Lipstick

Velvet Goldmine has much depth of symbolism with objects and with its use of conveying information within it. I loved how many themes correlated with Oscar Wilde and his personal scandal with Brain Slades. 

    Instead of showing a TV with the random news coverings in the beginning of the film, static-y radio broadcasts were used, dating the time versus keeping on the edge of modern times. I thought that was an interesting choice, and perhaps part of the form people may have listened to Oscars Wilde's trail, although I admit I do not know the exact year the radio was made. We also get our information on the moving plot through newspaper headlines, such as "Slade Shooting a Hoax" and "He was elegance walking arm and arm with a lie". Both these titles say completely different things about Brian, both that may have their parts of the story. Even 100 years later didn't at first seem all that different from when we first saw little boy Oscar is school. The 100 years later little boy was still an outcast, wearing a little boy's school uniforms and an outcast from society. 

      The lipstick image was heavily carried on throughout the movie as well. We first see little Brian Slade, in front of a mirror, rubbing a dark blood-like substance over his lips, and his cute little boy image is changed to something edgier. Later, as teens running to go see Brian in concert, and actually do see him on the streets, dressed in a black cape, and dark fitted pants and heavy make up are motivated to change to be more like their idol. In the next scene we see them using a store window to apply lipstick they must have just acquired to imitate Brian more. He also has an album we see named "Lipstick trace." While I am not sure of the full symbolism, I think Brian's answer for why he wears make up is witty as well as enlightening, "Rock and roll is a prostitute...the music is the mask."

     Along with the handed done gemstone, the glitter, feathers, and clouds, much other symbolism gives this movie depth and beautify.