Institute of Art Design + Technology Dún Laoghaire
Ireland’s campus for the Creative Industries

Olwen Yappa 

BA [Hons] Character MakeUp Design

Olwen is a dedicated visual artist. She has a diverse background in applying a variety of mediums to her art and design process. She uses illustration, sculpture and working with the human form. She is committed to achieving visual innovation and beauty. in her work Olwen's skillset facilitates both working independently and collaborating on creative projects.

The Tempest

For my minor project I chose to reimagine “The Tempest” as a contemporary ballet piece.

The tempest by William Shakespeare is a 17th century tragi-comedy, it follows the story of a group of wealthy lords , who upon returning home from a wedding in Tunis are struck by a tumultuous Tempest and Marooned on a mysterious Island. It is later revealed that this tempest was the work of self-made sorcerer Prospero, the unrightfully usurped Duke of Milan. By enlisting the service of the spirits of the Island Prospero begins to enact his elaborate revenge on those who wronged him.

Thought to be one of Shakespeare’s final plays, The Tempest incorporates themes of, power, love perception and forgiveness.



Queer Dystopia

Abstract
The evolution of modern capitalism has continually subjected queer culture to exploitation, misrepresentation and commodification based on a misguided belief that the nature of queer expression is formulated strictly within material aestheticism. Consequently, as capitalism intensifies it further hinders queer representation. Thus true queer representation cannot exist under capitalism.

This thesis examines the theories of queer utopianism from numerous philosophers including the originator of the concept of utopianism, Sir Thomas More as well as more modern, queer-focused theorists such as the author of Cruising Utopia (2009), José Esteban Muñoz. I have studied these different approaches to utopianism through a Marxist lens employing speculative analysis of the exploitation film series, “The Trinity of Trash'' by director John Waters. Through my exploration of the themes within these films, including the relevance of their cultural influences I believe that the anarchic portrayal of queerness within this trilogy to be examples of queer utopianism. My argument is that queer representation of the past and present is so often restrained by capitalism. It has been regulated, commodified and sanitised; it is queer dystopia.