The study of how facial masks with modern makeup designs characterize the “Four Jin-Chai” from “The Dream of Red Mansion”

• Main Authors: You-Tze Shih, 施又慈
• Other Authors: 陳雯萍
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/00366930945715720131

碩士 === 樹德科技大學 === 應用設計研究所 === 104 === ABSTRACT This study takes the renowned “Four Beauties,” namely the four female characters – Lin Tai-yu, Hsueh Pao-chai, Wang Hsi-feng, and Chia Tan-chun – in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber, as the subject of my research. The study makes use of the text of the novel, depictions made by the two authors Tsao Hsueh-chin and Kao E, as well as research materials found in various publications. I probe and analyze these four characters as presented through their individual psychological status, speeches, and behaviors in order to imagine their possible exterior imageries and inner qualities. Then, on the basis of their differences, I use modern makeup designs to represent their images. In the creation of their facial masks via coloring applications and varied lines and shapes on eyes, eyebrows, and lips, I attempt to represent their distinct personalities in a concrete way. Through the use of modern aesthetics and psychological characterization, my makeup designs of the “Four Beauties” masks delineate these characters’ inner qualities and make these figures presentable on a fashion stage. In my analysis, Lin Tai-yu is a cautious diligent character and is also a girl that easily feels nervous and tense, so her personality carries the characteristics of being self-disciplined, discreet, serious-minded, as well as having a sense of responsibility. Thus, I choose purple as a basic color tone for the makeup design on the mask to represent her character. Lin Tai-yu has fine straight eyebrows that are thinning at the ends, a pair of sinking eyes with their corners slightly raised, a small mouth whose upper lip is thicker than the lower one, an exquisite nose without a protruding bridge, and a small oval-shaped face that is perfectly proportioned to highlight her beauty. As for Hsueh Pao-chai, she has such features as being outgoing, self-confident, active, showy, and talkative; also, she likes to make new friends, enjoys taking part in lively noisy occasions, and easily gets along with people around her. My mask design to characterize this figure is thus – her angled eyebrows show a personality of being persistent and good at planning, her big sparkling eyes with double eyelids resemble a pair of beautiful ginkgoes, her red mouth has an upper lip that is thinner than the lower one, and she also has a diamond-shaped face. I select bright yellow as a basic color tone for the makeup design of this mask. Wang Hsi-feng is an open-minded and highly perceptive fictional character. She is able to take daring actions to hurt others as well as herself. Wang Hsi-feng is full of imagination and fond of thinking; also, she likes things that are new and resents keeping the status quo. On the basis of these personal qualities, my makeup design for her is that she has a square-shaped face, with arched pencil-thin eyebrows, narrow triangular-shaped “phoenix eyes,” as well as thin red lips to show her elegance, grace, and calculating mind. For this complicated woman, I adopt red as a basic tone to design my mask because this striking color symbolizes her positive quality of being jovial and teeming with life, but it also marks her negative quality of being selfish, epicurean, manipulative, and revengeful. This story figure Chia Tan-chun has a personality that is kind, friendly, diligent, and cautious. She gets along with others easily, is forgiving, has such features as being optimistic, jovial, discreet, and also has a sense of responsibility. I create an oval-shaped face for this character in my mask design. This mask carries a salient feature of masculine handsomeness, has a pair of eyebrows with single eyelids to mark a strong personality, and has a mouth that has thin lips. For this mask I select blue as the basic tone for my makeup design. The last part of my study is the actual creation of these “Four Beauties” masks. In this part I apply the makeup designs to these masks and make them into works of cultural creation that are filled with literary interest and act as media of wonderful storytelling.