perception of characters, categorizing them as heroes or villains.
- Tazewell concludes that if 'wickedness' can be designed into perception, it can also be redesigned.