Fashion theory and practices - delivered in blended mode

Activity type

Attività formative affini o integrative

SSD

SPS/08

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

3

Hours distribution

21 classroom hours

Lecturers

ROMANA ANDO'

Activity type

Attività formative affini o integrative

SSD

SPS/08

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

3

Hours distribution

21 classroom hours

Lecturers

Leonardo Campagna

Over the years, gender has imposed itself as a necessary category to analyze social phenomena. As
an embodied language, clothing is a privileged ground where issues concerning gender and
sexuality, in a given place and in a given time, are expressed and emphasized.
The aim of this course is to discuss gender in fashion and clothing in a socio-historical perspective,
starting from the explosion of feminist politics in the mid-1800s throughout the 1900s until present
time, focusing on how different thinkers, in different social and political contexts, have broadened
the notions of gender, sexuality, and desire, encompassing issues such as class, race, geographical
positioning, disability, AIDS, and how these notions can serve a critical analysis on fashion and
clothing.
By the end of this course, the students will be able to master a broad set of concepts and theories
concerning gender, sexuality, the body and desire that span from the late modern period throughout
contemporary history, and to use them to read and deconstruct fashion and clothing.

By the end of this course, the students will be able to:

Understand and analyze the dynamics between fashion and gender with a wide set of theoretical tools;
Understand and analyze fashion and clothing from a gender perspective, focusing on the relationship between body and clothing;
Recognize the role that gender and sexuality play in society;
Learn the following critical issues: sex and gender, intersectionality, diversity & inclusion, the history of feminist theory and activism, limits and potential of gender studies and feminism concerning race, class, dis/ability, colonialism, queerness.
Advance one’s ability to work in team and produce critical analyses concerning fashion and gender.

Fashion and Gender is an advanced module within the SPS/08 disciplinary sector (Sociology of Cultural and Communication Processes). There are no prerequisites, but basic knowledge of fashion sociology is required. Any knowledge gaps may be compensated for with additional readings identified by the instructor.

Over the years, gender has imposed itself as a necessary category to analyze social phenomena. As an embodied language, clothing is a privileged ground where issues concerning gender and sexuality, in a given place and in a given time, are expressed and emphasized.

Especially after the popularization of feminist and queer politics through social media, films and TV series, some brands such as Dior and Gucci have made feminism and LGBTQ+ politics a part of their brand identity, receiving accolades as well as criticism.

The aim of this course is to discuss gender in fashion and clothing in a socio-historical perspective, starting from the explosion of feminist politics in the mid-1800s throughout the 1900s until present time, focusing on how different thinkers, in different social and political contexts, have broadened the notions of gender, sexuality, and desire, encompassing issues such as class, race, geographical positioning, disability, AIDS, and how these notions can serve a critical analysis on fashion and clothing.

The course is structured in a series of lectures, which will discuss the themes listed above, and exercises in class and at home where students will be asked to explore the relationship between clothing and gender from a personal and situated perspective.

Elizabeth Wissinger - “Judith Butler, Fashion and Performativity”
Jane Tynan - “Michel Foucault, Fashioning the Body Politic”
Efrat Tseelon - “Erving Goffman: Social Science as an Art of Cultural Observation”
Chandra Talpade Mohanty - “Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourse”
Rosemary Hennessy - “Queer Visibility in Commodity Culture”.
Rosemarie Garland-Thomson - “Integrating Disability, Transforming Feminist Theory”
Angela McRobbie - “Bridging The Gap”
Rosalind Gill - “Postfeminist Media Culture: Elements of a Sensibility”
Leonardo Campagna - “The hero and the heroin”
Nicola Brajato & Alexander Dhoest - “Ambiguous Gaze: Masculinity and the male body in Dirk Bikkembergs’ fashion and photographic production”

The exam program consists of the following group of scientific articles, plus some optional in-depth materials.

Elizabeth Wissinger - “Judith Butler, Fashion and Performativity”
Jane Tynan - “Michel Foucault, Fashioning the Body Politic”
Efrat Tseelon - “Erving Goffman: Social Science as an Art of Cultural Observation”
Chandra Talpade Mohanty - “Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourse”
Rosemary Hennessy - “Queer Visibility in Commodity Culture”.
Rosemarie Garland-Thomson - “Integrating Disability, Transforming Feminist Theory”
Angela McRobbie - “Bridging The Gap”
Rosalind Gill - “Postfeminist Media Culture: Elements of a Sensibility”
Leonardo Campagna - “The hero and the heroin”
Nicola Brajato & Alexander Dhoest - “Ambiguous Gaze: Masculinity and the male body in Dirk Bikkembergs’ fashion and photographic production”

The course includes theoretical lessons and laboratory lessons with presentations by the students

Attendance is optional. To be considered an attending student and submit the final project, participation in the workshop activities is required.

Attending students will be required to take a written exam on the theoretical part of the course and submit a final report based on the presentations given in class during the course.
Non-attending students will only take an oral exam.

What does Judith Butler mean by gender performativity?
What is the relationship between fashion, the body, and normativity according to Foucault?
Fashion and intersectionality

• ENG
  • Books: ENG