• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.1-14
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• 2012

Ever since the year 2000, Korea's musical markets has invited famous overseas license performances and have therefore cooperated with staffs working overseas in regards to stage costumes. This study aims to suggest the methodology of the stage costume making process according to the present advanced production system of Korea's musical market. The researcher participated in the stage costume making work of 'Chicago' as a costume supervisor. It took place at the Opera House of Seongnam Art Center from January 10, 2010 to February 28, 2010. Furthermore, there was significance in reinforcing academic values and implementing practical making process of stage-costumes based on the actual field work. The method of this research was carried out through a theoretical research and a case study that focused on empirical research. As for the research scope, it was limited to the actual stage-costumes that the researcher fully engaged with as a costume supervisor of the musical 'Chicago.' The results of this study were as follows. The stage costume making process of the musical 'Chicago' was categorized according to the classification of production system in the performance. For pre-production, it was divided according to the information of the actor and the analysis of the bible. Rehearsal period was divided according to the product clothes and fitting. Production week & preview were divided according to the changeover of clothes and the arrangement of dressers. The Run was divided according to the inspection of the situation concerning clothes in general during the performance. Post-Production Period was divided according to the collection of clothes and the implemented database. This study eventually suggested appropriate stage-costume making processes for the costumes making environment according to the expansion of overseas license musical market. However, it has a limitation of the research scope to the musical 'Chicago.' The creative performances of the domestic version are planned in diverse forms and come to abroad animate by the Korean Wave. Therefore, the field of stage-costume is necessary for the establishment of practical schemes of the system and copyright in accordance with the environment.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1291-1304
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• 2010

This study examined that the black dress is the one of having aesthetic value as well as symbolism while delivering specific image, from the perspective of color, which is essential element in forming design of the Stage Costume. This study carried out the theoretical research of centering on the literature consideration and the empirical research of centering on a case side by side. It analyzed the works and design based on the clothing, which had been performed in Korea with a revival version of Musical 'Chicago'. Aesthetic characteristics in more than two are being shown in one dress. If so, the following are the results that considered on aesthetics characteristics in black, which were shown in Stage Costume of Musical 'Chicago', which is increasing the theme consciousness through Stage Costume, which is simple and sexy black. First, as emotion of coming to stay in agony and sadness on the basic fact called death, the Stage Costume in black led to being shown sorrow of implying death, fear and murder. Second, the dignity, which corresponds to noble beauty in the aesthetic category, expresses dignity and elegance with flat material in black, and is revealed the aspect of expressing fashion, which emphasized spirit rather than body. Third, as the aesthetic characteristic of causing sexual desire, the sensuality was shown, which has the aspect of being expressed through exposure, concealment and emphasis. Fourth, it was expressed with androgyny, which evokes androgynous image. Fifth, black in Musical 'Chicago' formed the whole mood with a sense of weight by arranging the whole feeling with color in similar tone, thereby having been indicated the harmony of being formed with theme, which is aimed to be indicated in drama.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.20
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• pp.241-274
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• 2010

Due to the remarkable changes in the early twentieth century, the new invention and technology impacted peoples' everyday lives and people started to use the word, modern, to apply specifically to what pertained to present times and to designate a movement in what was new and not old-fashioned-a condition of newness. In the present day, however, the fantastic cultural changes of a century ago have now become commonplace, and what was once considered radically new is no longer a reason to marvel. This paper considers what it mean to be modern, once the new is no longer new. This question seems to remain as complicated and inappropriate to ponder because the consideration and impact of modernity cannot simply end with the end of an era. This paper investigates how the interconnected nature of popular culture provides apt illustrations to reveal the ambivalent nature of modernity and postmodernity. In doing so, first of all, this paper pays attentions to the notion of modernity and popular culture which emerged together in the early twentieth century when technology and mass consumer culture were promoted over the world. Also, it examines how popular culture represents a complex of mutually-interdependent perspectives and values that influence society and its institutions in various ways as the image of modernity continues to build in a postmodern era. That is, popular culture is identified as a large amount of intertextuality or collective experiences due to its intermingling of complementary distribution sources and techonology. Thus, this paper explores that popular culture devotes itself other images or narratives instead of referring to the real world and its output revisits the contemporary or past times in other places, being a means to produce and reproduce the accumulated images of the modern which shapes ceaseless simulacra of modernity over complexities of modernity. In order to find a critical juncture of the complex networks of modernity and popular culture, this paper considers two places, Chicago and Gyeongsung in the 1920s and 1930s in which the rapid modern experience took place and the modern movement forced the two societies to join the mass consumer culture whether willingly or not. Next, this paper considers two movies released in 2002 and 2008 that exemplify the complexities of modernity in Chicago and Gyeongung of the 1920s and 30s: Chicago and Modern Boy. Both films have common themes of the 1920s and 30s such as violence, adultery, femme fatal, and criminal themes with the forms of musical, dance, drama, and romance. Through the textual analysis of both Chicago and Modern Boy, two films are compared in observing the similar and different ways in which two films deal with the theme of modernity when they are represented from the contemporary perspectives. More specifically, this paper questions how modernity is present in contemporary cultural forms such as commercial and hybrid genre films; and how these movies create a new image of modern by embodying the double coding. Ultimately, this paper aims at realizing the paradox of double edged modernity and its ongoing discourse that controls people's consciousness through the medium of popular culture.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.16-33
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• 2004

Up to now, image of femme fatale has undergone constant transformation to be inherited and developed through various genres of movies. With few exceptions such cases have represented sensuality of women by costumes with the most distinctive and exaggerated sexuality. Temptresses in movies are mostly drawn as extravagant and gorgeous one or a gloomy and dreary woman. Such an image is reinforced with make-up, hair style, accessories, attitude and manner of talking. The movie 'Chicago' is a musical film that crosses the boundaries of reality and fantasy with dancing and singing. Its lighting, stage setting, powerful and sexy dancing augmented already exaggerated and sensual costumes. Following is the analysis of costumes for two heroines as images of femme fatale. Strong contrast of color among black, red and blue on see-through & stickingly tight body suit signifies liberal mind and arrogant charisma of Velma. The contrast, haughty gestures, cropped black hair and thick makeups represent sex appeal, aggressive image, and fearlessly determined character of femme fatale. Roxie wears decent dresses in front of public and gorgeous stage costume in fantasy to convey two images of bad girl and angel. Her body suit, showing off lustering materials and dazzling bead decoration, is rather loose but still displays her bodyline to emphasize sexiness for representation of desire in fantasy. Chastity and innocence are implied with the decency of dresses in reality. They were specially chosen to draw public sympathy and indicate cunning disguise of Roxy who desperately wants to realize her desire. These dauntless costumes, which sufficiently express inside aspirations of Velma and Roxie later denote open and realistic social yearning rather than fatal desire hidden behind sensual beauty. It doesn't exist as imperfect, unrealistic and socially disdainful ambition as the image of femme fatale of paintings and movies did before in history. Femme fatale is expressed with deep cleavage, silk dresses that explicitly display bodyline, sexiness of mesh stockings with garter belts. All of these won't be utilized as a negative tool to seduce and destroy someone anymore but rather, they should represent rightful and fair nature of humans such as men's curiosity who secretly steal a look at them or female sexuality that women spontaneously want to show off.