Final Project: Extend the Body/Things Fall Apart

Proposal:

Extend the human body outwards as a defense mechanism in a case where someone wants to get close and assault the body.

A piece of clothing, perhaps a shawl, jacket, or vest with attached pieces that replicate porcupine quills, and the movement of those quills outwards for self defense.  The action of the body extending outwards for protection replicates those of porcupines, puffer fish, or frilled neck lizard.  If there was a way to engineer the piece so that when pulling on something, the “quills” that were laying flat will come up, like the mechanism in pop up books, I would do this piece, if not possible in the time given, I will do the next idea.  The materials would depend on how I could execute this, the quills could be made from wood or metal.  The 2d element would be a layout/drawing/dissection of the piece in comparison to those of the animals and their mechanisms.  The 3d element would be the actual garment.  This piece also relates to the concept of “things fall apart,” with the downwards falling movement of the quills after the “danger” has passed.  Though this movement is more of an “offensive” act, the jacket acts as a defensive mechanism as well when not in motion.  It seems intimidating/impenetrable due to the hardware, color, and addition of the spikes, as well as the sound it creates in its swaying, limp movement.  Much like turtle shells or exoskeletons of insects as a way of protection and defense for their fleshy body/internal organs.

Planning:

Process:

Materials Used:

• Lightweight black nylon (Mood Fabrics)
• Black knit trimming (Pacific Trimming)
• Metal zipper (Sil Threads)
• Bamboo skewers (Whole Foods)
• Metal grommets (Sil Threads and REI Coop)
• Thread (previously owned)
• Spray Paint (Blick)
• Nail Polish (CVS)

Process Pictures:

Process Videos:

Initial Testing of spike movement

They’re on pretty well!

Testing, Testing

Final:

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Sound made by the movement of the spikes

When only the pulley attached to the top is pulled

When only the pulleys attached to the bottom are pulled.

Problems/Improvement and Future Ideas:

 

Problems:

There were definitely some issues with the final product as you can probably see in the photos and videos.  The main issue was that not all off the spikes would rise when the pulleys/webbing were pulled.  I thought that attaching pulleys on the top and bottom would be the solution.  In fact, when you pull separately on the top and bottom pulleys, their respective top and bottom spikes move up and down quite well.  However, when both are pulled, they do not all move as you can see in the photos.  I wanted the effect of the spikes to be quite chaotic looking with each spike going in different directions, however, I wanted them all to rise at the least.  There is another issue with the puckering of the fabric, however, this could be solved with a material change.

Improvement:

I think a lot of the issues can be fixed with an adjustment to the choice of fabric and jacket style.  Instead of a sportier look with the bomber jacket style in the light fabric, I think that a straighter and thicker coat would improve the puckering, as well as the moving of the spikes.  However, in the beginning stages, I chose not to go this route because I thought it would be too expensive to create.  Though I do realize now that it would be more effective.

Future Ideas:

Perhaps incorporate lights, like some poisonous animals and amphibians that are brightly colored in order to intimidate/warn predators. So when someone feels like they are in danger, they can turn on these flashing bright lights to either intimidate or take aback the attacker, or to attract attention to the situation for others in order to deflect attention of oneself from the attacker.