AIMS
- To introduce theory and critical debate.
- To introduce the groups seminar presentations.
1. THEORY AND CRITICAL DEBATE
From the CLASS READING - APPROACHES TO THEORY
THE NEED FOR A SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO STUDYING FASHION
From the CLASS READING - APPROACHES TO THEORY
THE NEED FOR A SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO STUDYING FASHION
Students who research fashion/dress for the first time may think that it has nothing to do with social sciences. However, fashion/dress needs to be studied social scientifically … in order to earn enough respect in academia because we come across abundant nonacademic information about fashion in our everyday life. (Kawamura, 2011, p.18).
Fashion journalism
The reason fashion magazines have been excited over the M&S coat is because various high-end designers all made pink coats this season. Now, this kind of serendipitous synchronicity among designers does nothing to disabuse me of my belief that what we call "trends" are actually "evil plots cooked up by designers who scheme together ahead of time to make similar colours and clothes to convince the public that in order to look up to date we need to buy their wares." (Hadley-Freeman, 2013).
WHAT IS A THEORY?
A theory is a generalisation about a phenomenon, an explanation of how and why something happens. Therefore, theoretical perspectives are interrelated sets of assumptions, concepts, and propositions that constitute a view of the world. (Kawamura, 2011, p.20).
Fairy stories as theories
As explanations of the world, fairy stories tell us what science and philosophy cannot and need not. (Winterson, 2013).
See Hermione reading
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7ydmTS6-Sw
Textiles in fairy stories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6UYITSXjfc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7ydmTS6-Sw
Textiles in fairy stories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6UYITSXjfc
FASHION THEORY
Remember there is no right answer...
Remember there is no right answer...
There is no one fashion theory per se that is universally accepted, and since fashion/dress studies requires various perspectives, approaches, and interpretations, there are multiple fashion theories that rely on major social theories. (Kawamura, 2011, p.22).
2. GROUP SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS
See the PROJECT BRIEF - GROUP SEMINAR PRESENTATION PAGE
See group work information from 17/10/13.
Proposed seminars:
See the PROJECT BRIEF - GROUP SEMINAR PRESENTATION PAGE
See group work information from 17/10/13.
Proposed seminars:
- The Veil in their Minds and on our Heads: Veiling Practices and Muslim Women. Hooma Hoodfar.
- Feminism and Fashion. Elizabeth Wilson.
- Invisible Men. Shaun Cole.
- Japanese Street Fashion: The urge to be seen and to be heard. Yuniya Kawamura.
- Fashion in India. Vandana Bhandari.
- Secondhand Dresses and the Ragmarket. Angela McRobbie.
CONCLUSION
All have a go at the CLASS READING - VEILING GROUP SEMINAR PRESENTATION
All have a go at the CLASS READING - VEILING GROUP SEMINAR PRESENTATION
WHAT HAVE LEARNED?
WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?
To do this quick.
WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?
To do this quick.
REFERENCES
Freeman, H. (2013) 'Pink coats are in fashion - but is that reason enough to buy one?' Guardian 14 October [Online]. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2013/oct/14/pink-coat-fashion-buy-ask-hadley (Accessed 15 October 2013).
Kawamura, Y. (2011) Doing research in fashion and dress. Oxford: Berg.
Winterson, J. (2013) 'Why we need fairy tales: Jeanette Winterson on Oscar Wilde', Guardian 16 October [Online]. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/16/jeanette-winterson-fairytales-oscar-wilde (Accessed 22 October 2013).
Freeman, H. (2013) 'Pink coats are in fashion - but is that reason enough to buy one?' Guardian 14 October [Online]. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2013/oct/14/pink-coat-fashion-buy-ask-hadley (Accessed 15 October 2013).
Kawamura, Y. (2011) Doing research in fashion and dress. Oxford: Berg.
Winterson, J. (2013) 'Why we need fairy tales: Jeanette Winterson on Oscar Wilde', Guardian 16 October [Online]. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/16/jeanette-winterson-fairytales-oscar-wilde (Accessed 22 October 2013).