Jewels: Horizon

My research into the Past and Present of Jewels has now led me onto the Horizon of Jewels. The horizon for jewels is very similar to the horizon of theatre, because technology plays a large part in how the subject develops in the future. In terms of ‘the bigger picture’ technology is very important, because it has affected the subject in many ways, for example; it has improved the manufacture of jewels, mining techniques, how they are sold, how they are worn, and the advancements in media also mean that they get more exposure to the public.

Unlike theatre, jewels have not really changed too much over the years. My research shows that the popularity has waxed and waned, but the popularity for the same products is always still there. Jewellery looks to be still popular, with fashion houses releasing collections of jewellery for 2012. (Prada 2011), (Lizzie Fortunato 2011). The fashion catwalks of 2011 have already shown what is going to be on sale on the horizon, and there is definitely popularity in this in the media.

A necklace from the upcoming Lizzie Fortunato Jewels Spring 2012 Collection (Fashionologie 2011)

A Diamond necklace from the Prada Resort 2012 Jewellery Collection (Lisa Niven 2011)

These images above show a selection of jewellery that will be going on sale in the spring of 2012. The amount of catwalks and fashion shows for jewellery demonstrates that there is a continuing popularity for them, and there is even a jewellery show in Birmingham every year (the next one being February 2012) to showcase the latest innovations and designs for jewellery. 

Header from 'The Jewellery Show' Website (The Jewellery Show 2011)

A quote from the website reads:

“All exhibitors in this sector are invited to submit product for one of the catwalk shows, which have been styled by market-leading international trend forecasting service, WGSN. This will ensure that buyers’ fingers are kept firmly on the fashion pulse as they seek out the hottest new products for the seasons ahead”. (Charlotte Cowel 2010)

This quote shows that like me, the jewellery business is also researching what is going to be popular on the horizon in order to keep people buying jewellery.

Another important point for the future is the subject of ‘ethics’. There seems to be a massive popularity in ethical products and practices, mainly due to advancements in news coverage; this lets people in the first world see what life is like for people living in lesser economically developed countries. (George Monbiot, The Guardian, ‘It goes against our nature; but the left has to start asserting its own values’ October 2010) 

Ethical Jewellery - Gold charms on alpaca wool chains. This style of jewellery is set to be more popular on the horizon (Martin Pope 2008)

Much of the jewellery we wear today is produced in 3rd world countries because of the cheap labour – this is also one of the reasons why jewellery is so widely available today. Jewellery designers are now beginning to help these people who make the jewellery to have better lives and this is setting a new standard for future jewellery manufacturing (‘Coco Rocha's jewellery aid’, Aurelia Donaldson, The Independent, November 2011).

This is a video about Coco Rocha and her 'jewellery aid' which helps the victims of human trafficking in Cambodia. Humanitarian and ethical acts like this are becoming more popular.

I think from my research, ethical jewellery is getting more and more exposure in popular media, and it is looking like it is set to become more popular on the horizon. With world news coverage people are becoming more aware of what happens in the world around them, and people with money to spare increasingly feel the need to help them out. The appeal of ethical jewellery is that these people can help out less advantaged people, whilst still buying a product for themselves.

Another subject that is gaining popularity is diamonds. Technological innovations have played, and are to a play a big part in how diamonds are mined and manufactured. This means that they are more available to people, at a cheaper cost; making it more popular with the common public, rather than just the upper classes as it was in the past.

A blue 'Life Gem' (Life Gem 2011)

The price list for red Life Gems, the price justifies the growing popularity. (Life Gem 2011)

An interesting subject of diamonds is the idea of creating a diamond from a loved one’s ashes. However gruesome it may sound, it does have a certain appeal because you will have a lasting memorial of a loved one. This concept is relatively recent, however not on the horizon. I think this is a valid point though because it is a new innovation, with the company ‘Lifegem’ being the very first of it’s kind. There may be popularity about this in the future, even if it already exists, because I think it is the type of thing that people have to get used to and the idea will catch on and grow in popularity.

Diamonds appear to be the most prominent in terms of popularity on the horizon, and I think that they will end up being the main focus of my research for the horizon. 

Diamonds embedded into an Angle Grinder (Hustvedt 2009)

Some of the main appeals of diamonds are that they are a very hard material, and they also have a very high melting point. They are also a very good electrical insulator and incredibly abrasive – which makes them useful for the advancement of technology. (Amethyst Galleries Inc 2011) Diamonds are widely used in an industrial sense because their hardness makes them a very effect abrasive material. Diamond particles are embedded into cutting machinery, which makes them more efficient and precise. (Paul W May, 2011)

A scalpel with diamond which make it sharper (NIMSoffice 2009)

This may not apply too much to the horizon – but diamonds have changed the way we manufacture things, and they can also be used as medical tools (see the scalpel picture). This means that in the bigger picture they have been quite significant, and therefore quite popular.

De Beers - Advert glamorising diamonds, and keeping them popular on the horizon (James Allan News Centre 2009)

I also think that diamonds will continue to be popular on the horizon, because of the advertising campaigns that DeBeers and Tiffany and Co. ran several years ago. This sparked the obsession with diamond engagement rings. It was strategically very clever, and it engraved the idea of ‘needing’ diamonds for an engagement into popular culture. Therefore, people will continue to buy diamond rings, and diamond jewellery for engagements and weddings – continuing the popularity of diamonds. 

Tiffany and Co. Advert for diamond engagement rings 'timeless perfection, forever after' (Dream Irish Wedding 2011)

DeBeers advert - Reinforcing the idea that diamonds are for engagements (DiamondVues 2011)

“In brilliant marketing campaigns, both De Beers and Tiffany and Co . are responsible for establishing the association of diamonds with a wedding engagement and glamour. Now, over a century later, those who can afford it, seek the highest quality diamonds associated with De Beers and Tiffany and Co”. (Abasias 2011)

The Mayan Calendar - Predicting that the world will end on 21st Decemeber 2012 (Mayan Predictions 2011)

The subject of ‘ice’ ties in very easily with climate change, and there is no end to the popularity of this in the media currently, so therefore it should still be in popular media on the horizon. The Kyoto Protocol is going to expire in 2012, and this is “the most important single issue within the field of national climate change politics” (BBC 2011). This was a settlement to reduce greenhouse gases between some of the biggest countries in the world. There has been much interest in this topic in the current media, and so in 2012 there will most likely be a huge popularity in this subject. The Mayan predication that the world will end in 2012 is also gaining popularity in the news and media, and we may see a surge of the popularity of this topic on the horizon. (MayanPredictions 2011)

This is a news article about the Kyoto Protocol, showing that there is an interest in this topic in popular media.

Conclusion 

Once again, like with the theatre topic, technological advancements are playing a big part in the horizon of jewels. It is also apparent that Jewellery is a much more popular subject than just ‘jewels’, it still has a big presence in popular media, and designers are still releasing collections (see images of spring jewellery 2012 collections) for the future, and they most likely will continue to do so in the horizon. Ethical issues are gaining popularity on the horizon, maybe because people have more money to spare, or just maybe because people are more aware of the suffering and exploitation in the world and they want to do something about it. Many jewellery designers are looking to design ethical products, and the popularity is definitely growing. Diamonds will also always be popular, as I have proved by my research. I think that the idea of ‘a diamond ring is forever’ – for an engagement, has become ingrained into our culture now and so the popularity will stay high. Climate change will also play an important part in the horizon. People are becoming more aware of the dangers of our current lifestyle, and so there may be some big changes coming in the next 6 to 12 months.

Jewels: Past

Jewels and Gemstones

The interest in gold most likely began in the Stone age, and this began the popularity of jewellery. This is significant because gemstones probably would not have become as popular as they are today without gold - because they are usually set in precious metals like gold. It took until the bronze age to mine silver and copper, and so this was also used as a base for precious stones. (Jewelery Mae 2003)

Bronze Age Jewellery from Budapest (Kalicz-Schreiber Rózsa 1995)

The Ancient Egyptians used lapis lazuli, carnelian, jasper, amethyst and turquoise for their jewellery - with amethyst and turquoise still being widely used today in the process of jewellery making.

Lapis Lazuli Egyptian Jewellery (Faba Jewellery)

This shows that gold has always been popular since its discovery. Gold has not really changed over the years (however, it may have gotten less pure) and so the same thing that became popular in the Stone Age is still popular to this day. The same can be said for the gemstones used in Ancient Egypt, as they are still being used in jewellery in the present day.

During the Renaissance people wore gold pendants, gold chains and jewelled collars. When the factory production of jewellery began, it saw a decline in artists creating unique pieces, but it introduced costume jewellery which was cheap and affordable to the public. (Jewelery Mae 2003)

A Renaissance Woman wearing a pendant and chain belt (allaboutgemstones.com 2010)

Gemstones in history were also used to create stamps, carved dies and seals. These were often used to seal documents and were used by officials.

Carnelian Sealing Stone Circa 224 to 651 AD (Prentice Lee  2010) 

This method however, is not really all that relevant for my research. With the advances in technology in this modern day, we do not really use stones to seal documents anymore, and cheaper ways of creating them were introduced anyway. This makes this topic not really all that relevant to my research.

Diamonds

The first recorded diamonds in history were 3000 years ago in India. These diamonds obtained their value for their ability to refract light (see image in Jewels: Present).

Antique Diamond Ring (theweddingblog 2011)

This is relevant to my research because it most likely began the popularity of diamonds, because they are valued for the way they ‘sparkle’ – which is directly tied by the way they refract light once they are cut.

An interesting fact is that diamonds were used to ward off illness during the Dark Ages, and were held whilst performing medical operations – obviously superstition like this has now been disproved and modern medicine has prevailed, so it is not a significant point for my research. (Costellos 2010)

Diamond Ring dating back to medieval times (BNPS  2008) Taken from Telegraph article 'Treasure Hunter Finds Medieval Diamond Ring'

The popularity of diamonds increased in the middle ages, with large diamonds like the Koh-I-Nor and the Blue Hope being discovered and cut. After this a few countries discovered that they had diamond deposits, and so began a diamond rush to keep up with the ever increasing popularity of the stone. (Samantha Smith, BBC, 2011)

Koh I Noor Diamond (Chris72 2007)

Blue Hope Diamond (Smithsonian Science 2009)

From looking at diamonds in history, the popularity has just grown and grown. In my opinion diamonds will always be a viable subject for my research, and in turn making jewels a viable topic. This has proved that throughout history, people have liked diamonds and this still continues today – I am predicting that this topic will become more relevant for the horizon section because if the popularity is growing, then the future is looking good for diamonds.

Cameos

It is said that Queen Elisabeth loved to wear cameos, and that Catherine the Great had a vast collection of them. Queen Victoria also wore cameos on occasion, and this led to them being very popular in the Victorian Era. In this Era, shell was the most commonly used material to make the cameos, but some were still made out of stones such as sardonyx, agate and onyx. (Victorian Bazaar 2000)

Brooch featuring a cameo of Queen Victoria  (18Karat Goldsmiths 2009)

It is since this time that shells became popular materials and that women’s profiles were widely carved on the cameos themselves. Previously they had been used to depict a wide variety of pictures.

This is a video to show an antique cameo that was for sale on eBay. This subject was very popular in the past, and the antiques born out of this popularity are still being sold today.

It looks as though the Victorian Era was the main catalyst in improving the popularity of cameos. It created the modern ‘idea’ of what a typical cameo should look like, and these ideas continue today.

Cameos have not always been decorative objects for women. Earlier than the Victorian Era, people used cameos to depict an ethic or moral, or to make a statement about faith and loyalties. In early Greek and Roman times cameos were used to show scenes of mythology and the Gods and Goddesses. In some cultures, men also wore cameos to show their prestige and high status. (Anna Miller 1998)

A portrait of Emperor Augustus - one of the most famous surviving cameos of this time (18Karat Goldsmiths 2009)

"This Antique cameo depicts Aurora, the Greek goddess of the dawn as she leads the sun god Apollo on his chariot at break-o-day, bringing-in daylight to the world" (WH Starkhouse 2011)

From this research it seems that cameos themselves come and go in popularity. They are always around, and benefit from an ongoing popularity throughout the ages, but their massive popularity does come and go with the decades. I think that this research is relevant because they are still popular today, in more or less the same state they were in all those years ago.

Ice

Upon reflection, using ice as a theme was possibly not the best idea. It may have inspired several things, but as a subject itself it does not seem very popular.

In history, ice would have been used to keep food cold before refrigeration techniques were invented. It was also a luxury in the 1800’s, a man named Frederick Tudor invented the ice cube, which finally allowed people to quickly cool down their drinks, which was previously unheard of. (Linda Rodriguez, CNN article, 2008)

People cutting Ice in China - this has been done for thousands of years to preserve food and keep things cold. (Lloyd Alter 2007)

Obviously the biggest association with ice in history would have been the Ice Age, which happened approximately 20000 years ago. This in itself is not really valid for my research, but it has spawned some successful popular media, such as the film Ice Age.

Ice Age [DVD] [2002]

My research has shown that the popularity of ice as a theme in a history sense is not really applicable to the overall goal of my research so I will not look into the history of it. It may have a bigger popularity on the horizon though, because the popularity I have found so far has been greater in the present day. This might show that the popularity is growing over time, especially with the big issue about climate change and melting ice currently in the media.

Treasure

When thinking about treasure, the first historical thing that springs to mind is the buried treasure in the Egyptian tombs in Egypt. The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered in 1922 and it contained many priceless treasures richly decorated in gold and precious jewels. These treasures were though to have been needed but the king in his afterlife, and so they were buried with him when he died. (Robert Partridge 2011)

The antechamber of the Tutankhamun, as first seen by treasure hunters in 1922 (Griffith Institute 2011)

The tomb of King Tutankhamun on Egypt (PlanetWare Inc 2007-2011)

Another idea that is associated with historical treasure is the pirate’s buried treasure. Most of this is down to the novel ‘Treasure Island’ by Robert Louis Stephenson. In reality, pirates did not usually bury their treasure, choosing to spend it on women, drink and gambling instead. Captain Kidd was one of the most famous pirates to horde buried treasure, he once robbed a ship and stole between 20,000 to 40,000 rupees. Fearing arrest he buried this on Gardiners Island under the protection of John Gardiner, much of which was discovered by treasure hunters after Kidd’s arrest. (Cindy Vallar 2000/2011)

Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stephenson,1883 (Templar Publishing 2005)

'Wholesale robbery by pirates on Lake Michigan' - A news article from the New York Times (New York Times October 1885)

Treasure hunting itself seems no longer popular, and the interest in in in a historical sense is only slight. In the days of pirates, people would have probably read about it in the news but not actively engaged in the activity. When the tombs in Egypt were found, then the popularity did increase to a fever pitch, but only for a limited amount of time. You can see this in popular media in films like Indiana Jones (1981). In the present day though, there is not much of a popularity – most people wander round with metal detectors now and are seen as slightly ‘odd’ to the general public. This may be because most of the treasure has already been found, but this is pure speculation.

Pearls

Pearls are the oldest known gems, and for many centuries it was considered the most valuable. The oldest known pearl jewellery was found in the sarcophagus of a Persian Princess dating back to 520BC. (Pearl Oasis 2011)

Roman Bracelet made from Pearls in the British Museum - This is a replica for sale today, made from a direct mould of the original antique Roman jewellery (Quirao 2006 - 2010)

In Roman times strings of pearls were prized and very valuable, only people of a certain rank were allowed to wear them.

An antique 'Roman Pearls' receipt on sale on eBay - this shows the popularity of the subject because it shows that people were buying the products (Melmyster 2011)

Pearls have always been a popular choice – at weddings they can symbols of innocence and purity, and in medieval Europe they were sewn onto clothes as decorations.

A Painting of Queen Elizabeth from 1590, showing pearls sewn onto her dress and in her hair. (George Glower 1590, Suzanne Hill 2007)

This all shows that there has been a continual interest in pearls because they are still popular in the same form in the present day. My research suggests that they were the first jewels to be coveted, and so really theirs have had the longest run of popularity. The popularity of pearls most likely has dropped off over the years, but they have had a continual presence in shops and people still buy them – making them an ideal topic of study for the horizon because their popularity has been proven.

Japanese 'Ama' pearl diver - this has been going on for thousands of years to meet demand (James Disley 2005)

A video to show Japanese Pearl Divers, this was filmed in 1963. With the media available, this shows that this subject was popular in the past.

Another important point would be the historical art of pearl diving. The majority of pearls came from beds in the Persian Gulf, China and Japan. Before the 20th century the only way of collecting pearls was to dive down and collect them. Divers usually had to dive between 40 and 125 feet without any breathing apparatus. Back around this time the best pearls were believed to have come from the ‘Sulu Archipelago’ in the Philippines, and interesting fact about this was that the largest pearls, by law, belonged to the Sultan. Sellers of these pearls could potentially be put to death. (W. R Catelle 1457) (The Pearl Market LTD 2002 - 2011)

The islands of the Sulu Archipelago, where divers used to dive for pearls. (Farl 2008) 

Map showing the location of the Sulu Archipelago, near the Philippines (Lupah Sug)

Interestingly, these pearls from the Sulu Archipelago were so popular and coveted that people actually had to smuggle them out of these area because of the laws decreed by the sultan. However, these sis manage to end up in the possession of some of the wealthiest families in Europe. This method of pearl gathering may have been popular before the 20th century, but it is now obsolete so it is not relevant to my research. However, it does prove that pearls have continued to be popular no matter what time period it is.

Conclusion

In conclusion to the research of 'Jewels' in the past, its looks as though the subject of pearls has been incredibly popular in the past. They were the first jewels to be coveted and valuable. This shows that the popularity has actually changed over the years, and in the present day they are still popular, but less so than in the past. I will have to look at this in my Horizon section to see if this popularity is still changing. The subject of ‘Ice’ is not as popular in the past as it is in the present, but this may be because of the information on climate change we have available now. This might be a very valid subject for the horizon, because most climate change will happen in the future. I think the subjects of cameos and treasure were more popular in history than they are now, and diamonds are definitely more popular because of the increased availability of them in the present day.

Theatre: Past

Theatre

English Renaissance theatre, or early modern English Theatre, is probably where the idea of modern day theatre began. This era was dominated by playwrights such as Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare – Whose plays are still popular to this day. (Willaim Shakespeare Info 2011) (Marlowe Society 2011)

Christopher Marlowe - A Popular Playwright (Corpus Chrisi College 1953) 

William Shakespeare - His plays are still popular to this day (Bate, J. 1997)

In my opinion, English Renaissance theatre is most relevant to my Present Day post. There is also still an interest in this in the present day and it looks as though much of today’s theatre has been inspired by this style of theatre. Even today Shakespeare’s plays are studied within schools, and are still said to be fantastic pieces of work. They are even still performed in theatres and have had many modern interpretations of them. This just shows that the popularity of this has grown over the years, into what we see it now in the present day.

Hamlet (The Arden Shakespeare, Third Series) (Shakespeare 1599/1601)

Hamlet (2009) A modern day adaptation - it is still popular to this day.

Previously theatre had been very rudimentary, with companies of players travelling around the country visiting noble households to perform, rather than performing in the theatre. These actually were the beginnings of the modern ‘idea’ of theatre, and in time these players settled to perform in one place and a law was passed in 1572 to label all companies without formal patronage ‘vagabonds’. “And all fencers, bear-wards, common players in interludes, and minstrels not belonging to any baron of this realm” (will be labelled a vagabond).

(Arundell Esdaille, The Age of Elisabeth (1547 – 1603) 1912)

An Illustration of members of a travelling company in 1600 (Encyclopaedia Britannica 1994) 

This forced the travelling companies to settle down, and began the birth of modern day theatre as we know it.

This idea of ‘travelling companies’ is a very popular one; it has even inspired some popular books about them. They are very frequently added into historical fantasy books. Obviously this has now died out, especially with the laws put in place to stop it happening, but without these companies theatre today might not have existed as we know it.

During the 18th century, there was a very famous manager and playwright named David Garrick (1717 – 1779). He was one of the first people within the theatre world to adopt a more natural form of speaking and acting that was closer to real life than previously. This ultimately founded the movements of realism and naturalism. (Globe Theatre 2010)

Using a stage to perform a play - this method is still used today

Cinema

Very early cinema began in the 17th century where they used magic lanterns to make moving pictures. These often reached high levels of sophistication, and they projected images onto clouds of smoke whilst sound effects were made to go alongside it. (Jonathan Walters, Early Cinema Timeline, 2002)

A replica of a magic lantern for sale at £26.99 (Grand Illusions  Ltd 2011)

In 1839 Henry Fox Talbot discovered an important advancement in photography production, and invented the first paper negatives, and also around this time glass slides were made possible through using better technology to print them. Obviously as you get towards present day, the invention of plastic was very important for the world of cinema because negatives and slides can now be printed in mass, for a very cheap price. (John Barnes 1998)

A Calotype Paper Negative (Alan Green 2008)

With further advancements, cinema developed from a carnival novelty to one of the most important mediums for communications, entertainment and mass media in the present day.

Looking at my present day research it became apparent that there has been a ‘revival’ of antique cinema from the 1950’s onwards. It is currently talked about a great deal on the media – and especially talked about by people on social media websites, and actresses such as Audrey Hepburn are widely heralded as idols and fashion inspirations. This shows that the history of cinema is still actually popular today and films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s are still very popular and sold in shops to this day.

The original trailer for Breakfast at Tiffany's - This is still popular now, but not as popular as it was in the past.

 After the 1950’s cinema became really big business, and film viewing theatres called ‘cinemas’ sprang up across Great Britain and America. This also sparked the beginnings of the current celebrity culture. (A Robinson 2003) With the advancement of mass media, and popular media, these actors and actresses started living in the public’s eye and because celebrities. Today though, there are many, many celebrities of varying fame, and it has moved on from early cinema. Media is available to everyone 24 hours every day, so people are very aware of current famous actors and actresses and show a massive interest in their lives. (IMDb 2011)

This is just showing that the cinema of the past has grown in popularity over the years and is still enjoyed today. It has also inspired many other more modern works. The cinema of old has revolutionised the way media is today, and it lets us see many different things. Cinema itself is incredibly popular with modern day films making millions of pounds – this would not really be possible if it did not have so much relevant history.

Makeup

In the late 1800’s, the only people to wear makeup really were stage performers and prostitutes. Compared to today’s standards – where nearly every woman wears makeup and it is widely available, before 1850 there was a very limited selection available to people who wanted to use it. (Amy Finley The History OF Theatre Makeup 2006-2011)

“Stage Makeup items available before 1850:

White face powder

India ink for drawing lines

Rouge (very bright red or pink)

Misc. artist’s pigment base powders, (like Bole Armenia aka “burnt umber” for a reddish brown tone)

Burnt cork (for dark brown/black)

Lamp-black (for mascara)

Burnt paper (for grey shadows)

Spirit gum

Wool crepe hair (for both facial hair and false noses)” Taken from the blog – Seduced by History, Paty Jager, Wednesday June24th, 2009

Complete and unused white female Max Factor theatrical "student" kit in original box  - 1940 (Tara Maginnis 2010)

Looking back over the research I have come to the conclusion that the subject of makeup is very relevant to the present day, and it has been a continued subject of interest over the years. The research also shows that attitudes towards makeup have changed, from it being the domain of actors and prostitutes – to now being worn by just about every woman. It has also sparked a huge grown in the cosmetics and beauty industry, just to illustrate how popular it has become.

How to 'Make Up' (Haresfoot and Rouge 1877)
This was a book for sale in 1877 as a guide for applying makeup for actors.

Much earlier than this, in the Greek and Roman times makeup was not really necessary. The actors wore masks, which allowed them to portray anything they wanted, such as expressions, gender, age, or something that looks entirely different to the actor. (Edward Argent 2011)

1st Century BC theatre mask (Jastrow 2005)

Rudimentary makeup techniques played with light and shadow on the actors faces to change the shape and appearance of the faces of the actors, and this pretty much changed the way makeup was applied, especially with the invention of electrical lighting which bathed the actors with light that they previously had no access to. (Patty Jager 2009)

Cover of a brochure for Theatrical Stage Lighting  (Kliegl Bros 1922)

Lighting had a massive effect on stage makeup, and people had to change the way they applied it. Such examples of the effects include; Pink makes cool colours grey, and makes yellow become orange, fire red ruins makeup, green greys all flesh tones, purple affects makeup like violet lighting and light blue lowers the intensity of base colours.

Puppetry

Puppetry is actually a very ancient form, being invented long before theatre as we know it today. It is believed to have originated 30,000 years BC and it has always been used as a storytelling medium. (Puppets Now 2000/2011)

I think that puppetry is very relevant to the way that present day media has developed. It means that there has been a rise in popularity in this subject, and many famous television shows have been made using puppets.

The introduction to 'The Sooty Show' This was a popular television show made with puppets.

One every interesting topic is the Chinese Shadow Theatre, which used puppets – originally called “pi-xing xi”, translated as “theatre of the lantern shadows”. It is believed to have been invented over 2000 years ago for Wu, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, and was inspired by the shadows cast by the toys children were playing with. They were first made from paper, and later on, the hides of donkey and oxen. For a long time this type of puppetry was heavily tied into politics and very influential because it was universally understood – as there were no words, therefore no language barriers. (Travel China Guide 1998 - 2011)

Chinese Shadow Theatre (Théâtre des Ombres 1996)

The idea of the shadow puppets is really interesting – but over the years it didn’t really increase in popularity. In this present day and more recent history, there are not many examples of it within popular media, so it might not be fully relevant to my research.

Shadow puppetry has continued to be used in the near past, such as on Bear in the Big Blue House (1997), The Year of Living Dangerously (1983), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), and Karate Kid (2010) There is also a Centre for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, which has a collection of antique shadow puppets.

Once Upon a Time in America Dvd (1984)

Bear in the Big Blue House (Jim Henson 1997 - 2007)

More recently there have been several popular children’s TV shows, such as Sooty and Thunderbirds that have proved incredibly popular and these have both used puppets to create the programs.

The television shows such as Captain Scarlet and Thunderbirds have enjoyed enormous popularity, and even though they are now several years old, people still enjoy watching them. They were also shown many times in the media, and had toys, spin off shows and movies made about them. In a way these have paved the way for new techniques – but at the time they were very popular with people.

Marionettes

There is evidence that Marionettes were used in Egypt from as early as 2000BC because articulated, string controlled puppets have been found in tombs dating back to that time. Traditionally they were used to portray rituals and ceremonies of importance in ancient times. (Ma Theng / Nyan Tun 2005)

'Queen of the Night' from Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' (Under Creative Commons)

More recently than this, Italian Renaissance is considered by the majority of people to be the birthplace of Marionette theatre as we know it – mostly due to the influence of Roman puppetry. The Christian church used them to perform religious plays, and they were also used in villages and small towns to tell the people the news that had been going on in the cities – almost like a precursor to the news channels today that we have running 24 hours per day.

Re-enactment of an Italian Renaissance Marionette show at the Renaissance Festival (Randy McAtee)

From this research, marionette dolls in Renaissance Italy have inspired a great many things. They might not be popular in the present day – but in their time they were very popular and sometimes the only entertainment people had access too. I think that they possibly inspired the idea of broadcasting news and events to people – thus maybe being the original form of popular media.

It was thought about this time that Marionettes began to be used in the theatre, and even Shakespeare used them in some of his plays instead of actors.

In modern history, marionettes have been used in television and movies, such as Pinocchio (1940), Howdy Doody (1947), and Andy Pandy (1952). This does however show that marionette style theatre has been reduced to a children’s entertainment, giving it a more limited audience. This may show how entertainment has changed throughout the years.

A selection of scenes from Pinocchio (Disney 1940) Even though it is animated, it is still about a Marionette doll so it shows that there was some interest in the subject at the time.

'Andy Pandy'  (Freda Lingstorm 1952)

This does however show that marionette style theatre has been reduced to a children’s entertainment, giving it a more limited audience. This may show how entertainment has changed throughout the years.

Conclusion

In conclusion to the research of 'Theatre' in the past, the subject of puppetry has previously been very popular with the public. There have been very popular television shows and films such as Pinocchio and Thunderbirds which were filmed using puppets, but that popularity hasn't continued into the present day. The more relevant research to my goal will most likely come from the actual 'Theatre' and 'Cinema' subjects. It has been proved that there has been popularity and an interest in these subjects in the past, and it has grown in the present day - so this might make a good basis to begin my research into the 'Horizon' of theatre. If the popularity of the subjects has increased between the past and present day, then it should surely continue in the future.