The Art Behind The Muppets
Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, the beloved cast of ‘Sesame Street’: Muppets are the colourful puppet creations of Jim Henson (1936-1990), film-maker and gifted artist. From humble beginnings in television commercials and a little-known show called ‘Sam and Friends’ in 1955, to forty years and counting of ‘Sesame Street’, five seasons of the ‘Muppet Show’, ten Muppet feature films and numerous other television specials, series and telemovies, their popularity is still phenomenal. In 2009, their version of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ on YouTube shot to more than eight million views in a week. The inimitable mixture of slapstick, word-play, spoof, song, big eyes and wide mouths has proven to be of universal appeal. They are one of the greatest success stories of the small and big screens, and one of the highest points in mass market puppetry. They are also art.
But what makes them art, rather than just a popular franchise? There are certain elements and themes that reoccur in any definition of art. Art is an aesthetic combination of form, line, colour and symbol to create meaning; it arouses certain emotions and feelings in its audience; and can take many forms, such as sculpture, painting, film, and even clothing. So how does the unique Muppet aesthetic illustrate these elements?
Putting aside performance art, including scripting, voice acting and music, it is the visuals that create the Muppets’ initial appeal. The look of each Muppet, and each set, must be carefully composed, just as a more traditional painter or sculptor composes their work for maximum effect. Without careful consideration to visual appeal, the Muppets would have little or no overall appeal. If we consider each Muppet a visual composition like any... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline
