Mise en scene in Alice In Wonderland allows the evolving
state of the protagonist, Alice’s identity crisis, an issue that was widespread
amongst children in the Victorian period, to be communicated.
The costume and makeup of different Wonderland characters let them embody different identities Alice can take on and her costumes often reflect how the societies related to these identities affect her. For example, the Mad Hatter wears bizarre clothing like an oversized hat, polka dot tie, green jacket and brown lace up shoes. Although these pieces don’t show a dominant colour scheme, the clashing patterns and styles echo the way a child may put an outfit together.
The costume and makeup of different Wonderland characters let them embody different identities Alice can take on and her costumes often reflect how the societies related to these identities affect her. For example, the Mad Hatter wears bizarre clothing like an oversized hat, polka dot tie, green jacket and brown lace up shoes. Although these pieces don’t show a dominant colour scheme, the clashing patterns and styles echo the way a child may put an outfit together.
His makeup is patchy
through the use of blushes and shadows and it is not only creative, but forces Alice
to see him as a representation of being oneself and allowing weirdness to show.
This is seen in the way that the costume she wears in scenes with him are blue,
the same colour that she wore when she arrived. When being in his presence, she
is in the position of being able to be herself and considers joining him in his
weird world.
On the other hand, Iracebeth’s costume shows she is living in a
world of artificiality. The structure of the gown is similar to what was seen
in the Victorian period, pulled in at the waist with a large collar, but overusing
golden patterns of hearts against shades of red makes the audience feel almost
overwhelmed and shows that in Iracebeth’s society love comes with a price,
conformity or punishment in blood.
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| Alice's costume in the world of the Red Queen (6) |
The costume and makeup are structured to
give an illusion of grace, however, the way it is put together makes it
impossible to feel such emotions towards her. In the presence of the Red Queen,
Alice changes into an over-the-top costume of red, white and black to fit in
with the society, which exemplifies that she is considering conforming to
Victorian expectations, but will never be happy to do so because she must
forfeit her identity.
Setting works with colour and lighting to accentuate the societies Alice is in and therefore, the process in which she must go through to finally make her own decision is properly shown. In the Red Queen’s castle, the exterior set is grand with many turrets, walls and gates that look much like something out of a dream. However, the set is are so grand and involve so many bright colours that it appears artificial. The set used in the world of the Hatter is never anything more than the forgotten areas of Wonderland like forests, the party table and the charred remains of the White Queen’s city, hiding beneath a lack of natural light and shadowed in the blues and the white of mist. The vastness of the set offers boundless possibilities without a condition or expectation and illustrates that the choice to follow the path of imagination would guarantee Alice freedom of choice without being shaped into something she isn't.
Setting works with colour and lighting to accentuate the societies Alice is in and therefore, the process in which she must go through to finally make her own decision is properly shown. In the Red Queen’s castle, the exterior set is grand with many turrets, walls and gates that look much like something out of a dream. However, the set is are so grand and involve so many bright colours that it appears artificial. The set used in the world of the Hatter is never anything more than the forgotten areas of Wonderland like forests, the party table and the charred remains of the White Queen’s city, hiding beneath a lack of natural light and shadowed in the blues and the white of mist. The vastness of the set offers boundless possibilities without a condition or expectation and illustrates that the choice to follow the path of imagination would guarantee Alice freedom of choice without being shaped into something she isn't.
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| The Red Queen holds court, showing the exterior of the castle set (7) |
CITATIONS
6) Disney Studios. Digital image. Wishful Thinking. N.p., 2 Aug. 2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <https://shieldmaidenthoughts.wordpress.com/tag/fashion/>.
7) Walt Disney Studios. The Red Queen Holds Court. Digital image. HITFIX. N.p., 19 Feb. 2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/the-red-queen-holds-court-in-new-alice-in-wonderland-images>.
7) Walt Disney Studios. The Red Queen Holds Court. Digital image. HITFIX. N.p., 19 Feb. 2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/the-red-queen-holds-court-in-new-alice-in-wonderland-images>.
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