Fashion as Identity

random thought ive been thinking

An interesting connection between queer theory and art is the willingness to be different. Art empowers students to be different. Queerness is all about changing norms.

david bowie-fashion!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA27aQZCQMk

WIki definitions

Fashion is the style and custom prevalent at a given time.

Identity whatever makes an entity definable and recognizable

Trend a line of general direction of movement, a prevailing tendency of inclination, a style or preference, a line of development, or the general movement over time of a statistically detectable change .

Style a prevailing mode of expression, e.g., clothing

Tricks of the trade.

The internet is so amazing. You can watch a Youtube video on how to do just about everything. What a great way to contribute to DIY culture. What I especially find interesting is that women are so willing to share their beauty secrets. Before the advent of Youtube, women read books and magazines about beauty secrets. There was a lot of faith and trust involved in that, not to mention having to visualize specific steps and imagining the outcome. Now we have you tube- we can watch-rewind-learn things and access them wherever whenever. We can even share these resources for FREEEEEEE

heres the link for the leopard print eye makeup tutorial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-Arr1O-CnE&feature=response_watch

ive learned so many things from the internet. I also feel like internet resources also can help multiple learners attain new skills. For example, i can watch videos, read instructions at my own pace. i have access to images, directions, everything is at my fingertips. in contrast to reading a books, which arent practical to lug around, usually dont have pictures and are never completely up to date with the most current information.

another trend i stumbled upon on a random google search was anime make up. The images look strange but from what i understand the person photographed has their eyes completely closed. This must take a lot of skill and patience. ( although i'm almost positive there are you tube video tutorials on it) it seems that the ladies that want this look study the work of anime artist to bring this to life. What does this mean? in a way this reminds me of avatars on second life.

-FEAR-

Part of me wonders if exposing my students to issues of fashion and identity in the classroom will backfire and end up perpetuating the medias ideas of beauty. I think this goes back to lesson planning being very similar to art making . This will require a lot of finesse, carefully planning and discussion.

i used this artist to get my students thinking about stereotyping based on the way someone looks. The students described the personality and habits of each person ( i showed the image in fragments) The students were surprised at how much clothing dictated their perception of the person photographed. they came up with pretty elaborate stories behind the person photographed. One observation made by a student was that if a man or woman wasn't covering their body, it indicated that they were from the streets. This took me by surprise.

Local designer: Baltimore

I was at an art opening a couple weeks ago and this group people came in. It was late in the evening and they were all wearing these amazing sunglasses. They took my breath away. Once I told them I liked their glasses one of the guys told me he made them. He handed me his business card. I thought these glasses were fun, and pretty cool. They probably took a lot of time to create. Being the artist I am and a fan of DIY culture, this work has inspired me to try creating things like this myself.

Working with glasses would be a cool think to work with in the classroom. Glasses can go in so many directions. Seeing: How you see yourself on the inside, how you present yourself on the outside. Visions for the future, viewpoints on issues.