Borg meme. . . yes, my will has failed. ;)

[mellymell]

• Leave me a comment saying "Resistance is Futile."


• I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity


• Update your journal with the answers to the questions


• Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions

From belluthien

1. You said some time ago you wouldn't let anyone read your writing. How do you feel about that now?

Naturally, I've kind of changed my mind on this, but only for this project for now. The novel isn't incredibly personal. There's of course some of me in it but it's not all me, if that makes sense. My poetry and introspective prose is probably forever going to stay locked away. The only exceptions might be on the rare occasion that I write something so insightful I feel the need to share it or perhaps on the unforeseeable day when I cease to care anymore and just let it all out.

2. Hhehe. This stems from when I met Chris at your house... The cross dress questions! How do you feel about the idea of cross dressing? What about it appeals to you?

I feel like this answer requires some explanation of both my reasons for costuming and my gender associations...

I love being feminine, but not girly. I hate purses and shoes and pink and shopping and I don't wear makeup on a regular basis (though I'm doing so more in the hopes that I can get better at it for costumes). But, I love the way I feel when I put on an elegant gown or a well put together day outfit. That said, I identify with men so much easier. At brew club functions you will not find me mingling with the wives. You'll see me in the middle of the guys talking beer. The female friends I have are not very girly either and the ones that are girly drive me nuts. I was always a tomboy growing up. But I also loved to play dress up and even had a Barbie fashion designer set that I loved (costuming on paper). I guess I'm kind of split right down the middle, really.

When it comes to costuming there are usually three reasons that make me want to portray a character: 1) I identify with the character. 2) I love something about the costume itself so much that I want to recreate it. 3) I find some of the accurate materials and just have to go for it because that so rarely happens.

I love Celeborn's character. He's completely cloaked in mystery, being a character that Tolkien didn't develop much. Even his lineage is uncertain. But, he's indisputably wise. He's completely stoic and I identify with that. He's kind of what I wish I could be if I could learn to ignore impulse and trust intuition more. Galadriel has a lot of similar qualities, but she's also more at the forefront. I've always been more comfortable with a second in command sort of position and that's how I see Celeborn. He's kind of a behind the scenes counselor.

Now, to actually answer you... To me, I don't really even view it as cross dressing, I guess. I'm portraying a character and gender is kind of an afterthought. It's the character that appeals, not just dressing as a man. Though dressing as a man ups the ante for the challenge which also piques my interest a little extra. I've got curves I have to hide and feminine features to overwrite and it's extra enticing to try to pull that off convincingly. But as of yet, I've not completed a male costume, so we'll see.

3. Is Chris Really Annoyed at my influence over you, (although I claim none of that!) regarding cross dressing? ;) I'm laughing now. Please give him my regards. ;D

Heh, Chris and I haven't talked about it much lately. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think he's starting to understand at least a little bit. As we discussed while you were here, it's theatre. I think early on, and maybe still, he's been concerned that because I wanted to portray a male character that meant a desire to be manly. But that's not the case and I could see where that would make him uncomfortable. I can completely understand him not really wanting to see me do it. But I hope we can come to an agreement about it. I don't want to make him uncomfortable. As for being annoyed at you in particular? Heh, nah, I don't think that was ever the case. ;)

4. If you could live anywhere, at any time in history, where would that be?

That's a tough one! I'm torn between my desire to live completely independent of society and the convenience of modern civilization. I love technology and electricity and indoor plumbing. I think sometimes I would have liked to have lived in a tribal age. But mostly, I think I'd like to live now. Maybe living off the land in the middle of nowhere. . . with solar panels and satellite internet. ;) I think my inner elf might be showing (isolation, deep connection to the earth and crazy technology, heh).

As for where, like I said, mountains with radical elevation changes and some running water nearby in the form of a river or waterfall. I also don't like to be too cold, so they would have to be temperate mountains. The Rockies are great and gorgeous, but they're also very barren looking. I need lush, green foliage and humidity. Maybe New Zealand or somewhere in South America or something. I feel very at home in the Appalachians of Western NC (see icon) though I'd also love to scope out the Pacific Northwest at some point.

5. What is your favorite costume of all time up until now? Have you/will you make it?

The costume that got me into costuming is Arwen's Coronation gown. It's so simple and gorgeous but with intricate details and such a lovely, unique color. That headpiece is simply amazing! I do have plans to do it one day, but I have no idea when. I guess I'm working up to it. I've got to gain and hone silversmithing skills and talk myself into beading and embroidering the sleeves by hand. I've always thought this would be a secret costume. No one will know when I work on it (though I'll document privately). I'll just show up with it somewhere one day. ;)