Gosma, antenas, pelos e penas : experimentando figurinos inspirados em animais asquerosos

Abstract

The costumes that imitate animals are present throughout theater history for centuries. Alongside that, the aesthetics of the grotesque also permeates the scenic arts’ trajectory. The present work aims to investigate the functioning of the creative processes of scenic costumes when inspired by animals that are considered disgusting. In that sense, a bibliographical survey was conducted about animal-like features and the grotesque in theater as well as costume making. Furthermore, a course about costumes inspired by disgusting animals happened. The participants experimented in their bodies the image of the slug, the cockroach, the rat and the vulture and, from that, started the creative process of making the animal inspired costumes. The course resulted in visual compositions for characters created from the disgusting animals. In conclusion, the image of the animals that are considered gross and repulsive can be a strong source of inspiration for costume making.