Day: May 22, 2017

I wanted to create something to piece the performance together as I have a lot of different sections but I want them to flow together. I wanted to find something that shows the process so taking parts from childhood and mixing them with teenage aesthetic. I thought of using cartons from the late 90’s and 00’s, from when I was a child. But having music that is slightly more sexualise played over the top so they mix together. As these are both cartoons and music from my childhood it makes it personal but it is also relatable for others my age as they would recognise the characters and music from their childhood too.

I used the cartoons; Kim Possible, Barney, Bear in the Big Blue House, Teletubbies, Arthur, and Power Puff Girls. These are aimed at range of ages but all in the child category, the clips will be played one after the other with music played over the top. The songs I have selected are; T-Spoon – Sex on the beach, David Guetta and Akon – Sexy Beach, Kevin Lyttle – Turn Me On, Spice Girls – 2 Become 1, Sean Paul – Temperature, and Vengaboys – Boom Boom Boom Boom. All of these songs have sexual undertones that are incorporate for children. However this does not stop them listening and hearing these lyrics. I am having the video projected on to my stomach during the performance as it symbolises impression music, television and the media have on child. My character is absorbing the sexual content along and this changes their view of them self and the world. I got inspiration for this unique way of projecting from creating the video itself, as I use a clip from the children’s show Teletubbies. They have mini televisions on their stomachs, I thought doing this would be another connection to the idea of childhood but also show that my bare body is absorbing the content.

I have chosen to have this projection in the show because it symbolises the sexual undertone of puberty for girls they are objectified as the stereotypical sexy school girl or the jail bait. As in this time of their lives they are encouraged to wear makeup, push up bras and heels as that is what adults look like and they want to embody that.

Works Cited:

Cole, S. (2017) Video Projection

Fire can represent many themes of the piece; sex, as you have physical heat and the colour symbolises passion, love, and lust. Danger, for example you have the term ‘jail bate’ or the fact that this topic is linked to criminal behaviour and blood,  could symbolise female puberty in a physical definition.

The use of fire links into my piece as I wanted to find a way to show the transformation from child to adult. The idea that this is an irreversible process and a natural right of passage, I wanted a way to show this on stage. I had previously mentioned the blend of my show having sections of personal work but also being a relatable and effective for the masses. I had thought about using childhood photographs from my own life in the performance hanging across the top of the cube on string. The start of the play would consist of the audience entering into the space and moving around the stage in the first minute and a half. They are able to view the photographs closely and explore the space before they are seated.

Once they are seated I will collect most of the images and one buy one set them on fire by putting them into a fire pit that is slightly open so the audience can see the flame. Since having this idea I have spoken to Martin and the tech team and the fire pit idea isn’t achievable as having a fire that large so close to the audience is a hazard. Instead we have found a happy medium, I will set each picture on fire with a large kitchen lighter then place them into a bucket filled with water, petroleum jelly or sand depending on what works best.

I really like the look the fire has created on the photo and when practicing with the petroleum jelly the flame didn’t go out so I tried it with the water which worked a lot better. I will be checking with Martin on this very soon as I am concerned by the smoke and smell coming from the pictures as they have the photograph film over the top which is creating the smell of plastic. I am excited to see what the finished out come looks like.

Work Cited:

Cole, S. (2017) Prep Pictures.