How to Make a Genie Costume

You may think of a genie as a cute, friendly creature or even as Jeannie from the classic TV show, but the real history of genies is a little different. The word "genie" derived from the Arabic "djinn" is for a creature that can sometimes grant wishes, but in basic cosmological terms, is a servant of "shaitan", or in western terms, the devil. Making a genie costume involves figuring out your ideas of this mythical creature.

Instructions

1. Consider make up. Genies seen in western commercials are often blue or bronze.

2. Find an abundance of cloth. The word "djinn" is suppose to indicate concealment, and although that's probably metaphorical, many depictions of genies include flowing robes, pants or armbands of light, soft material.

3. Consider an exotic pair of shoes. Many genies that you see on television have eastern style, curl tipped or sandal shaped shoes.

4. Add other "eastern" accessories as necessary. Genies are often shown wearing some kind of turban. Generally, since genies in the classic Mesopotamean societies were thought of as being similar to humans, a genie might wear garments intended to block the harsh desert sun. Jewelry such as armbands or rings might not be out of place on a genie.

5. Cultivate an innocent or menacing demeanor depending on your type of genie. For a western pop culture genie, the appearance is of a harmless prankster or happy spirit. But in many other depictions, the genie is a fearful figure, with a tendency to manifest the wrath of the underworld.

Tips & Warnings

• Think about the messages you are sending with your genie costume. Sure, it's not the most prominent icon of Arabic cultures, but with today's atmosphere of global communications, you want to be knowledgeable and tactful in depicting the icons of another culture. Being able to explain your use of the genie archetype helps if you have to talk to natives of the middle eastern region about your design.

Resources

• Genie pictures
• Another genie webpage