Don't get your knickers in a twist!

HAHAHAHA enough said.

-Urszula

Swimsuit bodies!

Okay, so we all know that commercial with the yellow polka-dot bikini song, and man is it ever catchy! Here are some hilarious pictures of bathing suits throughout the wonderful transition from Victorian era to presently.

-Urszula

Umbrella-ella-ella-eh!

I have to laugh at myself for this brilliant idea. I was lying in bed last night when Rihanna's stupid Umbrella song popped into my head. Then it hit me, umbrella's in the Victorian era! Here's a nice transition for you all.

-Urszula

Ships!

After blogging one of my entries on bathtubs, I started thinking about that joke one of the submarine-ers made in Titanic, "Oops, somebody left the water running." Naturally, I started thinking about ships and the transformations they have gone through in the last two centuries or so. Posted below I have some pictures of Victorian sailing ships (not in the greatest quality). Next to that is the legendary Titanic (minus Leonardo DiCaprio) and the present-day cruise ships we consider vacations. Of course, ships during the Victorian era were cramped, dark, wet, and everything but luxurious. Now look at them! I was listening to the Beat the other morning and they were saying how the BC Ferries are now going to contain online casinos, an outdoor pool and a spa! Talk about change!

-Urszula

Sister Suffragette - Mary Poppins

Here's a clip from our childhood that can also be seen as the importance of the Suffragette movement in Victoriana.

Doesn't it make you want to sing and dance?



Katie

Transportation

During the Victorian era, their main way of transportation was by the horse-and-carriage. Now we polute the air with our stinky cars, and enjoy the odd horse-and-carriage ride on a warm summer evening with our special someone cuddling beside us while someone else takes us in circles on the busy streets of Downtown. Not to mention that it's colder than a car, and stinkier too! At least it helps save the earth, which is contrary to what was thought in the Victorian era. Cars were actually thought to be healthier for the environment because it would eliminate all the horse poop.

-Urszula

Let there be light!

Just another quick comparison. There's not much to say really about this expect to appreciate how lucky we are to have such a variety of heat and light activating appliances.

-Urszula

Lockets

I was thinking about jewellery and how now we have those "gangstas" out there with their long-hanging chains and pants that don't cover half their bum-bums. Jewellery represented wealth, and accented an outfit, just like it does today. After Victoria took the throne, wearing jewellery was considered romantic and nationalistic. Interestingly, black jewellery was designed to symbolize the mourning of someone's death, but soon became a fashion item. I thought these lockets were kind of nice.

-Urszula

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere!

I was just browsing the web for bathtubs (dont ask why) when I came across these clawfoot ones. I thought it was worth putting up. And for the record, the modern one looks awesome! Although rather short if you ask me...

-Urszula

Legend of Sleepy Hollow to Legend of the Creepy Collars and back again.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, originally written by Washington Irving in the 1800's, is still a popular story amongst society. Throughout the decades, the plot, characters and costumes have relatively remained the same, but effects and twists in the story itself have become altered depending on the audience. Wishbone, a silly little pup who was the main character in the Wishbone series before it got taken off the air, represented Ichabod Crane in a version renamed The Legend of the Creepy Collars. In another popular kids show, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, an episode was aired by the name of The Tale of the Midnight Rider. It served as a sequel to the original tale, with the main focus being on a boy who sees the ghost of Ichabod after a school dance and helps him cross the "magical bridge" to safety. More recently, Johnny Depp starred in Sleepy Hollow, where the characters were explored more closely.

-Urszula

The Music of the Gears

Steampunk is a term that represents the re-creation of the era where steam was the major source of power. Often set in Victorian England, the movement is influenced by elements of science fiction and fantasy. Though more common in comic books, anime and fashion, steampunk also has its influences in music. The term refers to any music or stage presence that evokes the feelings of the Victorian era or steampunk movement. Examples: Abney Park, Tom Waits, Rasputina and Vernian Process

The Darling Davenport sisters, Emmett & Klaude, have brought steampunk to the airwaves, broadcasting from their airship Calpurnia. (aka. their studio in Chapel Hill/Carrboro North Carolina). Their show, called the Clockwork Cabaret, transmits over both radio and internet, their mission statement being to provide “music o’ gears for steampunk ears, an old timey radio show with the Neo-Victorian flair”, to make the listeners wish for the days of the past. Common features of the show are failed inventions, Victorian dress, literature, and a wide variety of music, ranging from steampunk to classical, each show centered around a particular theme.
Here is the link to check out their show:

http://www.clickcaster.com/channel/archive/2008-02?channel_slug=clockworkcabaret



Jessica K

The Present Day Mindset

While drastically searching for anything to allow for further procrastination from the multitude of essays piling up, I came across an article on the internet (yes, I know, Gissing would be appalled) called “Are you afraid to look poor.” The title itself seemed appropriate to the subject at hand because what could be more Victorian than the need to look wealthier. The article talks of a society that shuns consignment stores and only wears the best; people who try to have the most modern decor, and most importantly desire to appear a financial bracket higher than they actually are. Highlighting the tricks of the trade, the article shows the elaborate means that people go to in their acts of financial deception, such as filling Dior perfume bottles with no name scents. The Victorian mentality on culture and appearance seems to have transcended the ages and remains a focal point of life today. The desire to appear wealthy can often result in foolish spending, but maybe, over the years, we will realize that the facade is ten times as detrimental as the truth.

Five Golden Rings

We all know the middle-class loved the appearance of glitz and glam. The aristocracy of the Victorian period loved to show off just as much. Queen Victoria's engagement ring is an example of this. Her gold band was designed as a coiled snake. It sounds grotesque to me, but rings are still produced in this style.

This one sells for $1275 USD on www.london-victoria-ring.com
Other rings sold that replicate the styles of the Victorian age are clustered diamond rings, Romantic rings that contain five or more stones of different colors, and half-hoop rings, shown here respectively:

Many of the gems used in Victorian jewelery came from Africa, as the British (as well as other imperial powers) exploited their colonial powers to extract the continent's resources. Many have been killed since this time as the struggle for African diamonds continues. I'm sure many have seen the movie Blood Diamonds. This is one of the negative aspects of Victorian Britain that has carried over to the present day. Visit http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html
to find out more about this.

For those don't think this aspect of the Victorian Era is "cool", there are conflict-free diamonds, many of which come from Canada. They're a little more expensive, but the extra price you pay saves lives.
So, by supporting producers of conflict-free diamonds you are supporting the Canadian economy and discouraging bloodshed in the African countries of Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia. This advertisement put out by Amnesty International is a pretty real way of getting the message across. The French reads "What is the price for these diamonds?"

"Diamonds are forever" it is often said. But lives are not.
We must spare people the ordeal of war, mutilations and death for the sake of conflict diamonds."

Martin Chungong Ayafor, Chairman of the Sierra Leone Panel of Experts

Progression as another central theme in "From Hell"

Progression also seems to be a strong theme evident in the movie “From Hell” as can be throughout the movie. This is a common sentiment through the Victorian age as progress was seen as a good thing which only allowed human beings to further themselves. Progression and rational thought was something that differentiated human beings from the animals and was seen as quite important in this age.

Progression is strongly displayed in the medical profession more than anything in this movie. In the movie, there seems to be a society that admits doctors who have discovered new innovative technologies. Prince Albert, who we know as the guy who married Anne the prostitute, invents a new ‘treatment of insanity’ in which he thrusts a knife or wedge into the frontal lobe of the brain in order to calm those who appear to be mentally disturbed. Of course he performs this task on his former prostitute wife to keep her quiet on the topic of their shameful marriage. In addition to being preoccupied with first attempts at lobotomies, the medical society in which Albert is admitted to is also concerned with deformities. These are examples of how progression is not only a central theme in the movie but is also used in the plot itself.