'Natalie
Some very interesting points here with lots to follow up if you wanted to. The whole subject of the web how it’s effecting the changing nature of fashion is an interesting subject and you could take it down a number of different paths:
1) The sociology of fashion. Look @ how the internet is changing the whole idea of ‘peer’ led fashion. As lookbook and facebook change what ‘peers’ means so ideas of influence change. Maybe consider the changing face of peer-led fashion from ‘friends’ to ‘facebook frends’. More Bauman ( Liquid Modernity esp) would help.
2) psychoanalysis. In particular, the obsession with the fetish of the virtual. Increasingly, it could be argued, we’re becoming more attuned to fetishising the virtual. But has this always been the case. Jacques Lacan’s idea of the petit objet a might merit a read here.
3) institutional critique (Marxism perhaps): how fashion uses the web to create new systems of consumption and production. The Frankfurt School (esp. Adorno) will help you find the language with which to take on more advanced states of capitalist production.
Generally, I liked the essay. But I do wonder if you’re heart really isn’t in it at times. If you’re interested in identity and fashion in cyberculture, say so. I think sometimes the essay tended to veer off and enter new areas (clearly define your terms ‘virtual’ ‘online’ and ‘cyber’ they’re not the same thing).
I would recommend a mark in the high 60s. It is well written and the reading shows evidence of an intelligent reading of cybercultures. I think we’re still not stuck on a clear method yet, but there’s time to develop this.
Lots of potential here Natalie, we just need to think about where we could take it.'
I agree with Toby, that my heart wasn't in it. I chose the subject out of desperation, almost, as time was running out. There were other things from different lectures which interested me more. Fairly pleased with a high 60, although obviously a first is essentially what I want. There are some interesting points that I could follow up, however I'm not sure my dissertation could lead on from this essay, as I dont think it could hold my interest enough.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Bibliography/Literature Search
Bauman, Z (2001) Community: Seeking Safety in an Insecure World, (Cambridge: Polity)
Bauman, Z (2001) Identity, (Cambridge: Polity)
Bauman, Z (2005) Liquid Life, Cambridge: Polity
Bauman, Z (2006) Liquid Fear, Cambridge: Polity
Bauman, Z (2000) Liquid Modernity, Cambridge: Polity
Bell, D and Kennedy B (2000) The Cybercultures Reader, London: Routledge
Dery, M (1996) Escape Velocity: Cyberculture at the end of the Century, New York: Grove
Gauntlett, D and Horsley R (2000) Web.Studies, London: Arnold
Gauntlett, D (2008) Media, Gender and Identity: an Introduction, London: Routledge
Goffman, E (1990) Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, London: Penguin
Jenkins, R (2008) Social Identity, Oxon: Routledge
Jones, S (1997) Virtual Culture: Identity and Communication in Cybersociety, London: Sage Publications
Kennedy, B (2000) The Cybercultures Reader, London: Routledge
Woodward, K (1997) Identity and Difference, Milton Keynes: Open University Press
Merchant, G Identity, Social Networks and Online Communication (2006) http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pdf/validate.asp?j=elea&vol=3&issue=2&year=2006&article=9_Merchant_ELEA_3_2_web [Accessed on 22nd March 2010]
Prevos, P From Chicago to Frankfurt: Goffman and Marcuse on Identity (2006) http://www.prevos.net/ola/goffman_marcuse.pdf [Accessed on 21st March 2010]
Suler, J Identity in Cyberspace (Article revised 2000) http://www-usr.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/identitymanage.html [Accessed 21st March 2010]
http://www.blogger.com/
http://www.lookbook.nu/
http://www.mycelebrityfashion.co.uk/
Bauman, Z (2001) Identity, (Cambridge: Polity)
Bauman, Z (2005) Liquid Life, Cambridge: Polity
Bauman, Z (2006) Liquid Fear, Cambridge: Polity
Bauman, Z (2000) Liquid Modernity, Cambridge: Polity
Bell, D and Kennedy B (2000) The Cybercultures Reader, London: Routledge
Dery, M (1996) Escape Velocity: Cyberculture at the end of the Century, New York: Grove
Gauntlett, D and Horsley R (2000) Web.Studies, London: Arnold
Gauntlett, D (2008) Media, Gender and Identity: an Introduction, London: Routledge
Goffman, E (1990) Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, London: Penguin
Jenkins, R (2008) Social Identity, Oxon: Routledge
Jones, S (1997) Virtual Culture: Identity and Communication in Cybersociety, London: Sage Publications
Kennedy, B (2000) The Cybercultures Reader, London: Routledge
Woodward, K (1997) Identity and Difference, Milton Keynes: Open University Press
Merchant, G Identity, Social Networks and Online Communication (2006) http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pdf/validate.asp?j=elea&vol=3&issue=2&year=2006&article=9_Merchant_ELEA_3_2_web [Accessed on 22nd March 2010]
Prevos, P From Chicago to Frankfurt: Goffman and Marcuse on Identity (2006) http://www.prevos.net/ola/goffman_marcuse.pdf [Accessed on 21st March 2010]
Suler, J Identity in Cyberspace (Article revised 2000) http://www-usr.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/identitymanage.html [Accessed 21st March 2010]
http://www.blogger.com/
http://www.lookbook.nu/
http://www.mycelebrityfashion.co.uk/
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Burberry in 3D
It seems 3D is definatly the way things are headed...
'Those without private-screening room invitations could watch the show live in 2D at live.burberry.com and on global online news sites, as well as comment on the show in real-time, using their Facebook and Twitter accounts. And, instead of the usual six-month wait, the 'Burberry Cadet Girls Collection' - a military parade of naval reefer jackets and sheepskin aviator coats with zipped detailing - is already available on Burberry.com.' (http://www.wallpaper.com/fashion/burberry-streams-3d-fashion-show/4319)
As if fashion wasnt fast enough, as designers embrace new technology, I'm not sure I can keep up!
Avatar
I finally went to see Avatar, fully expecting to hate it. I felt like I had been bullied into seeing it by the rest of the world, and the fact that it was in 3D, and 'the most expensive film ever made', didnt do anything to improve my preconceptions, expecting it to be a little gimmicky and a sort of 'all style no substance' type film. However, it completely confounded my expectations. Despite the plot being completely unoriginal (see Pocahontas, The Last Samurai) with a dollop of American cheese, I really enjoyed it and the 3D-ness of it all definatly worked.
Exhibition Review: Hussein Chalayan at the Design Museum
The Design Museum in London, located by the Thames, was founded in 1989. It claims to be the first museum of modern design and has exhibited the work of many important designers including Zaha Hadid, Paul Smith and Jan Kaplicky. Currently they are showing the Brit Insurance Design of the Year awards, which includes the work of Alexander McQueen, Min-Kyu Choi.
2009 saw the showcase of the legendary Turkish designer (preferring to call himself a 'design artist') Hussein Chalayan, renowned for his innovation in use of materials, pattern cutting and technology. Chalayan graduated from Central St Martins in 1993, and has won 'British Designer of the Year award twice. Currently, he works as the creative director for Puma, and lives in London where he works from his East London studio, though preferring to show in Paris.
Exploring fifteen years worth of his work and inspiration, the exhibition is the first of its kind, being that there hasnt previously been a solo exhition of Chalayans work in the UK until now, making this a rather important retrospective. It includes collections such as 'Readings', an impressive display of moving lasers which make up the dress; 'Airborne', garments comprised of LED lights and Swarovzki crystals and the more recent 'Inertia', which is 'clothes inspired by the shape a body might make in the propulsion of a car crash'.
There are several projections, including one of the 'Afterwards' collection, which involved furniture transforming (with the help of the models) into clothing, and a short film, 'Place to Passage'.
What struck me, as I walked around was how different the designs look in person, as opposed to the countless fashion magazine images they are seen in. There is so much detail that is easily missed, such as rich embroidery on the 'Ambimorphous' collection of 2002, and the sculpted, laser cut, 'puffs' of tulle, of the 'Before Minus Now' collection of 2000, It has to be said, seeing some of the garments up close did lend to me being slightly dissapointed, particularly the 'Inertia' pieces, which, I feel, looked more pleasing in the pages of the magazines.
I did think that it was cut slightly short, as I expected to be there alot longer. Considering Chalayans contribution to the design world, I thought perhaps he deserved a little more. That said, I thought it was a visually stimulating overview of his work, and it moved along at a nice pace. It was particlarly nice to see his pieces up close and fully appreciate his work.
2009 saw the showcase of the legendary Turkish designer (preferring to call himself a 'design artist') Hussein Chalayan, renowned for his innovation in use of materials, pattern cutting and technology. Chalayan graduated from Central St Martins in 1993, and has won 'British Designer of the Year award twice. Currently, he works as the creative director for Puma, and lives in London where he works from his East London studio, though preferring to show in Paris.
Exploring fifteen years worth of his work and inspiration, the exhibition is the first of its kind, being that there hasnt previously been a solo exhition of Chalayans work in the UK until now, making this a rather important retrospective. It includes collections such as 'Readings', an impressive display of moving lasers which make up the dress; 'Airborne', garments comprised of LED lights and Swarovzki crystals and the more recent 'Inertia', which is 'clothes inspired by the shape a body might make in the propulsion of a car crash'.
There are several projections, including one of the 'Afterwards' collection, which involved furniture transforming (with the help of the models) into clothing, and a short film, 'Place to Passage'.
What struck me, as I walked around was how different the designs look in person, as opposed to the countless fashion magazine images they are seen in. There is so much detail that is easily missed, such as rich embroidery on the 'Ambimorphous' collection of 2002, and the sculpted, laser cut, 'puffs' of tulle, of the 'Before Minus Now' collection of 2000, It has to be said, seeing some of the garments up close did lend to me being slightly dissapointed, particularly the 'Inertia' pieces, which, I feel, looked more pleasing in the pages of the magazines.
I did think that it was cut slightly short, as I expected to be there alot longer. Considering Chalayans contribution to the design world, I thought perhaps he deserved a little more. That said, I thought it was a visually stimulating overview of his work, and it moved along at a nice pace. It was particlarly nice to see his pieces up close and fully appreciate his work.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Essay Proposal 2
Provisional Essay Title:
Lookbook.nu; A case study of fashion identity and peer influence in an online environment.
Main Issues addressed by your essay and the thrust of your argument:
Using the internet to 'create' different identities. Acceptance by online peers. Influencing and being influenced by people you have never met in person. Identities new meaning in the modern era. The difference between a fashion identity and a personal one. Using others identities as your own.
What visual material will you look at?
Lookbook.nu, fashion blogs.
What theoretical perspective/methodology will you use?
Identity
What specific theorists will you refer to?
Bauman, Gauntlett, Dencik, Krueger
Books/Articles/Resources already located (using Havard)
Bauman, Z (2001) Identity, (Cambridge: Polity)
Bauman, Z (2000) Liquid Modernity, (Cambridge: Polity)
Bell, D and Kennedy B (2000) The Cybercultures Reader, (London: Routledge)
Gauntlett, D (2008) Media, Gender and Identity: an Introduction, (London: Routledge)
Gauntlett, D and Horsley R (2000) Web.Studies, (London: Arnold)
Merchant, G Identity, Social Networks and Online Communication (2006) http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pdf/validate.asp?j=elea&vol=3&issue=2&year=2006&article=9_Merchant_ELEA_3_2_web
http://www.lookbook.nu/
http://www.blogger.com/
Lookbook.nu; A case study of fashion identity and peer influence in an online environment.
Main Issues addressed by your essay and the thrust of your argument:
Using the internet to 'create' different identities. Acceptance by online peers. Influencing and being influenced by people you have never met in person. Identities new meaning in the modern era. The difference between a fashion identity and a personal one. Using others identities as your own.
What visual material will you look at?
Lookbook.nu, fashion blogs.
What theoretical perspective/methodology will you use?
Identity
What specific theorists will you refer to?
Bauman, Gauntlett, Dencik, Krueger
Books/Articles/Resources already located (using Havard)
Bauman, Z (2001) Identity, (Cambridge: Polity)
Bauman, Z (2000) Liquid Modernity, (Cambridge: Polity)
Bell, D and Kennedy B (2000) The Cybercultures Reader, (London: Routledge)
Gauntlett, D (2008) Media, Gender and Identity: an Introduction, (London: Routledge)
Gauntlett, D and Horsley R (2000) Web.Studies, (London: Arnold)
Merchant, G Identity, Social Networks and Online Communication (2006) http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pdf/validate.asp?j=elea&vol=3&issue=2&year=2006&article=9_Merchant_ELEA_3_2_web
http://www.lookbook.nu/
http://www.blogger.com/
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