Challenge One - Contestant 9
Gothic Shoes
In the Victorian era there was a Gothic Revival. The art corresponding to this movement were the Pre-Raphaelites among them were: Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Sirs Edward Coley Burn-Jones and John Everett Millas, who often depicted the Middle Ages as does gothic literature. Both have a highly romantic, mysterious and often macabre atmosphere. The Gothic influence was also prominent in architecture, furniture and interiors William Morris being the most famous in this artistic area.
Mourning clothes were black and lilac, and mourning jewelry was made of the deceased hair. In general the fashion could be considered ‘more is more”.
Toward the end of this era Bram Stoker wrote “Dracula”.
Goth as we know it began with punk rock and has been associated with rockers ever since, Joan Jett, The Sex Pistols, The Cure, Nosferatu, and Marylin Manson and the current evolution Lady Gaga.
The cult of the vampire has been revived by Anne Rice in her brilliant books that make up the Vampire Chronicles. Now Stephanie Meyer has set off a frenzy with the Twilight series of books and movies.
In Eclipse the third in the series, we hear Rosalie’s story. Rosalie hates being a vampire, she was turned by Carlisle Cullen her adoptive vampire father in 1933. Carlisle smelled her blood then found her dying in the street. Carlisle saved Rosalie by making her a vampire, but she’s bitter because she had had no choice in her fate.
The most beautiful girl of the town, Rosalie was set to marry Royce King the richest, most eligible bachelor the following day. The night before her wedding day Rosalie was attacked, violated and beaten by a group of carousing men led by her fiance Royce King then discarded to die. One of his cohorts comments that he can always find a new wife.
Now a vampire, on the day of her bygone nuptials, she dons her wedding gown and seeks out all of the men who attacked her and left her for dead. One by one she kills them saving Royce for last, whom she tortures to death.
In the film Rosalie’s wedding gown is white, but we chose to dress her as a avenging Gothic vampire wearing a mix of modern rocker and high Victoriana.
In the two artistic photographs we see Rosalie looking at her fangs in the mirror in her wedding finery preparing herself for the hunt. Rosalie has recovered, accepts her new life and is ready to rock. In the second photo she has killed seven men including the guards Royce hired to protect him. Rosalie runs tearing her clothes. She is overcome by the violence she is now capable of and collapses against a tomb.
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