My name is Anna Funge, I have always enjoyed and been interested in design and media. I was drawn to contemporary Irish television when researching for my thesis. I became interested in how Irish television series represent characters through clothing and styling of the body. I developed a curiosity for the unique characteristic and tailored costume design on characters in Irish television. I wanted to dive deeper into the clothing’s communication on screen to the audience, and the strong uses of Irish designs pieces worn by characters. Costume design for me is more than visuals, it is engaging, connects and immerses yourself with the character.
Identity and authenticity through costume design in contemporary Irish television
This thesis analyses how costume design and stylisation on Irish television screen, is not only a significant artistic contribution to the screen and character, but it also reveals the layers and meanings of a character identity. Costume design is a significant tool in creating and bringing a character to life, before the dialogue begins on screen. This research considers three popular Irish television series Normal People (2020), Bad Sisters (2022-2024) and The Young Offenders (2018-) in terms of costume design and styling related to the identities of the characters.
This thesis also explores how femininity and masculinity dressing seen on screen has changed from past to present depictions, such as contemporary complex and female leading roles shown through styling and dressing of the body. Masculine dressing in The Young Offenders, the dressing of hoodies and tracksuit bottoms, is linked with the roots of hip- hop culture and became a synonym for their personality and fashion and what it means to represent masculinity. The research highlights the growth in the fashion industry in Ireland and is a key communicator of strong Irish identity, as seen in Bad Sisters for example using IrelandsEye knitwear. This is a deliberate creative strategy in these television series. Clothing helps the audience understand the character in an unconscious way of forming an impression of that character subliminally. Authenticity is a reoccurring theme seen on Irish television culture. This holds a deep characterisation that emerges from an Irish aesthetic of storytelling traditions that conveys a “natural” spectacle to the audience.
