Concept
Inspired by the humorously unrealistic Santa Claus beards seen across malls and shopping centers around Christmas time I have decided to take on the task of creating a beard prosthetic for the foundations line to mass sculpture project. The reason I chose the beard for this project is because of its connotations with knowledge and its relationship with social class and stereotypes. The beard is a symbol of age and maturity and becomes a ruler for measuring the passage of time. People with beards are often placed into certain categories and societal groups and for this reason I believe the beard prosthesis will offer a unique opportunity to comment on the way facial hair changes the way we look and interact with people. From the rich and powerful to the unconventional and homeless the beard is a powerful symbol of life and time showing that we truly can’t read a book by its cover.
Comprising of metal wire, twine and string I will be putting together a scraggily and disheveled wearable beard reminiscent of a homeless person or crazed mathematician. The beard will begin with a main armature wrapped around the ears flowing towards the front of the jaw, with branching sections of smaller wire to support the layering and integrity of the beard. Draping down and to the side of these wires will be numerous strands of twine, wire and yarn following no particular style or cut, which will make up the mass of the beard. Each strand will be attached using a generic knot and should require no glue of external fastening. The final product should result in a realistic 12-inch long beard that you can run your hands through.
Research
Growing a beard has meant many different things over the ages, from showing religious respect for the gods to protest the beard is a symbol of all walks of life and all philosophical ideals. Those who study beards and their history are called pogonologists from “pogon” the Greek word for beard. In modern day Christianity as with numerous other religions almost all of the holy figures are adorned with beards and in fact eight of the figures in Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper are sporting full-grown beards. The beard symbolized a strong relationship with god and subsequently a strong religiosity. In the Muslim faith large unkempt beards are commonplace and show others that one has a determined relationship with Allah. The beard over different times and cultures has also been seen as a sign of virility, dignity and wisdom; Spartan warriors would even punish cowards by shaving off parts of their beards as a form of humiliation.
In modern day society all of these beliefs about the beard still stand true but there are also several new ones that western culture has adopted into everyday life. From the 1920’s through the 60’s beards in America were considered fairly taboo and instead gained popularity as symbols of the counterculture and homeless life. Beards took a sharp increase in popularity in the 1980’s when businessmen and beatniks would share facial hair all the same. Today the beard has stabilized in popularity and represents all walks of life. Ultimately it is clear that the beard is here to stay, from religious devotion to celebrity stardom to the homeless the beard is a symbol of the diversity of male life and doesn’t appear to be getting shaved off any time soon.
- Greg, Brian. "Growing a Beard: The History and Philosophies Behind the Current Trend." Associated Content from Yahoo! - Associatedcontent.com. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/527083/growing_a_beard_the_history_and_philosophies.html?cat=69>.
- Daoud, Abu. "The Beard Divide." Islam and Christianity. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://islamdom.blogspot.com/2007/08/beard-divide.html>.
- "Beard." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beard>.
- "Beard: Encyclopedia II - Beard - History." Enlightenment - The Experience Festival. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Beard_-_History/id/1286219>
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