Thankfully due to the summer project, I will be able to understand how colour is used to signify certain things. I think this research will make me more conscious to the choices that I am making when it comes to styling and makeup. For the summer project I looked at the film 'Memoirs of a Geisha.' I chose to watch this film because the storyline appealed to me. Below is my interpretation of what I thought the colours to mean.
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2005. Memoirs of a Geisha. Digital Image. Viewed 01.09.14 Available to view: www.googleimages.com
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Blue : The still here from the film Memoirs of a Geisha comes from the scene when Chiyo, the main character, performs for an audience in order to gain bids from gentleman which will make her a full geisha. The scene is lit with blue hues then leading to reds. Reading into the meanings of colours, one can see that the blueness of the scene means powerlessness which can be explained in the sense that Chiyo is standing alone infront of an audience having no control over her future. The powerless aspect comes in as Chiyo is ultimately powerless as to who becomes the highest bidder. The colour blue can also be seen at the end of the film before war starts when Chiyo has to let go of her love for the Chairman, this could suggest that Chiyo is powerless to her feelings. The blue hues could also reflect Chiyo's mood, as she is having to perform for peoples affections when she really only wants the chairman. The blue could signify the end of hope for the chairman to return her affections. At the end of the scene a red light desends on to Chiyo. The colour red symbolises power, which is visible in the first scenes when the head geisha, Hatsumomo, shows a young Chiyo who is boss. The costume is of light colouring to show different hues of blue. The hair is left long to act as a shield for the face, allowing the face to be hidden until the end of the performance where the red light descends onto the hopeful geisha. The hair could act as a shield to hide the face to show the transition that has been made between natural beauty and the geisha beauty. The makeup has been kept simple to allow for the face to also become a blue hue. The eye makeup and lips are typical geisha style to maximise the beauty and to entice bids.
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| 2005. Memoirs of a Geisha. Digital Image. Viewed 01.09.14 Available to view: www.googleimages.com |
Orange: The beginning of the film sees young school girl Chiyo running through an alley of bright orange. The orange colour can show hope as the scene comes after Chiyo is given sorbet by the Chairman. The orange flashes across the screen showing the happiness and warmth that Chiyo feels after this act of kindness.The kimono worn at this point also has a light orange band to blend the character and colouring together. The whole scene is based around how the act of kindness makes Chiyo feel. The hair and makeup is minimal to show the age of the character and to maximise the innocence in Chiyo's eyes. This innocence is a huge contrast to the later Chiyo, who manages to hide her innocence behind the mask of geisha makeup.
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| 2005. Memoirs of a Geisha. Digital Image. Viewed 01.09.14 Available to view: www.googleimages.com |
Greys: The opening scenes of the film see two young girls being taken from their home. The first 5 minutes of the film are completely grey creating a mood of despair. The image is cold with shadows and rain contributing to the feeling of despair. The characters are also dressed in shades of grey to blend in with the background. The makeup and hair is minimal, the skin and lips pale and the hair soaked from the rain. The whole scene projects sadness and coldness. The director would have used this colouring to make the audience feel emotion towards the characters. The film then warms up with tones of orange to show the hope. Within the film the colours of the backdrop alternate between greys and oranges to show the highs and lows in Chiyo's life.
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| 2005. Memoirs of a Geisha. Digital Image. Viewed 01.09.14 Available to view: www.googleimages.com |
Light colours: The end of the film sees Chiyo waiting in a garden to find out who her 'danna' is going to be. The garden is full of cherry blossom trees and light colouring. This could represent the new fresh path that Chiyo is about to be lead down. The end of the film is a lot more colourful then the beginning, symbolising the place Chiyo is now in, is a lot better then her origins. The kimono worn is colourful, mirroring the pink of the cherry blossom. The characters hair is pulled back into a smooth bun, allowing for the audience to see the emotion. Before, at the performance, the hair acted as a shield to hide the emotion. This time, the hair is pulled back to lay the emotion bare.
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| 2005. Memoirs of a Geisha. Digital Image. Viewed 01.09.14 Available to view: www.googleimages.com |
Red: The head Geisha is found to be having sex with her boyfriend which is frowned upon as she is not pure. The scene here shows when mother is proving the deceit. The colours here are interesting, as red normally shows power. However, in this scene red is seen as deceit and betrayal to mirror the actions of the character. The deep red could signify the lust that Hatsumomo has for her boyfriend. The black colouring holds all the power and is one to be feared. The gold represents the warmer character. The hair and makeup here is once again minimal so not to detract from the seriousness of the scene.
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