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Description
Let's face it; fandom is fun. It's a great way to expound on your love for a subject, meet other people who feel the same, (it's admittedly a little bit addictive,) and it's just generally a good way to kick back and kill an evening.

Fandom also includes fanfiction and roleplay, and therefore, OC's, and that's where the waters start to get a little bit muddy. We love Rapture, yes, but we live in a different culture, and it's all too easy to superimpose our modern day tastes and styles on characters living in a totally different world.

So, before you start to play in Ken Levine's sandbox, there are a few things you should take into account. The most important of these (and it's so important that I'm going to put it in big, screaming capital letters,) would be this:

IF IT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE 1950, IT ISN'T GOING TO BE IN RAPTURE.

It's as simple as that. Brand names, ESPECIALLY store and restaurant chains, books, music, fashion, movies, artistic movements, you name it. It's not there. Period. Nu-uh. No way, no how.

The city was essentially isolated from 1951 onward, aside from Fontaine's smugglers, who weren't really even exposed to the changing culture of the surface on their brief trips. From the aforementioned year onward, Rapture was developing its own, unique culture, which remained firmly rooted in the post-World War II period, and which essentially became "frozen in time" when the Civil War destroyed the city's infrastructure. Yes, people did come down from the surface after that, but they were too fixated on surviving and/or saving small children to make changes to Rapture's culture.

Now, then, let's take a look at a few elements of that postwar culture, shall we?

Fashion:

In general, clothing in the period in which Rapture is set would have been two things; stylish, and mass-produced. Conformity in clothing was one of the themes of the postwar era, and can typically be seen in what one might think of as a stereotype of the 50's. That being said, while clothes were mass-produced, and generally had the same cut, style, etc, they were stylish, and well made. Elaborate, luxurious clothes were the norm once the wartime rationing of fabric ended, and the quality of the material was probably fairly high, as well.

Men were generally dressing in suits, complete with waistcoat, suspenders, fedora, and tie. Generally, these suits were made of gray flannel, though a trend called the Bold Look enjoyed a brief, two year run in which men were encouraged to wear broader, more colorful ties, hats, suits, collars, cufflinks, etc. Leather wing-tipped shoes were popular in the 50's, but spectator shoes might have been more popular at the time. Shirts were generally button-down, white or light blue, and ties were striped, though of conservative colors. Overall, lapels and shoulders were cut narrow, and pants were tapered, without a pleat. A single-breasted tweed overcoat in cold weather traditionally covered the gray flannel suit, though in Rapture, this might not have been so much of an issue. Hawaiian shirts and sportswear were popular for outdoorsy or casual gatherings, such as picnics or cookouts. Facial hair was typically not worn during this period, although it seems to have been in vogue in the city, possibly a trend set by Ryan. Ryan also exemplifies the Bold Look pretty well, with his wide lapels and tie, and atypical choice of suit color.

Women's fashion went through a few different changes after the war, most notably with the introduction of the New Look, a trend started by Dior. Almost in defiance to the boxy, close-fitting clothing of the wartime scene, skirts in the New Look became full, long, and billowy, waists were cinched and narrow, and shoulders were rounded and sloping. Very luxurious fabrics would have been used, and accessories such as a pillbox hat, gloves, and simple jewelry would commonly have been worn.

That being said, hats were also sometimes purposefully shunned in order to show off carefully crafted hairstyles. Most hairstyles popular during the period would have mimicked the Hollywood stars of the era, and would have required a trip to the hairdresser to accomplish. The "big hair" typical of the late 50's would not have come into style yet, hairspray and curling irons having not been invented yet. It would probably have depended on the event. Generally, everyday hairstyles were soft and short, with modest curls, and rolls were also still quite popular. Some women were just beginning to grow their hair out, and short, sleek styles with bangs were just beginning to appear in avante guarde areas such as Paris.

Stiletto heels were just coming into style around the time, but the pump was still the dominant shoe type, though all styles generally revealed much more of the foot than previous styles had, and nylon stockings were probably worn under most shoes. Overall, the style featured a return to femininity. Colors would have been conservative, with the odd occasional floral print thrown in for whimsy.

Another style popular among women was the American Look, designed by Claire McCardell. Clothes of this type were generally comfortable and functional, and featured simple fabrics. Bias-cut (diagonally cut, that is,) dresses with adjustable waistlines and side pockets, were a staple of this type of fashion, designed to have a soft, flowing shape. Dirndl skirts, which had a slim waist and flared outward at the bottom, were often paired with clingy blouses and light sweaters. Generally, it was mass produced, mix-and-match, comfortable, and casual. Not something you'd probably see in high society events, but perfect for everyday, around the house wear. Sofia Lamb is probably the best representative of this style that I can think of.

Interestingly enough, bikinis were fairly popular as swimwear around this time period. They result from fabric rations during the war, and their restrictions on swimwear. Men would probably be wearing swim trunks by this time, as well.

Horn rimmed glasses were popular for both sexes after 1947, and ladies commonly wore cats eye glasses. Again, Lamb demonstrates both of these features.

Women in positions of business power would most likely be wearing suits. The best answers that I can give you in this regard are that they generally included a dress or skirt-blouse combo with a matching jacket over the top. The shoulders of these jackets were generally padded, to look more masculine.

Evening wear of the period was lavish and exceedingly luxurious. Fur was quite popular as evening wear, as it showed off the wearer's wealth and status. Mink and ermine were favored, ermine having been more popular during the 20's. The quintessential "little black dress," having first been designed by Coco Chanel in the 1920's, was also a staple for formal events, often accessorized simply. The designer herself mentioned a string of pearls as part of the ensemble, which probably would have fit with the simple, understated jewelry trend of the day. Such dresses were generally not richly adorned, sporting beaded trims, lace, mesh lace, and other small additions.

In general, dresses would have been similar to the New Look style, using as much extra fabric as possible to make up for shortages during the war. Full sleeves, bustles, bows, folds, lace, anything that could have made the dress more elaborate, really, would have been added. Materials like taffeta and silk were quite popular. Tropical themes and prints were in style after the war, as a result of returning servicemen bringing them home.

Strapless and sleeveless gowns appear to have been worn as well, but had more of a sleek, refined look than the busy New Look dresses, often sporting minimal adornments. Such styles appear not to have been as widespread. This look was most likely carried over at least in part from the flapper styles of the Jazz Age.

Both sexes would have smoked and drank, and copiously. Men of high class would have favored cigars and Scotch, while women smoked cigarettes through long holders, and favored drinks like champagne and wine.

Underslips were commonly worn under formal dresses to prevent chafing. While they could technically be worn alone, they are considered to be a form of undergarment, so it was typically not done. Sheer or diaphanous fabrics were often worn over underslips, which were allowed to show through, as part of the style of the day. If you look at Baby Jane's Bioshock 2 concept art, her slip can be seen through the tatters in the bottom of the skirt.

All formal dresses would have been very tailored in fit, emphasizing the feminine figure. Hips, waist, and shoulders would be cut very flatteringly.

The uniforms of military officers generally inspired formal wear for men, around this time. Jackets such as the Eisenhower, with a fitted, belted waist, and a chest which bloused out due to extra material, were in style. Black and white-tie fashions would probably have been used for the most formal of events, and don't seem to have changed much over the years.

Keep in mind that older characters (or characters who might not be such snappy dressers,) would probably favor older, more conservative styles, such as the simple, flowing, durable clothes used during the Great Depression. As a general rule, I would say that any 20th century style prior to the early 1950's is probably fair game.

While t-shirts and jeans did exist during this time period, only working class men and possibly a few women, would have been wearing them. Jeans during this time period were referred to as "dungarees," and were more like overalls without the straps than the cuts we wear today, and while men's jeans zippered down the front, women's had the zipper on the side. Likewise, t-shirts were primarily used as underwear rather than being used as a main garment. Jumpsuits and overalls were also common amongst workers, and I can easily imagine sturdy work boots and waders being used. Tennis shoes would have existed, but only in very simple forms. Keds and Converse were the norm until the 60's.

Music:

Music is a bit more flexible than fashion, as far as style goes. While styles from hundreds of years in the past would have been improbable, music reaching that far back is perfectly all right. Classical, Baroque, Romantic, all of these genres might have been played, especially in areas like Fort Frolic. Mozart and Beethoven never go out of style, yo.

That being said, Rapture's main form of music would be Jazz. Anything from the Delta Blues up through Swing and Big Band would be acceptable. Cool Jazz might have been popular, having been recently invented. Hard Bop is most likely a good place to stop. It came into being in the mid 1950's, and probably wouldn't have made it down to the city before it cut off contact with the surface. Early Bebop might have been played but probably not very commonly. Dizzy Gillespie, not Charlie Parker.

Rock n' Roll est verboten. So is anything that comes after it, musically. This includes any and all modern singers who happen to have a similar style to the stuff that's being played in Rapture. You would be hearing people like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Cab Calloway. Artists like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie would have been playing. I highly encourage you to check out some of the earlier stuff, too, though. Art Tatum and Scott Joplin are fabulous, and who can forget Louis Armstrong, the last of the great Coronet Kings of New Orleans?

Slang and Names:

Slang can be tricky because it becomes second nature to us. However, the connotations and usages of many slang terms vary over time. I've posted a fairly helpful website down in the comments which tracks the decades in which slang came into being, and allows you to customize your search by year.

Names are another tricky bit. Modern names and nicknames wouldn't be used in Rapture. If you're stumped, try Behindthename, which I've also included a link to. Look up a name, and then choose the Popularity feature to see when the name was first used, and when it became most popular. Alternatively, if you're completely stumped, there's a most common names feature that will choose the most common names of a specific decade of the 20th century for you, if you'd like. Subtract your character's age from the year your story takes place in. The difference should be your character's birth year. Crank open the feature, and search the list. There's bound to be at least one you like!

A Final Word:

This is generally just a note of warning. The basic concepts I've named here could be applied in different places.

With the sheer number of genetic modifications and weaponry scattered about Rapture, it's all too easy for your character to accidentally take a slide down the Slippery Slope to Sue-dom. There are ways to check yourself, however, which are not all that hard to do. Here are a few which I like to keep in mind and/or use.

-Weapons require training to use, and extensive training to use well. Being trained by another character or learning through many years of grunt-work in the city both count as training.

-The same goes for skills, actually. You have to study and/or patch yourself and maybe a few other survivors up a few times before you can start becoming a medical genius.

-Plasmids require EVE to keep going in the game, so they're not limitless. Whether you want to limit them by physical stamina, EVE, or shots fired per day, keep this in mind.

-ADAM addiction is a dangerous possibility for all characters. ALL characters. Even Little and Big Sisters have gone completely mad on the stuff, according to the game. Splice too quickly or too often, and things could get bad… and potentially, very interesting, plot-wise. How much fun would it be to write out someone's descent into spliced-up insanity? Tons of fun, man, tons.

-Take some of those traits you want your character to have, and replace them with their opposites. Then, as your story goes on, slowly allow your character to overcome these vices and gain your desired traits. It'll be much more fun to watch them grow and change than just having them perfectly fit your vision to start with.

-That being said, keep at least one major vice around to make things interesting. Maybe your character can be selfish? Or maybe they try to alienate people? Maybe they're lazy, or cowardly? Racist? Physically or mentally handicapped? All cool. Variety's the splice of life!

-Does your character respond appropriately to the events of their past? If yes, then congrats. If no, then are they in denial? If yes, great. Maybe they'll see the light someday and respond accordingly. If no... you might wanna check that...

-Consider creating an older character. It may seem a bit odd to write for someone fifteen, or even twenty years older than you are, but keep in mind that these characters will have led longer lives, and thus, had more time to build up experience, regrets, and skills. Their stories could be much richer, as opposed to a naive, younger character. That being said, an older-younger character pair would probably work well, with experience and world-weariness being offset by said naivety and optimism.

Aaaaand that's it for now! More will most likely come once I'm finished with Finals, so keep an eye out!

Description
Let's face it; fandom is fun. It's a great way to expound on your love for a subject, meet other people who feel the same, (it's admittedly a little bit addictive,) and it's just generally a good way to kick back and kill an evening.

Fandom also includes fanfiction and roleplay, and therefore, OC's, and that's where the waters start to get a little bit muddy. We love Rapture, yes, but we live in a different culture, and it's all too easy to superimpose our modern day tastes and styles on characters living in a totally different world.

So, before you start to play in Ken Levine's sandbox, there are a few things you should take into account. The most important of these (and it's so important that I'm going to put it in big, screaming capital letters,) would be this:

IF IT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE 1950, IT ISN'T GOING TO BE IN RAPTURE.

It's as simple as that. Brand names, ESPECIALLY store and restaurant chains, books, music, fashion, movies, artistic movements, you name it. It's not there. Period. Nu-uh. No way, no how.

The city was essentially isolated from 1951 onward, aside from Fontaine's smugglers, who weren't really even exposed to the changing culture of the surface on their brief trips. From the aforementioned year onward, Rapture was developing its own, unique culture, which remained firmly rooted in the post-World War II period, and which essentially became "frozen in time" when the Civil War destroyed the city's infrastructure. Yes, people did come down from the surface after that, but they were too fixated on surviving and/or saving small children to make changes to Rapture's culture.

Now, then, let's take a look at a few elements of that postwar culture, shall we?

Fashion:

In general, clothing in the period in which Rapture is set would have been two things; stylish, and mass-produced. Conformity in clothing was one of the themes of the postwar era, and can typically be seen in what one might think of as a stereotype of the 50's. That being said, while clothes were mass-produced, and generally had the same cut, style, etc, they were stylish, and well made. Elaborate, luxurious clothes were the norm once the wartime rationing of fabric ended, and the quality of the material was probably fairly high, as well.

Men were generally dressing in suits, complete with waistcoat, suspenders, fedora, and tie. Generally, these suits were made of gray flannel, though a trend called the Bold Look enjoyed a brief, two year run in which men were encouraged to wear broader, more colorful ties, hats, suits, collars, cufflinks, etc. Leather wing-tipped shoes were popular in the 50's, but spectator shoes might have been more popular at the time. Shirts were generally button-down, white or light blue, and ties were striped, though of conservative colors. Overall, lapels and shoulders were cut narrow, and pants were tapered, without a pleat. A single-breasted tweed overcoat in cold weather traditionally covered the gray flannel suit, though in Rapture, this might not have been so much of an issue. Hawaiian shirts and sportswear were popular for outdoorsy or casual gatherings, such as picnics or cookouts. Facial hair was typically not worn during this period, although it seems to have been in vogue in the city, possibly a trend set by Ryan. Ryan also exemplifies the Bold Look pretty well, with his wide lapels and tie, and atypical choice of suit color.

Women's fashion went through a few different changes after the war, most notably with the introduction of the New Look, a trend started by Dior. Almost in defiance to the boxy, close-fitting clothing of the wartime scene, skirts in the New Look became full, long, and billowy, waists were cinched and narrow, and shoulders were rounded and sloping. Very luxurious fabrics would have been used, and accessories such as a pillbox hat, gloves, and simple jewelry would commonly have been worn.

That being said, hats were also sometimes purposefully shunned in order to show off carefully crafted hairstyles. Most hairstyles popular during the period would have mimicked the Hollywood stars of the era, and would have required a trip to the hairdresser to accomplish. The "big hair" typical of the late 50's would not have come into style yet, hairspray and curling irons having not been invented yet. It would probably have depended on the event. Generally, everyday hairstyles were soft and short, with modest curls, and rolls were also still quite popular. Some women were just beginning to grow their hair out, and short, sleek styles with bangs were just beginning to appear in avante guarde areas such as Paris.

Stiletto heels were just coming into style around the time, but the pump was still the dominant shoe type, though all styles generally revealed much more of the foot than previous styles had, and nylon stockings were probably worn under most shoes. Overall, the style featured a return to femininity. Colors would have been conservative, with the odd occasional floral print thrown in for whimsy.

Another style popular among women was the American Look, designed by Claire McCardell. Clothes of this type were generally comfortable and functional, and featured simple fabrics. Bias-cut (diagonally cut, that is,) dresses with adjustable waistlines and side pockets, were a staple of this type of fashion, designed to have a soft, flowing shape. Dirndl skirts, which had a slim waist and flared outward at the bottom, were often paired with clingy blouses and light sweaters. Generally, it was mass produced, mix-and-match, comfortable, and casual. Not something you'd probably see in high society events, but perfect for everyday, around the house wear. Sofia Lamb is probably the best representative of this style that I can think of.

Interestingly enough, bikinis were fairly popular as swimwear around this time period. They result from fabric rations during the war, and their restrictions on swimwear. Men would probably be wearing swim trunks by this time, as well.

Horn rimmed glasses were popular for both sexes after 1947, and ladies commonly wore cats eye glasses. Again, Lamb demonstrates both of these features.

Women in positions of business power would most likely be wearing suits. The best answers that I can give you in this regard are that they generally included a dress or skirt-blouse combo with a matching jacket over the top. The shoulders of these jackets were generally padded, to look more masculine.

Evening wear of the period was lavish and exceedingly luxurious. Fur was quite popular as evening wear, as it showed off the wearer's wealth and status. Mink and ermine were favored, ermine having been more popular during the 20's. The quintessential "little black dress," having first been designed by Coco Chanel in the 1920's, was also a staple for formal events, often accessorized simply. The designer herself mentioned a string of pearls as part of the ensemble, which probably would have fit with the simple, understated jewelry trend of the day. Such dresses were generally not richly adorned, sporting beaded trims, lace, mesh lace, and other small additions.

In general, dresses would have been similar to the New Look style, using as much extra fabric as possible to make up for shortages during the war. Full sleeves, bustles, bows, folds, lace, anything that could have made the dress more elaborate, really, would have been added. Materials like taffeta and silk were quite popular. Tropical themes and prints were in style after the war, as a result of returning servicemen bringing them home.

Strapless and sleeveless gowns appear to have been worn as well, but had more of a sleek, refined look than the busy New Look dresses, often sporting minimal adornments. Such styles appear not to have been as widespread. This look was most likely carried over at least in part from the flapper styles of the Jazz Age.

Both sexes would have smoked and drank, and copiously. Men of high class would have favored cigars and Scotch, while women smoked cigarettes through long holders, and favored drinks like champagne and wine.

Underslips were commonly worn under formal dresses to prevent chafing. While they could technically be worn alone, they are considered to be a form of undergarment, so it was typically not done. Sheer or diaphanous fabrics were often worn over underslips, which were allowed to show through, as part of the style of the day. If you look at Baby Jane's Bioshock 2 concept art, her slip can be seen through the tatters in the bottom of the skirt.

All formal dresses would have been very tailored in fit, emphasizing the feminine figure. Hips, waist, and shoulders would be cut very flatteringly.

The uniforms of military officers generally inspired formal wear for men, around this time. Jackets such as the Eisenhower, with a fitted, belted waist, and a chest which bloused out due to extra material, were in style. Black and white-tie fashions would probably have been used for the most formal of events, and don't seem to have changed much over the years.

Keep in mind that older characters (or characters who might not be such snappy dressers,) would probably favor older, more conservative styles, such as the simple, flowing, durable clothes used during the Great Depression. As a general rule, I would say that any 20th century style prior to the early 1950's is probably fair game.

While t-shirts and jeans did exist during this time period, only working class men and possibly a few women, would have been wearing them. Jeans during this time period were referred to as "dungarees," and were more like overalls without the straps than the cuts we wear today, and while men's jeans zippered down the front, women's had the zipper on the side. Likewise, t-shirts were primarily used as underwear rather than being used as a main garment. Jumpsuits and overalls were also common amongst workers, and I can easily imagine sturdy work boots and waders being used. Tennis shoes would have existed, but only in very simple forms. Keds and Converse were the norm until the 60's.

Music:

Music is a bit more flexible than fashion, as far as style goes. While styles from hundreds of years in the past would have been improbable, music reaching that far back is perfectly all right. Classical, Baroque, Romantic, all of these genres might have been played, especially in areas like Fort Frolic. Mozart and Beethoven never go out of style, yo.

That being said, Rapture's main form of music would be Jazz. Anything from the Delta Blues up through Swing and Big Band would be acceptable. Cool Jazz might have been popular, having been recently invented. Hard Bop is most likely a good place to stop. It came into being in the mid 1950's, and probably wouldn't have made it down to the city before it cut off contact with the surface. Early Bebop might have been played but probably not very commonly. Dizzy Gillespie, not Charlie Parker.

Rock n' Roll est verboten. So is anything that comes after it, musically. This includes any and all modern singers who happen to have a similar style to the stuff that's being played in Rapture. You would be hearing people like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Cab Calloway. Artists like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie would have been playing. I highly encourage you to check out some of the earlier stuff, too, though. Art Tatum and Scott Joplin are fabulous, and who can forget Louis Armstrong, the last of the great Coronet Kings of New Orleans?

Slang and Names:

Slang can be tricky because it becomes second nature to us. However, the connotations and usages of many slang terms vary over time. I've posted a fairly helpful website down in the comments which tracks the decades in which slang came into being, and allows you to customize your search by year.

Names are another tricky bit. Modern names and nicknames wouldn't be used in Rapture. If you're stumped, try Behindthename, which I've also included a link to. Look up a name, and then choose the Popularity feature to see when the name was first used, and when it became most popular. Alternatively, if you're completely stumped, there's a most common names feature that will choose the most common names of a specific decade of the 20th century for you, if you'd like. Subtract your character's age from the year your story takes place in. The difference should be your character's birth year. Crank open the feature, and search the list. There's bound to be at least one you like!

A Final Word:

This is generally just a note of warning. The basic concepts I've named here could be applied in different places.

With the sheer number of genetic modifications and weaponry scattered about Rapture, it's all too easy for your character to accidentally take a slide down the Slippery Slope to Sue-dom. There are ways to check yourself, however, which are not all that hard to do. Here are a few which I like to keep in mind and/or use.

-Weapons require training to use, and extensive training to use well. Being trained by another character or learning through many years of grunt-work in the city both count as training.

-The same goes for skills, actually. You have to study and/or patch yourself and maybe a few other survivors up a few times before you can start becoming a medical genius.

-Plasmids require EVE to keep going in the game, so they're not limitless. Whether you want to limit them by physical stamina, EVE, or shots fired per day, keep this in mind.

-ADAM addiction is a dangerous possibility for all characters. ALL characters. Even Little and Big Sisters have gone completely mad on the stuff, according to the game. Splice too quickly or too often, and things could get bad… and potentially, very interesting, plot-wise. How much fun would it be to write out someone's descent into spliced-up insanity? Tons of fun, man, tons.

-Take some of those traits you want your character to have, and replace them with their opposites. Then, as your story goes on, slowly allow your character to overcome these vices and gain your desired traits. It'll be much more fun to watch them grow and change than just having them perfectly fit your vision to start with.

-That being said, keep at least one major vice around to make things interesting. Maybe your character can be selfish? Or maybe they try to alienate people? Maybe they're lazy, or cowardly? Racist? Physically or mentally handicapped? All cool. Variety's the splice of life!

-Does your character respond appropriately to the events of their past? If yes, then congrats. If no, then are they in denial? If yes, great. Maybe they'll see the light someday and respond accordingly. If no... you might wanna check that...

-Consider creating an older character. It may seem a bit odd to write for someone fifteen, or even twenty years older than you are, but keep in mind that these characters will have led longer lives, and thus, had more time to build up experience, regrets, and skills. Their stories could be much richer, as opposed to a naive, younger character. That being said, an older-younger character pair would probably work well, with experience and world-weariness being offset by said naivety and optimism.

Aaaaand that's it for now! More will most likely come once I'm finished with Finals, so keep an eye out!