Adelle Bunch
Re/presenting Representation
Folk Art, Scenography, Cultural Appropriation
This thesis examines how folk art appears in set design to determine where cultural appropriation happens in the design process. Hollywood film sets, costumes and props are often inspired by folk art of marginalized cultures and the industry has historically participated in skewed representation and systemic racism. By seeking out and producing art that lives (sometimes uncomfortably) between folk art and mainstream production; this project will further our understanding of appropriation and (hopefully) develop some principles to inspire successful representation.
The discourse around representation brings us to the question of abstraction. How do we abstract design elements from indigenous cultures without appropriating them? When transitioning from folk art to larger design gestures, it can be difficult to keep meaning intact. Some of the ways we experience these abstractions at an architectural scale with oversized textures, forms and figures, materiality, and scripted movement through a space. The importance of the design’s meaning can be extrapolated in a completely different way than the original art form. This is particularly relevant when we use our work to propel the conversation about representation and misappropriation forward.
My thesis experiments with the process of making and how scaling both the production and artifacts impacts what our design communicates. These pieces and the reflections on them explore the nuanced space between representation and appropriation, while finding both successful and uncomfortable attempts at representing folk art.