Junk Journaling: Visual albums and costumes

1 hour ago

4 min read

By Kiser Young

Edited by Anna Kate Mereness

Follow along with senior Journalism and Strategic Communications student Kiser Young and his takes on music, culture/trending news, fashion and various forms of media following his friends and life in Oxford as a soon to be Miami University grad.

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Status Update - I have far too many clothes..

After dragging out the overflowing duffle from the back of my mom’s car for parent’s weekend, it was pretty apparent. My closet was gonna have a hard time fitting in the winter wardrobe. As well as, staying prepped for the frequent 75 degree afternoon sun.

From 35 to 78, Oxford has been experiencing all the repercussions of our climate crisis with nippy mornings and sweat prompting post-class trots. But oh, isn’t it worth it for a perfect SATURDaY!

Dressing up has been on my mind heavily lately and maybe it has something to do with one of my recent favorite SATURDaY fitz or Halloween. But here are the things, especially costumes/outfits, recently distracting my visual brain from a much needed closet clean out.

Music - Visual/short film albums you need to see and hear

After the death of MTV, a music and video production house before my time, music videos and the visual album rarely seem to be at the forefront of music makers minds’.

Prior to uploading mixtapes to the interweb or demo snippets to social media, marketing rollouts rewarded artists for spending time building a visual world for listeners to navigate and experience.

FILMS:

“G.U.Y. (an ARTPOP film)” | Lady Gaga

“Something Beautiful” | Miley Cyrus

“So Help Me God” | Kelsey Lu

Through dramatic costuming and references to high art, Lady Gaga “guides [viewers] through new and exciting positions” in a short film she created for third studio released album: “ARTPOP.”

Gaga injects her signature eclectic sound and look into recreations of classical Greco-Roman art to create her version of a renaissance centering pop culture and music.

While this short film only includes a few songs from the full record, a long-form visual project allows the Monsters (the official name of her fandom) and new fans to engage with Gaga’s specific and recurring design language as an artist.

For others like Miley Cyrus and her over 50 minute movie, visual albums can be the most effective way to communicate an artist's decision to take a risk on something outside of their status quo.

In a strikingly cinematic production, the god-daughter of the late Dolly Parton, experiments with electronic production, distorted chords of rock and a marathon of visuals for her album “Something Beautiful.”

Cyrus, in looks worthy of every editorial front page, builds a rather ambiguous story accompanied with sounds of jazz-rock. While the album sonically was confusing with a modge podge of beautiful ballads and sounds/genres, the infamous country star gone bad, wrecked the internet in an outfit made out of nothing but drippy crystals.

Last but not least the most recent and best visual album/short film on this list is Kelsey Lu’s “So Help Me God.”

From alluring scenes in beaches covered in black volcanic sand, to captivating compositions of classical instruments and spell-binding cords of synthesizers. It becomes impossible to figure out if the idea for a film or the tracks came first.

In this project, Lu reconciles their relationship with God, toxic relationships and the mental fatigue of persevering through it all. Script dialogue, visual elements and music into a fully immersive experience that drags viewers through both Lu’s pain and ecstasy of self discovery.

Fashion - Looks that have me foaming at the mouth recently

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and who better to compliment than your own daughter?

Rarely am I a Kim K stan, but when it comes to Halloween…Miss Kardashian is gonna do it every time. From dressing up as her mom-ager, to now her own daughter North West, Kim has rightly won best dressed for this year’s spooky season.

Another woman stealing the spotlight from their daughter was Lisa Rinna at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show. Sashaying in custom Erik Charlotte x Elias Matso, Rinna's cinched fur corset and pink tutu ensemble look like she was ready to strut alongside her daughter Amelia Gray.

The look showcased upcoming designers, playful, pink and most obviously couture honey!

And speaking of couture, Dust Magazine’s (China) editorial shoot highlighting couture Jean Paul Gaultier (go-tee-yay). Is simply that.

Duran Lantink, the current creative director for the house, won me back this summer with a hypnotizing couture collection. The collection featured eye-catching designs and unconventional silhouettes.

Dust elevated these looks with help of the beautiful Nyaueth Riam, a fabulous dark-skinned model who effortlessly wears these avant-garde gowns. Under the lens of Kenny Germé, the photographer of the editorial, Riam makes JPG look even more striking.

LOOKS:

North West for Halloween | Kim Kardashian costume

VS front row angel | Lisa Rinna in custom Erik Charlotte x Elias Matso

JPG fashion editorial | Nyaueth Riam for Dust Magazine