MODA Lookbook Episode 9: Scream Queens
Welcome to Episode 9 of MODA Blog’s Lookbook series! We wanted to offer our wonderful team the opportunity to create and direct more editorial content for your viewing pleasure. Completely student styled, modelled and produced, the MODA Lookbook hopes to inspire, empower and challenge the talent of our community.
TW: (Fake) blood, sharp objects
What’s your favorite scary movie?
The trope of the scream queen is a tale old as time, one we’ve all seen before during our horror movie binges. Bowl of popcorn clutched in hand, blankets draped over our bodies, we watch in spectral darkness as the female heroine lets out an ear-piercing scream. She runs to two places—outside, flailing her arms hoping that
Somebody! Anybody!
Can hear her.
Or, she makes a mad dash to the bathroom-bedroom-attic-basement, locks herself inside, and hides. Maybe, in an act of quick thinking, she finds a weapon—she slices her finger on a razor-needle-scrapglass, she clutches a knife in her grip.
Thump, thump, thump
Go the steps of the killer.
Though she might seem like a damsel in distress, most of the time she comes out on top by hitting her assailant right where it hurts, just enough to be able to drop her weapon and fall to the ground in exhaustion. Sometimes, she doesn’t.
There’s something strange about her, though, that sets her apart from her peers. She’s just “pretty enough” to adhere to the so-called standards of beauty. Maybe she’s a little boring (at first) in comparison to her friends, timid and modest to their rowdy and sexually liberated. Although directors in the likes of Wes Craven and John Carpenter broke through those stereotypes just a bit in their respective films, they still missed the mark in so many ways. Sure, these girls fight back. They’re badasses. Usually. But…
Oh, did I mention she’s white? Straight? Cis?
How many slasher films can you think of starring people of color—BIPOC, at that—pre-21st century, and even now? What about the directors? What about without that sense of tokenism, without those tiresome and maddening tropes? First to die. Mythical. The best friend. The villain. The supporting character. What about queer people of color?
In what regard are these scream queens memorable, aside from the occasional pop culture reference?
And so, I challenged three models to take the tropes of the scream queen and not only subvert them, but make them unforgettable. Stylish. Modern. Better.
This shoot was completely self-styled by models Miles Franklin, Anna Kinlock, and Jo Blankson, from clothes, to hair, to makeup. It was captured and edited by my wonderful photographer, co-director, and roommate Alex Jovel, a 3rd year FLI student from Alabama.
We hope you enjoy MODA Lookbook Episode 9: Scream Queens!
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Miles Franklin is a third year English major at the College, as well as an arts & culture writer and fashion collector. Here, they pay homage to Drew Barrymore’s character in the first Scream (1996) movie, Casey Becker.
White dress: Zara
Just Like The Movies: Miles pays homage to Drew Barrymore’s character in the first Scream movie, Casey Becker
Pink sweater: Vintage / Jeans: Levi
Hello? Who’s There?
Time to make an escape. Where’s Ghostface?
Nowhere to Run: Top & skirt from Pilsen Vintage
Anna Kinlock is a second year CRES and English major with a concentration in Germanic languages. In their free time they’re a board representative for ACSA, organizes with UCU, and can be found working as a wench in the stacks of the Reg. Here, you can find them fading in and out of dreams in the likes of Nancy Thompson from A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
Drag Me Under: Anna’s look is a nod to the infamous bath tub scene in the slasher by Wes Craven
Slip: Vintage Victoria’s Secret / Robe: Thrifted / Tights: Beauty Supply / Jewelry: Oil diffuser necklace from Etsy
Razor Hands
Childhood Clutch: Earrings from Beauty Supply / Headband from @shimmeryds, a black-owned business in Hyde Park
Fighting Back: Rings thrifted
Jo Blanskon is a 3rd year Fundamentals major in the college with the question, “What is sexy?” Her dream job pre-COVID was to be a Harper barista; even then, she does improv with Off-Off Campus and stand up, along with NSP and her job as a research assistant. Here, she channels and subverts the innocent and studious Laurie Strode of Halloween (1978).
Jo honors the late 70’s girl next door Laurie Strode in a thrifted blue button down and Levi 501’s
Study Date For One, Or Two?
You Are Not Alone
Found Footage
It’s all in the details.
Okay, but seriously. What’s your favorite scary movie?
Miles: A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Anna: Jennifer’s Body.
Jo: Halloweentown & Ex Machina.
Alex: The Saw Franchise.
Nadaya: Scream. The first one, specifically.
Cast and Crew
Co-directors: Alex Jovel, Nadaya Davis
Models: Miles Franklin, Anna Kinlock, Jo Blankson
Makeup, Hair, & Styling: Miles Franklin, Anna Kinlock, Jo Blankson
Photography & Editing: Alex Jovel
A special thank you to Alex Jovel, my fellow co-director! Get to know Alex and check out his portfolio here
Note: This shoot was constructed carefully and thoughtfully, as it is partially indoors. Directors kept masks on at all times, and models when necessary, along with adhering to distance as much as possible. Participants are signed up for weekly COVID testing at the University.
