Course Description
The interrelationship of popular culture and fashion considering media, technology, significant designs and designers, social movements and subculture, and the fashion cycle.
Athena Title
Pop Culture and Fashion
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. To draw connections between popular cultural zeitgeist with fashion 2. To identify the evolution in styles in Western contemporary garments and silhouettes, with relation to happenings in popular culture 3. To pinpoint links of popular culture ideas, past and present, with consumer behavior and fashion industry strategies 4. To identify significant designers, brands, relevant technological advancements, and style leaders 5. To recognize artistic, social, and subcultural movements and their relevance on style innovation and the fashion cycle 6. To develop an understanding of the intersections of media past and present with fashion
Topical Outline
1. Pop culture, fashion definitions, and conceptual readings (fashion cycles, social theories) 2. Introduction to Western modern fashion history (key silhouettes and style movements, including accessories and body modifications); style leaders from current fashion (up-to-date designers/brands) and wider culture (Jackie O, Princess Diana, Kardashians) with brief modern history 3. Overview of fashion magazines and fashion photographers/models (Vogue, Bazaar, Ebony, Twiggy, Beverly Johnson, supermodels past and present, Avedon, Man Ray, Herb Ritts) 4. Media and branding influence concepts; significant advertising campaigns in fashion (L’eggs, Calvin Klein campaigns); celebrity endorsements (CoverGirl, Estee Lauder); social media and bloggers/web influence in popular fashion (paid bloggers, YouTube stars, how-to beauty and shopping videos, Internet sensations); high/low brand crossovers (H&M, Zara) 5. “Fashion Week” history to the present, regional and international fashion weeks 6. 20th century to the present art history influence on pop fashion (op art, pop art, street art, modernism v. postmodernism) 7. 20th century to the present music influence on pop fashion (Madonna, Lady Gaga, Beatles, Hip Hop, Rock) 8. Film and TV influence on pop fashion (Sex and the City, Gilmore Girls, Friends, Fight Club, Disney movies, American Gigolo) 9. Protest, politics, and pop fashion (hippies, zoot suits, military styles subverted) 10. Subcultural style (punk, goth, beatniks, dance) 11. Streetstyle history, influence and brands (hip hop, sneaker popularity, Tommy Hilfiger, films such as Fresh Dressed) 12. Technology connections to popular fashion (athleisure, Apple watch, 3-D printing)
Syllabus