Next to Normal Colors

[timetraveler1]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 8:38pm

Has anyone tracked the primary costume colors (particularly for Di, Dan, Gabe, and Natalie) and the background colors used on the cyc throughout the show?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 9:17pm

The only time I've picked up on this is when they all wear red at the end.

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 9:30pm

now that you mention it, yeah there are similarities in color amongst the characters throughout. it's been a while since i've seen the show so i can't remember the progression of them however.

[GoodbyeLoveRENT]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 10:46pm

Besides the obvious in Light, I did notice that in I Am the One, both Dan and Gabe are wearing similar shades of blue. My brain's too tired at the moment to explain why I think that it has significance, but I think someone else probably could. :)

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 12:31am

Dan and Henry also actually wear similar colors a lot, as do Diana and Natalie. I think one of the most effective uses of that is in the scene in between Perfect for You and I Miss the Mountains where Natalie and Diana are both wearing some variation on red (Diana is in the red dress/khaki-ish sweater, Natalie is in a pink hoodie) and Henry and Dan are both wearing blue/black stripes. But it happens a lot. I actually noticed it more between Diana/Natalie and Dan/Henry than I did with the family (although that happens too) because there are so many parallels drawn between those two relationships.

[migioso]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 1:02am

I also adore the moment in "How Could I Ever Forget?" where Diana has the lyric "my black coat thrown over my blue nightgown" and is wearing a black sweater over a blue shirt. Such a lovely parallel between past and present...

[54streetDIVA]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 1:11am

oh my god, design and a color palate, such a CRAZY idea

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 5:59am

This is not groundbreaking.

[timetraveler1]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 7:02am

I don't think anyone is suggesting the use of color to be groundbreaking. I work with designers all the time and know how that process works. This is another layer to the show that I am trying to analyze/understand because, while it always has significance, in Next to Normal specifically, who wears what color and if it is similar to another character strongly defines the relationships and the emotions being expressed as does the lighting.

[Mattt]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 7:15am

If anyone noticed, in "The Song of Forgetting," Natalie, Dan, and Diana are all wearing blue and brown in their costumes. I thought that was interesting, since I had never noticed such detail in the costumes of THIS particular show. I mean, I thought they just threw on some street clothes every few minutes and that was all. And that would have made sense, since it is a modern day show about modern day people, but I love how much though went into it even though it could have been so much easier to design.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 3:58pm

TimeTraveler that's the point: it almost ALWAYS means something. Costumes and lighting are seldom "just because" or accidental. Design is an artform unto itself.

[mcnriff]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 6:48pm

This is extremely valid, EVERYTHING is for a reason, nothing is random, and while colors aren't the main thing to focus on, the subliminally deliver a message to the audience without them knowing really. I noticed Gabe started in a purple shirt (I believe with a blue hoodie that he took off), then light blue, then purple again? for I'm Alive i think, then white and black to signify heaven (with Alice). I think the end might be the most significant, since you actually notice all the same colors then. This might be taking it too far but I feel like it almost might have a religious reference. Red/orange is the color used for rebirth and celebration in the church when the priest wears it, like on Palm Sunday, and everyone is wearing this color except Diana. Diana is wearing purple, which in the liturgical sense represents lent and advent and confession of sins. Basically, waiting and anticipating as well as sacrificing, meaning she sacrifices a lot with her disease and she wont truly be happy and cannot truly celebrate until she is in heaven with her son, hence the anticipation. PS I love this show haha.

[wendilin622]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 7:24pm

They all pretty much had the same color palette for the entire show. Obviously it wasn't an accident. I personally think they were showing the parallels between the characters at any given moment.
Everything about this show is just so poignant and beautiful. I just love it more and more every time I think about it.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 7:27pm

I have often (about 6 of 8 times) worn purple to the show. Going again Sunday...will have to get a new purple or lavender shirt. It's my way of saying thanks to the cast and crew...although they have know idea that I'm doing it!

[Shelby Wakeman]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 3:58pm

The first time I saw the show I went with my psychology class and we had a talkback with the writer, Brian Yorkey, and some of the cast members after the show. My professor, a psychiatrist, did a q&a with Brian and the cast. Brian pointed out the color of Gabe's t-shirt and how in every scene, the color of Gabe's shirt is the same as the character who he is ______ (I can't remember now what it was! Maybe something to do with the character who he is "talking" to?) Does anyone have an idea about what this could be?

[wendilin622]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 5:08pm

Maybe "communicating" with? Showing similarities with?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 5:14pm

Aligned with?