more images

images

preliminary research

For my research assignment i would like to look at how women were portrayed in fairytales. I will look at how different illustrators have portrayed their princesses and heroins. For example illustrator Angela Barrett has illustrated many iconic female figures such as Snow White and Joan of Arc. She has also illustrated another heroic female figure, Anne Frank.

Another famous and much loved fairytale illustrator is Arthur Rackham who illustrated Little Red Riding hood and Alice in Wonderland along with many more. I will find it interesting to compare the two, a contemporary female childrens illustrator and a classic male illustrator. I would like to see the difference, if any, that gender has when it comes to portraying famous female fairytale figures.

Jeff Wall

Jeff Wall is a contemporary artist who has become well known for his transparencies mounted on light boxes. He has also been involved in more traditional photographic projects. He uses actors to convey his stories through the photographs.

During my research I have also looked at Stephen T Johnson. His paintings are realistic and interesting as are his books including 'City by Numbers'.

Far From Heaven

One of the filmakers who appears to have been influenced by Hoppers paintings is Todd Haynes, director of Far From Heaven.

Far From Heaven is set in 1957 and deals with difficult subjects like homophobia and racism. It uses vivid autumnal colours reminiscent of a Hopper painting. The people also seem to bear the same expressionless faces, for example the men in the bar scene compared with the Hopper painting 'Nighthawk'.

Hoppers story telling devices

From my research I have found that one of Hoppers most successful visual devises is the window, whether open streaming with sunlight, or with curtains fluttering in the wind, windows are the barrier between exterior and interior lives. In fact I feel his paintings are used as framing devises that capture scenes, or even appear like a still from a film. Perhaps this is why Hopper's paintings have influenced many filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock, As well as many other artists.

In 'Hotel Room' the central character is lost in her own thoughts, she is staring blankly at a piece of paper in her hands. Hoppers painting intrigues the viewer as you wish to find out why the girl is sitting alone in a hotel room and what she is looking at. Whatever it is it is making her look like she is deep in thought almost dreamlike. The mood of unease is further demonstrated by patterns of light and shade, flat empty areas ie the stark walls.