Have you ever looked at an old picture of yourself and cringed at how you were dressed? Been embarrassed by some crazy dated look that you once sported? Even if you don’t “follow” fashion you probably had a hairstyle or a certain cut of pants, or shirt design that reflected a pervasive look that was “in” at the time (sort of the way Star Wars was intended to be timeless but was clearly made in the 70s). You think, “How was it possible I thought that looked good? I was such an idiot back then!” But really, you shouldn't feel bad. You were seduced by fashion, and are simply under the spell of a different style now. Fashion, by its very nature, is ephemeral. One of its functions is marking the passage of time. To surrender to fashion is to acknowledge change, both in yourself and the world around you. When you wear something influenced by fashion, you are identifying yourself as belonging to your time.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
In Defense of Fashion
The week before our final exam, we spent some time in my 20th century fashion history class digesting what we had learned. Part of our discussion centered on the idea of being “seduced” by fashion, and how something can look chic and “in” one year and ugly and outdated the next. Conventional wisdom assumes that things that are fleeting are bad, and it is wrong to be interested in something that will eventually fade. But my professor made some fascinating statements that I can’t stop thinking about. Here is my paraphrasing of what she said:
Monday, May 3, 2010
Want to tour my exhibit?
Finals are approaching, and so I'm pretty swamped right now with assignments, the new job, and complaining about how busy I am. Postings might be thin for the next few weeks.
So here is something to keep you busy (meaning- welcome to my longest post ever). This week I am presenting my exhibit project, and to be honest, I am kind of proud of it. If you are game, let me take you on a tour of my fake exhibit!
[As per usual, the formatting occasionally goes all wonky for no clear reason. Be warned]
Clothing is Key: Dress in Twelve Iconic Paintings
Dress is an ever-present element in the history of art. Clothing and accessories identify the wearer as part of a particular historical, social, and ideological context. Whether selected by the artist or the sitter, clothing is chosen carefully to create a fashionable image or communicate an important idea. Even so, the study of dress is frequently considered secondary to other visual elements in a work of art. This exhibition brings clothing to the forefront, and examines twelve iconic paintings through the eyes of a dress historian. In each work, clothing is not only significant, but central to the meaning and purpose of the painting. To illuminate these messages and aid in interpretation, each painting is displayed with a related article of dress.
These twelve paintings are only a starting point. They represent themes that are shared by countless works of art in collections around the world.
Clothing is Key: Dress in Twelve Iconic Paintings
Dress is an ever-present element in the history of art. Clothing and accessories identify the wearer as part of a particular historical, social, and ideological context. Whether selected by the artist or the sitter, clothing is chosen carefully to create a fashionable image or communicate an important idea. Even so, the study of dress is frequently considered secondary to other visual elements in a work of art. This exhibition brings clothing to the forefront, and examines twelve iconic paintings through the eyes of a dress historian. In each work, clothing is not only significant, but central to the meaning and purpose of the painting. To illuminate these messages and aid in interpretation, each painting is displayed with a related article of dress.
These twelve paintings are only a starting point. They represent themes that are shared by countless works of art in collections around the world.
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