Hollywood Identity markers

Women represent a culture in the most elaborate way. Attire, get up, social behavior, colors, etc. can be expressed through a woman. They themselves are cultural markers and can represent an entire culture.
Moreover, what better way to show all of this than through movies! They are perhaps one of the most influential mass communication media. Hollywood being the biggest and most versatile movie industry, is the center of the theme for this installation.

From Lara Croft to Elizabeth Bennet, Hollywood has portrayed women in various
characters. The damsel in distress, the superhero, the girl next door, the career oriented woman or the lovesick. This versatile movie industry has not left a single trait uncharacterized by women. This installation shows the diversity of the female characters, that have been portrayed in different Hollywood movies. Using cultural identity markers six different Hollywood characters have been presented in a minimalistic manner. Mia Wallace (Pulp fiction), Elizabeth Swann (Pirates of the Caribbean), Bellatrix Lestrange (Harry Potter series), Miranda Priestly (Devil wears Prada), Superwoman and Holly Golightly (Breakfast at Tiffany’s) each represent different ways of seeing a women.

Their identity is often matched with the actors who play the respective roles. Therefore, instead of the faces, these characters have been represented with other identity markers.

This installation has been installed in the ladies washroom on the mirror *. The mirror reflects ones face in the role of the character, enabling the viewer to understand the importance of identity totems in the portrayal of a character and in day-to-day life.