BA1 THEORY CLASS - INTRODUCTION TO THEORY - INTERDISCIPLINARY FASHION THEORY

No Pinterest board today (using previous examples).

1. FEEDBACK FORMS


To complete forms for both terms 1 and 2


Term 1 THEORY = INTRODUCTION TO FASHION (historical, technical, social)


Term 2 THEORY = INTRODUCTION TO THEORY (theoretical)

2. POSTMODERNISM AND MODERNISM 

Postmodernism = post Second World War Modernism = post First World War

Two illustrations from Term 1's CHANEL AND MODERNISM class to highlight the difference

Chanel, little black dress, 1927.

Chanel, spring and summer, 2014.

How do they compare?

Whereas Modernism was characterised by logic, simplicity, a break from history and functionality, the Postmodern age dispensed with linearity in favour of eclecticism, parody and cultural hybridity (Mackenzie, 2009, p.122).

(Today = The New Earnestness or Post Irony?)

3. POSTMODERN INTERDISCIPLINARY FASHION THEORY

Called postmodernism, contemporary theory has been more concerned with specific phenomena and its deconstruction in order to understand how cultural practices develop, circulate, and are maintained. This has resulted in a trend of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches that draw on a number of aspects of a range of theories. (Craik, 2009, p.115).

Postmodern interdisciplinary fashion theory typified by interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches 

i.e. no one set way…

How does this compare to last weeks's INTRODUCTION TO THEORY - FASHION SYMBOLS AND CODES (semiotics)?

Once regarded as a radical controversial approach, semiotics or the language of clothes was the dominant fashion theory of the late twentieth century. (Craik, 2009, p.115).

And because you loved it so much …

Winter, Francesce Masriera, 1882.

As is clear from the ancient vulgar meaning of the word "muff", the woman who carried one was carrying a visible symbol of her private parts, which she represented as firry, soft, delicate and warm. On a cold day a favoured man might be invited to place his hand in his companion's muff, encouraging him to hope for a similar but less symbolic opportunity in the future. (Lurie, 1992, p.234).

4. THE MAIN TYPES OF POSTMODERN INTERDISCIPLINARY FASHION THEORIES - ILLUSTRATED BY PREVIOUSLY SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS
 

Historical Approaches

A social history approach locates clothing in its social context of economic status, gender, ethnic, symbolic, and structural factors … (Craik, 2009, p.116).

Prince George's christening in INTRODUCTION TO THEORY - APPROACHES TO STUDYING FASHION CLASS (fashion and status)


http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/23/prince-george-christening-live-blog

Consumer Culture Approaches 

Marketing and management studies, advertising, and merchandizing studies consider fashion as an industry and commercial business. (Craik, 2009, p.116).

The Guardian's How To Dress series in INTRODUCTION TO THEORY -  FASHION SYMBOLS AND CODES (fashion journalism)

http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/video/2014/mar/12/how-to-wear-white-shirts-video

Cultural Forces 

Diasporic and ethnic studies of fashion explore fashions that become a communicative strategy in order to situate diasporic communities and identities in the global village  (Craik, 2009, p.116).

There was no video we watched which relates to this but remember the Islamic veiling debate in term 1's INTRODUCTION TO COURSE PROGRAMME (critical debate)

http://www.pinterest.com/pcourtenay1/ba2-contemporary-issues-veiling/

Communicative Relationships

Subfields of cultural and media studies include textual analysis, social marginalization, and subcultural analysis (Craik, 2009, p.116).

Baggy trousers speech from 90s film Clueless in INTRODUCTION TO THEORY - APPROACHES TO FASHION (fashion and society)


http://www.pinterest.com/pin/66076319507022541/


See also an advert for BA2 work (fashion and textiles in storytelling)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6UYITSXjfc

5. GROUP RESEARCH - GENDER-RELATED AND -DEPENDENT PRACTICES


This week's ANNOUNCEMENT


Gender-Related and -Dependent Practices

Charlotte, Lauren and Sam = Feminist approaches

Danielle, Josh, Nicole = Psychoanalytical approaches

Julia, Karen, Tracey = Masculinity and queer studies


The postmodern interdisciplinary gender-related approaches are the interesting ones (sex)!

Feminist approaches

the manipulation of fashion systems to construct desired images of femininity (Craik, 2009, p.117).

Grace Kelly's entrance in the film Rear Window in INTRODUCTION TO THEORY - FASHION CYCLES (trickle down)


http://www.pinterest.com/pin/66076319507198307/

Psychoanalytical approaches

unconscious sexual desires and erotic tendencies related to the formation of the ego and the id  (Craik, 2009, p.117).

Virgin adverts in INTRODUCTION TO THEORY - FASHION AND IDENTITY (uniform)



http://www.pinterest.com/pin/66076319507078430/


http://www.pinterest.com/pin/66076319507078419/

Masculinity and queer studies

the particularities of man's relationship with fashion and the construction of masculinity (Craik, 2009, p.117).

Levi's 501 advert in INTRODUCTION TO THEORY - FASHION CYCLES (bubble up)


http://www.pinterest.com/pin/66076319507198158/ 

6. WORK DUE


All work is due next Thursday 27th (unless extra time has been negotiated).


RESEARCH FILE


REFLECTIVE BLOG LINK


CRITICAL RESEARCH REPORT (THE ESSAY)

7. CONCLUSION


My favourite study skills films from YouTube


Keeping a Personal Journal 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/66076319504201554/

(I can't write) No Dissertation

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/66076319502781685/

REFERENCES

Craik, J. (2009) Fashion - the key concepts. Oxford: Berg.

Lurie, A. (1992) The language of clothes. Revised edition. London: Bloomsbury.

Mackenzie, M. (2009) …Isms understanding fashion. New York: Universe.