This document discusses how costumes in films are influenced by various factors such as time period, age, mental state, and social group of the character. It provides examples of how costumes reflect different time periods, like the futuristic bodysuits in Tron Legacy and historically accurate costumes in The Duchess. Costumes also reflect a character's age, personality, and social group to help audiences distinguish these traits and understand the character. A character's mental state can also be shown through their costume, like the disheveled appearance of the character in Secret Window reflecting his reclusive state of mind.

1. COSTUMES
IN FILM

2. In films, costumes are influenced by different
factors such as time period, and age and mental
state of the character. I will explore these in order
to create a costume for our own character Dan.

3. TIME PERIOD
Tron Legacy
The Duchess
The time period of the film can effect the
costumes that the characters wear. For example,
stereotypically futuristic costumes are worn in
the 2010 remake of Tron Legacy, featuring skin-
tight black and white bodysuits, decorated by
panels of light. Yet, in period dramas such as
The Duchess, historically accurate costumes are
designed using evidence such as literature and
illustrations from the time. Hair and make up
also plays an important part in the costume,
such as the very fashionable wig worn by
women in the Georgian period in the Duchess,
and an unusual diagonal cut bob with heavy
black eyeliner as worn in Tron.

4. PRESENT DAY
However, costumes are more diverse in present day films as it is what we
recognise and are used to and so need extra information to distinguish
character types and personalities. Costumers even sometimes source their
costumes from popular highstreet stores such as Topshop, for example,
the Australian soap Neighbours credit the shops where their costumes are
sourced, mentioning such shops. This is to create a sense of normal life
people and distinguish their ages, personality and in some cases, social
group.

5. AGE
Costumes can reflect different ages. For example, an elderly
character may wear old-fashioned clothes, with grey hair
and glasses and use these stereotypes to create
understanding for the audience.
The Notebook

6. SOCIAL GROUP
In present day, there is more of a divide in social groups, rather than
economic classes as seen throughout history, presented in period films.
Therefore, costumes can be used to represent this, and these stereotypes
can create preconceptions about characters before we even get to know
them. For example, in Mean Girls, the different social groups at the high
school are distinguished by costume, such as the “Varsity Jocks” wear
matching blue jackets and the “Plastics” wear designer clothes, which are
often pink.

7. MENTAL STATE
A character’s personality or mental state can be projected by their
costume. For example, in Secret Window, Mort Rainey becomes a
recluse after finding that his wife has had an affair. His state of mind
can be inferred through his costume where he gives up on his
appearance, with messy, long hair and an old, decrepit dressing
gown, therefore also on his life.