Facing the World: The Unapparent Merits of Makeup

The act of applying makeup is a ritual shared by many, often beginning at an early age. Though makeup is presented as a final product in the public sphere, the process of applying makeup can be just as, if not more important. This thesis acts as the theoretical basis for my digital art project, Facing the World. My work gives insight into the lesser understood motivations behind wearing makeup while shedding the stigma that wearing it is merely a superficial act or sign of vanity. The project Facing the World presents the makeup routines and personal narratives of seven women to uncover the merits of cosmetics as a means of identity creation, self-care, and mindful reflection. The work is exhibited as a single channel looped video of approximately twenty minutes with the corresponding subject’s audio portion played over headphones