Costume Aesthetics: Found Objects as Dressing in the Production of the Slaves

Abstract

Waste management has become one of the social menace in Ghana, thus the need to find remedy to the situation. Therefore, this research promoted the use of found objects in designing costume thereby, exhibiting the beauty of what is considered waste in the production of The Slaves; a play written by Mohammed Ben Abdallah and directed by Elijah Twum. The thesis further explored the concept of recycling and reusing of waste materials as an experiment to create costumes; thus bestowing a new identity to the objects found. The costumes designed for this production also interpreted the play metaphorically to reveal how man is enslaved by items considered waste. It also provided a platform to confer the status of value, to the seemingly valueless, thereby drawing the connection between costume design and found objects. The study captures the various processes in using found objects in designing costumes; the ‘creative-design process’ which is an embodiment of the artistic approach as well as the phenomenological method to the study. This enabled the researcher to attain the needed outcome through the use of the formal elements. Analysis of the components of the design revealed the aesthetic value of designing costumes with found objects. The investigation further highlighted the socioeconomic benefits of engaging found objects in designing costumes as well as the various challenges and recommendations.