MOMI Trip Post

I learned a lot of new things during my trip to the MOMI. One of the most interesting things was the use of prosthetics to contribute to special effects. For example, in The Black Swan actress Natalie Portman experiences severe damage to her body, specifically her legs and feet, because of the extreme exercise and ballet practice she puts herself through. I watched the movie when it first came out years ago and the scene with Portman on the bed with her legs and feet exposed always shocked me, because of how gruesome and realistic the makeup was. However, during my tour at the MOMI I learned that fake legs were actually used instead of makeup. The reason? It's easier to design the legs and add special effects to them, than it is to put makeup on Portman's body shot after shot. I never knew that the legs were fake and they digitally edited the prosthetics to her body when I first watched the movie. Understanding some of the tricks that makeup and special effect artists use to make shooting films easier really interests me. These are the small things that make films that much more special and visually appealing.

Another thing I learned during my tour was the way in which men and women were portrayed in their portraits during the mid to late 20th century. We studied and compared the portraits of two men and two women and learned that there were stark differences in the way the actresses and actors were photographed. For example, both women looked like they were lying on a bed in their portraits which added a sense of sultriness. That, coupled with the way the women were looking away from the camera and pouting their lips made them seem innocent, as if they were unaware of the photo being taken. It also makes them seem vulnerable in a way. The men on the other hand both had the cameras directly in front of them and more of their bodies were shown than in the pictures featuring the women. The men also had their hands cupped and the way they were posing made them look like they were asserting power and dominance. They also looked like they were in their office to show their importance and establish their authority. The way these photos were taken definitely reveal the gender stereotypes and roles that were perpetuated in films during that time and are still seen today. Women are often the damsel in distress, or ditzy and innocent, and need the help of a strong, powerful man to help save them. It's interesting to study these pictures taken in the past and compare them to portraits seen today on things like billboards or even album covers.