Page 11 - Selling Fantasies
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we examine the ad and look at the various elements, the first thing we can comment on is
the collection itself. The signature colors of each dormitory are included in the limited-edition
collection. The designs were created to make fans feel as if they had entered the game's world
and become a character. The grandfather clock was used (in an antique style) to reflect the
previously described dark academia/Victorian/goth aesthetic. That being said, the clock itself
symbolizes something else. Since the game takes place in "Twisted Wonderland," there are
several allusions to Alice's Wonderland, one of which being the Time. Time is an important
concept in both Alice in Wonderland and the game. The game's prologue starts with the
following quote: “Mine, theirs, and yours, there’s only little time left for us” (Disney Twisted
Wonderland, 2019). The concept of Time first emerges in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures
in Wonderland" with the arrival of the white rabbit. Moreover, one of the most memorable
scenes is Alice's attendance at the "Unbirthday" party with the Mad
Hatter, March Hare, and Dormouse. When the Mad Hatter
pulls out his pocket watch, it appears to be broken because it has
been incorrect for two days straight. 6 o'clock signifies tea time,
therefore they've been trapped in that tea-party for ages since, as it
turns out, the Mad Hatter got into an argument with Time. Finally,
because Wonderland was but a dream, time ran curiously. Moving on
to the empty frames wall decorating, this trend has been
gaining popularity for quite some time, especially with the rise of DIY and social media
platforms like Pinterest. The empty frames in this advertisement, on the other hand,
represent something else. To start, we should note that, on the surface, empty frames have
been associated to Alice in Wonderland and, more specifically, the tea party, thus they serve
as a clear reference to the Tea-party aesthetic. However, on a profound level, the use of
frames in general distinguishes the work of art from its surrounding and may assist direct and
concentrate the viewer's attention. The frame is sometimes used to bring attention to an
artwork as a valuable object- A frame does not necessarily enhance the artwork's visual
appeal, but it might add to its symbolic significance. The symbolic significance of empty
frames is that they are significant graphic punctuation signals that break the narrative so that
viewers know they need to fill in the blanks and finish the work of storytelling. The two
models' stances are the last element to mention here. The poses are remarkable since they
are reminiscent of classic Victorian wedding/couple portraits or photographs. What's
especially interesting about vintage couple photographs, is that, regardless of the
couple's social class, they wore their best clothes. This might be an indication that the pajama
set is "the best clothes" option for such a valuable photograph/portrait for the models and
the consumers alike.
10 | P a g e
the collection itself. The signature colors of each dormitory are included in the limited-edition
collection. The designs were created to make fans feel as if they had entered the game's world
and become a character. The grandfather clock was used (in an antique style) to reflect the
previously described dark academia/Victorian/goth aesthetic. That being said, the clock itself
symbolizes something else. Since the game takes place in "Twisted Wonderland," there are
several allusions to Alice's Wonderland, one of which being the Time. Time is an important
concept in both Alice in Wonderland and the game. The game's prologue starts with the
following quote: “Mine, theirs, and yours, there’s only little time left for us” (Disney Twisted
Wonderland, 2019). The concept of Time first emerges in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures
in Wonderland" with the arrival of the white rabbit. Moreover, one of the most memorable
scenes is Alice's attendance at the "Unbirthday" party with the Mad
Hatter, March Hare, and Dormouse. When the Mad Hatter
pulls out his pocket watch, it appears to be broken because it has
been incorrect for two days straight. 6 o'clock signifies tea time,
therefore they've been trapped in that tea-party for ages since, as it
turns out, the Mad Hatter got into an argument with Time. Finally,
because Wonderland was but a dream, time ran curiously. Moving on
to the empty frames wall decorating, this trend has been
gaining popularity for quite some time, especially with the rise of DIY and social media
platforms like Pinterest. The empty frames in this advertisement, on the other hand,
represent something else. To start, we should note that, on the surface, empty frames have
been associated to Alice in Wonderland and, more specifically, the tea party, thus they serve
as a clear reference to the Tea-party aesthetic. However, on a profound level, the use of
frames in general distinguishes the work of art from its surrounding and may assist direct and
concentrate the viewer's attention. The frame is sometimes used to bring attention to an
artwork as a valuable object- A frame does not necessarily enhance the artwork's visual
appeal, but it might add to its symbolic significance. The symbolic significance of empty
frames is that they are significant graphic punctuation signals that break the narrative so that
viewers know they need to fill in the blanks and finish the work of storytelling. The two
models' stances are the last element to mention here. The poses are remarkable since they
are reminiscent of classic Victorian wedding/couple portraits or photographs. What's
especially interesting about vintage couple photographs, is that, regardless of the
couple's social class, they wore their best clothes. This might be an indication that the pajama
set is "the best clothes" option for such a valuable photograph/portrait for the models and
the consumers alike.
10 | P a g e
