Category Archive for Fims + Videos
GOTHIC LOLITA VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE.
It’s one thing to read about Gothic Lolita and look at fashion photos – and quite another to see it in action. Thank goodness we have YouTube. A search for “Gothic Lolita” turns up several clips from Japanese, Dutch, Austrian, and German news shows (along with the usual mish-mash of fan slideshows set to incongruous soundtracks). Here are my favorite two videos, which originated from Japanese television. You get to see Goth Lolis posing for street photos, rocking out at Visual Kei concerts, and freaking out over pretty dresses. Best part? When Moi-même-Moitié designer/musician Mana appears (first video at 3:00) and hypnotizes the news crew with his languorous come-hither arm movements. Or something.
Happy Halloween!
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CLAUDIA FROM INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE.
If you’re looking for Gothic Lolita inspiration, look no further than the character Claudia from the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire. Claudia, played by twelve-year-old Kirsten Dunst, is an orphan who is made into a vampire child by Louis (Brad Pitt) and Lestat (Tom Cruise). Hot-tempered and spoiled, she takes pleasure in toying with her victims before drinking their blood. (“A little child she was, but also a fierce killer, now capable of the ruthless pursuit of blood, with all a child’s demanding.”) Claudia grows distraught because although her mind matures, she remains forever trapped in a child’s body. After failing to kill Lestat, she flees with Louis and is trapped by a coven of vampires, which exposes her to direct sunlight.
In my favorite scene, Claudia is standing in front of a mirror in a half-finished lace dress. The dressmaker pricks her hand; Claudia brings it to her lips to “kiss it better.” Later, Lestat discovers the dressmaker lying dead at her feet. He taps her hand lightly in punishment: “Claudia, Claudia, now who will we get to finish your dress? These impracticalities, cherie! Remember: never in the home.”
Fortunately, Claudia does not kill all of her tailors. In the movie, she models a sumptuous late 18th to late 19th century French wardrobe. Her empire dresses and voluminous coats are made of silk/velvet/satin, and generously trimmed with lace. Unlike the adult vampires, Claudia does not dress in black; her clothes tend to be off-white, sky blue, or light green. She frequently wears capes and wraps her blonde ringlets in ribboned bonnets.
Louis: You see that old woman? That will never happen to you. You will never grow old, and you will never die.
Claudia: And it means something else too, doesn’t it? I shall never ever grow up.
LA CARMINA
