Historic Costume in Science Fiction and Fantasy Film

Science Fiction and Fantasy are two genres which have captured the imagination of a generation of audiences. Frequently authors of such works base descriptions of clothing, jewelry, and hair on historical costume, giving readers and viewers a sense of connection to the events in the story. The design of these worn articles often furthers the observer’s perceptions of the characters, telling an unspoken story of who they are as people. Additionally, the choice of garments used in a performance informs the observer of the character’s personality, social status and place in society. This poster will investigate the use of historically based costume in Science Fiction and Fantasy films to contribute to the storytelling of a character. This poster will review the costumes used in well-known film productions, such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Dr. Who and Firefly, to identify elements of costume that have been previously seen in history and the implications the costume pieces have for the character wearing them. For the purposes of clarity, we will only use works of high fantasy and science fiction whose stories or portions of their stories are limited in their outside our current reality. We will investigate commentary from the designers; compare and contrast the designs to period and cultural dress with which they are associated or which they strongly resemble; look at textile and crafts materials that influence the costume’s role in the Science Fiction or Fantasy series: and investigate the uses of these design choices to tell the character’s story. The goal of this poster is to illuminate key factors that can help designers when faced with abstract concepts often seen in the genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy. This poster would also serve to help viewers better understand and connect to films and television series they enjoy